Smoking linked to cluster headaches

I suffered from cluster headaches for 14 years. Some doctors said the pain was psychosomatic. Others told me I was allergic to chocolate.

Doctors prescribed Demerol for the pain, and I became dependent on this narcotic. I eventually kicked the habit.

Then I quit smoking. Within a week my headaches stopped. They only return when I am in a room with a smoker.

Cluster headaches are sometimes called suicide headaches because the pain can be so severe. It tends to occur on one side of the face, near the eye. The pain can last several hours and recurs in clusters for weeks or months at a time.

Nonsmokers may benefit from breathing oxygen. A new study shows that 15 minutes of high-flow oxygen at the beginning of a cluster headache can be surprisingly effective (Journal of the American Medical Assn., Dec. 9).

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I have suffered from acid reflux for about six months, and it kept getting worse. I read some comments on your website that Ambien might cause heartburn. The light bulb went off: Seven months ago, I was under great stress and couldn’t sleep, so my doctor prescribed Ambien. Soon after I started taking it, I had my first awful experience with acid reflux. Is heartburn listed as a side effect?

The prescribing information lists “dyspepsia,” a term for indigestion, as a side effect. Although there isn’t much research on it, dozens of visitors to our website have reported reflux linked to Ambien.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist, and Teresa Graedon is an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition. www.peoplespharmacy.com