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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Imitrex injections
        
(Message started by: Homer57 on Apr 11^th, 2004, 11:13pm)

Title: Imitrex injections
Post by Homer57 on Apr 11^th, 2004, 11:13pm

Hi everyone. I'm new to these boards, but not new to the wonderful world of CH. My name is Jim and I've had these cycles since I was 20. Now at 46, I am once again fighting the good fight. (Luckily for me it's a 2 year cycle - this time I actually lasted 3 years between bouts!)

My new neurologist (old one retired) gave me imitrex injections (6mg) coupled with depakote (500 mg., once a day). I am only to use one injection a day, followed by a 1 imitrex pill (100mg) 2 hours later if necessary, but that would then be it for the day.

This morning I took my first injection after waking up with my "friend" - the injection did work wonders. The headache was gone in about 5 to 10 minutes. Felt weird right after taking the shot though. However, as you all probably suspect, it came back a couple of hours later, forcing me to then use up my imitrex pill. Later this evening, attack #3 arrives, and I am all out of "bullets".

Any of you gone the injection route? Any comments on its effectiveness?

The doctor did not prescribe O2; said that the consensus among medical community was that its effectiveness was questionable at best. I let that slide for the time, but reading these boards leads me to believe that its use needs to be accompanied by better instructions in using it. I'll probably be callling in a prescription for it if these multi-attacks continue as they normally do.

Two other things to note. 1) the office for the 3 neurologists had plenty of brochures for migraines, NONE for cluster headaches. 2) The headache diary left no room for writing info on multiple attacks ( I would love to have just 1 a day) and its pain scale (1 to 3) not nearly as helpful as the KIP scale shown on this website.

Sorry for being long-winded, but it helped pass the time while getting rid of my third attack.

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Cerberus on Apr 11^th, 2004, 11:23pm

Howdy Jim,

Many here are using Trex to abort their pain. I personally recommend getting Immitrex in ampules (vials) and a script for syringes and try using only 1/3 of the 6mg (2mg) at a time. It seems to work for most at least as well as the full 6mg. Oxygen is debatable....it works for many (myself included) but is not garanteed , at least still worth a try. There is much info in the buttons to the left on O2 and immitrex. maybe read an print it out to give your doc, not all docs are as educated on CH as they would have you believe.
There will be more from others on the subject soon.

Peace,
Ramon

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Roxy on Apr 12^th, 2004, 12:18am

Hi Jim, and welcome.

Have you read the imitrex tip over to the left? That seems to work well for some. I prefer to use the vials, and I divide each shot into thirds. It works just as well for me as the whole shot, and I get three for the price of one.... :). I also like the syringes better...I use...(or used :-/).....the very short needles and you don't feel a thing. I always waited until pretty far into the hit to use the trex, and by that point, the trex tip was beyond my capabilities.

Go for the 02 if it all possible, it's good stuff.

PFDAN,
Tracey

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Kevin_M on Apr 12^th, 2004, 12:55am

Homer57,

I've had the same circumstances come about. Mine led me to believe the aborts are doing what they can do, but perhaps look at the preventative. Prevents CAN become ineffective leading to this. Take another look at the depakote preventative, tuning prevents are a must.

Self experience only, but a better prevent helped me out of that situation. Relate your routine repeated returns of CH to your doctor.

I once gave depakote a sixty day trial. Became unimpressed with its ability. See what your doc says about your situation.

Unschooled medically,

Kevin M

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by UN_SOLVED on Apr 12^th, 2004, 1:01am

I use many Imitrex injections per day (Not that i'm recommending that for you) ... Just saying ... It's not unusual for a clusterhead to need more than 2 per day.

Unsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Kevin_M on Apr 12^th, 2004, 1:15am

on 04/12/04 at 01:01:34, UN_SOLVED wrote:

Just saying ... It's not unusual for a clusterhead to need more than 2 per day.

Unsolved

Uh, yes also. The imitrex tips above are good advise.

And... O₂ helps at these times. Check that out too with doc.

Kevin M

Title: O2 effectiveness Questionable at best???
Post by bobkip on Apr 12^th, 2004, 1:47am

Homer, may I respectfully suggest that your good (damn, I hope good is good enough for this doc) doctor bend over, get a firm grip on his ears and PULL HIS HEAD OUT OF HIS ASS. I am so tired of hearing crap like that. The last neuro I went to (won't go back) told me with great conviction, as in don't argue with me, I'm a doctor, that verap was only useful for treating migraines and not CH.
I have been using O2 for about 20 years and it has been a life saver. I think you're right when you say instructions need to be followed closely. Tho there are times O2 just quis working for me, those times are fortunately rare. My son, also a clusterhead, has had excellent results with O2 when/if he gets on the bottle early.
Sounds like you need to find a new doc.
Kip

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Rock_Lobster on Apr 12^th, 2004, 6:15am

Welcome...
Ditto what the others said.
A 6mg injection is excessive for most CH'ers.

Get the vials. A vial listed at .5ml/6mg typically has about .6ml in it. I do well with .15ml per dose... thus I get 4 doses out of one vial. I have been known to do 5-6 doses in one day should life be sucking.
Your mileage will vary.

o2 is a winner for most CH sufferers. I have mixed results... mixed meaning it works enough of the time that I would not be without it.

Lots of fine info here on preventatives. Prepare for information overload. I am an Episodic, having good luck with Verapamil (720mg/day) and Topamax (125mg/day). You will find many combos that work for people here.

Good Luck,
Wrokk

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Tiannia on Apr 12^th, 2004, 11:22am

Not that I can add much to what was said, but if it is possible find a new doctor that is willing to work with you. CH is deffinatly an ailment that treatment is a work in progress and any doc that is not willing to deal with that is an idiot. The biggest thing that I have learned from this site is that I do have the right to find a "good" doctor.

Welcome to Clusterville. PF Wishes to you,
_Tiannia

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by thomas on Apr 12^th, 2004, 11:38am

Don't ever trust, don't ever trust the needle, it lies......... Oh, sorry, just singing out loud again........ Not a big fan of trex at all, I recommend zomig or amerge. You get longer periods of relief with them.

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Gator on Apr 12^th, 2004, 4:20pm

on 04/12/04 at 06:15:20, Rock_Lobster wrote:

o2 is a winner for most CH sufferers. I have mixed results... mixed meaning it works enough of the time that I would not be without it.

Lots of fine info here on preventatives. Prepare for information overload. I am an Episodic, having good luck with Verapamil (720mg/day) and Topamax (125mg/day). You will find many combos that work for people here.

Good Luck,
Wrokk

I have the same results with O². If I hit the bottle soon enough, it usually works to abort or at least lessen the severity of an attack. It works well enough that I just had my bottles refilled this afternoon.

As for Dope-a-max, it made my ha's worse. After 3 weeks on the stuff, I was getting hit as much and as severely as before I started taking it.

Everyone is different and reacts to the meds in different ways. Like has been said - you'll just have to keep being a guinea pig until you and the doc find the right combo for you.

I hope the "Headache Specialist" in Tulsa is better than the neuro that referred me to him. I see him on Thursday. Cross your fingers.

Gator

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Homer57 on Apr 13^th, 2004, 12:42am

Thanks to all of you who responded. I read again the Imitrex tip info and I printed it out for the docter when I see her next (soon!). I've a MRI & a MRA scheduled for Friday -don't expect anything but the news that I don't have a freakin 26 year old tumor in my head.

I am going to request the O2, if for nothing else than to keep my mind off of the pain. I had 5 attacks today; not a record for me, but it is high up there on the list.

Kip - I feel real bad for the fact that your son is also among us CH folk. I hope that heredity doesn't play a part in this - I've two daughters (11 & 9) and it would break my heart to see them go through this. I wish you and your son blessed peace from the "beast".

I must say that these boards are a pleasure to read in that you all "have walked the walk" and truly understand what CH is all about. Can't tell you how many times I have to correct friends and family when they say, "yeah, I get migraines too and ..."

To end on a positive note I must say that my situation is not as bad (2 year cycle) as others here, and I've been blessed with a beautiful and caring wife, and the love from her and my daughters is perhaps the best medicine that I have.

Peace to all
Jim

Title: Re: Imitrex injections
Post by Gator on Apr 13^th, 2004, 2:11am

on 04/13/04 at 00:42:51, Homer57 wrote:

... I've been blessed with a beautiful and caring wife, and the love from her and my daughters is perhaps the best medicine that I have.

Peace to all
Jim

I'd have to add an Amen to that brother. If not for my wife, there were a couple times that it would have been real tempting to just take the entire bottle of everything I take at once. My wife has been the only thing keeping me alive through the worst of the pain.

I also must add that since finding this site and the wonderful, crazy and supportive people on it, my outlook on life has improved just that much more. I read until it hurts too bad to read another word, then come back for more as soon as I can.

Stick around. This place is an addiction you can live with!