Clusterheadaches.com Message Board (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Imitrex/pills
(Message started by: hbomb on May 17th, 2003, 8:20pm)

Title: Imitrex/pills
Post by hbomb on May 17th, 2003, 8:20pm
Hello to all of once again.
I am sure that my following questions have been discussed several times on this site but I cannot find any previous discussion on the message board. Please share your knowledge and experiences once again.
Oxygen helps me most of the time with my 45 minute CHs but I travel a lot with my job and cannot take it with me.  Soooooooo I got an RX for IM pills yesterday. The questions are:  1) do they work in 10-15 minutes if they work at all?   2) Alcohol is a definite NoNo during the cycle but has anyone had success being on the IM pill and drinking without a headache?  3) any other thoughts on the IM pill?  
Thanks for being there.

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by Mastifflvr28 on May 17th, 2003, 8:42pm
Howdy Hbomb,
Welcome to the family.
Here's a page that has TRAVEL info on it for O2:
http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

and...imitrex pills have never aborted a ha for me, injections are the only way I go :)
Good luck,
Mast

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by suzy617 on May 18th, 2003, 7:08am
I tried the pills last time around and they worked wonders except that they would take around 30 minutes to kick in. Next cycle I will be taking the injections which work much quicker.
The only time imitrex didnt work for me was when I was out having a beer and got hit. I'll never touch another beer again while in cycle.

suzy

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by TomM on May 18th, 2003, 7:29am
HBomb--I've never tried the pills or injectios but I do use the Imitrex Nasal Spray. I fond something that works to my satifaction and stuck with it. The spray takes upto 10 minutes to kick in. As far as drinking goes, I find my self completely abstaining during my cycles. It's not worth the HA plus it's a hoot to watch co-workers and freinds booze it up. Da spousal unit likes the idea of  me being the designated driver.
good Luck.
TomM

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by Jackie on May 18th, 2003, 7:40am
Hi Tom...
Hubby, Blake, finds that the shots work much faster too.  However, sometimes the pills seem to hold him longer.  He has used the nasal spay and it kicks in faster than the pill.....also he's had really good results with Zomig (holds up to 8 hours sometimes) but there again it takes about 20 minutes to fully kick in.

Good Luck
Jacks 8)

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by Tony 18/6 on May 18th, 2003, 10:00am
pills 50mg take 30 min.....last about 6 hours.....100mg pills are available also.....spray takes 15 min.....I find less side effects with the pills..........good luck, tony 18/6

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by kissmyglass on May 18th, 2003, 10:12am
They work for me but take 30 minutes to kick in. I've tried 25, 50 & 100 mg pills & they all work but all take the same amount of time to kick in.
I'll stick to the shots & abort the sucker in 5 minutes....

Good luck,


Kev

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by Roxy on May 18th, 2003, 10:17am
The pills have never worked for me, so I can't help you there.  The injections work very well.  A portable E tank is very easy to travel with.  I travel a lot, and just carry extra tanks with me. The E tanks are very small.

Alcohol isn't a trigger for me, so I don't know about trying it with a trex pill.  It doesn't really sound like a very good idea though.  Why push it?


Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by oringkid on May 18th, 2003, 11:50am
I have only tried the nasal spray (about 4 years ago) which took upto.... well it never kicked in with me.

Since Alcohol screws with your bp and Imitrex screws with your bp, doesn't sound like a good idea.

Sherry

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by hbomb on May 18th, 2003, 2:16pm
Thanks for all of your insight on the Imitrex.  It sounds like the best move is to drink O'Douls until the cycle is over.  By the way, the reason I am getting the pills is because my RX plan doesn't pay for the nasal spray ($185.00 for I am not sure how much) and the shots can only be used on a limited basis.  I get 3-4 per night so I thought the pills would be the ticket.

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by kissmyglass on May 18th, 2003, 7:45pm
hbomb,
If you use the Imitrex tip (button on the left) you can make each shot last for 2-3 attacks instead of one. That way you can abort all of your attacks & still not go over the recommended daily amount we're supposed to use.

Don't know where I'd be without that Imitrex tip.....

Kev

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by CJohnson on May 18th, 2003, 7:57pm
You travel a lot, eh? Try taking an imitrex tablet before you get on the plane, train, whatever. You don't need to abort what does not occur. I have done that on a couple of occasions with Maxalt, and never got hit while it was in my system. If nothing else is available, it might help. Then again, it might not do shit.

Good Luck.
PFDANs

-Curtis

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by Turts on May 19th, 2003, 6:54am
Gday all,
Im a stayer for the sprayer at the moment.

Imigran tablets seem to take to long to be effective, but the spray works faster therefore more effectively. I think injestion period of meds with CH is the most vital. If you can punch the beast back early enough in the fight it tends to prevent the incline of the kip scale.

As Curtis has stated using an abortive as a prevention while travelling (especially flying) can help but definately not on a regular basis.

8)

Title: Re: Imitrex/pills
Post by katethecelt on May 19th, 2003, 10:37am
I have 100 mg. IM tabs.  I cut them in half with a pill spliter, take half a tab at the onset,  the other half 15-30 later if the CH didn't stop.  Drinking coffee with the tabs seems to help with the effectiveness.

The tabs haven't always worked.  I'm asking for the injections when I see my doc at the end of the month.

I haven't had any alcohol since this episode started and wouldn't risk it.

PFDAN's

Kate









Clusterheadaches.com Message Board » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1!
YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved.