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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
        
(Message started by: Stibs on Apr 27^th, 2004, 7:45pm)

Title: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Stibs on Apr 27^th, 2004, 7:45pm

Thank you all for the replies. Unfortuately my 1st experience with 20mg Imitrex NS was less than favorable. I took at the onsought of what I immediately knew would be a whopper, and it took about 50 minutes for me to experience any kind of relief. From what I understood I should've experienced it a lot sooner. [smiley=huh.gif] Ugh. Oh well.. I am still encouraged by all the quick responses & support. Thanks again.

And here's another question!

My cycles are 1 sometimes 2 per year. They seem to fluxuate between 3-4 years every fall, to 3-4 years every spring. It seems to me looking back on all my experiences, the ones I get in the spring are worse than the ones in the fall. Don't get me wrong.. They're all killers, but it just seems to me that maybe with the warmer weather they get slightly more brutal. Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by jonny on Apr 27^th, 2004, 7:55pm

Got a thought on the NS....If you dont take it right its junk.

If you suck so hard it runs down your throat its junk, might as well take the pills.

You want to get it up there but not down the throat.

Hope this helps, dude

........................................jonny

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Superpain on Apr 27^th, 2004, 8:00pm

I get long cycles that don't really follow any seasonal timeframe, so I've had them in hot and cold. But while the one's in heat are seemingly more uncomfortable I can't say that one's worse than the other.

Get the imitrex shots... About 5 minutes is the timeframe for relief. I know they're more expensive... I don't have insurance and have to pay for them myself. :'( But they provide quick relief that is in my opinion priceless. $140 will buy 6 headache killing shots if you split them up (statdoses) which is about $23 per headache.... I don't know about you, but that's a bargain in my painfree mind. ;)

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Superpain on Apr 27^th, 2004, 8:01pm

on 04/27/04 at 19:55:48, jonny wrote:

Yeah, that's true too. Squirt it hard, but sniff softly. You want it to absorb into your upper nostril and sinuses. Snort too hard and it's gonna be wasted on your throat and stomach.

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Stibs on Apr 27^th, 2004, 8:04pm

Yeah I thought of that too.. I got so much of that crap in my throat I thought i was gonna hurl. But I didn't really think I was snortin all that hard.. i just breathed in the nose and out the mouth like the fancy instructions said.. oh well trial & error maybe. Thx!

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Sean_C on Apr 27^th, 2004, 8:56pm

Stibs,

Try 02 with the trex and some ice on the poker and temple region. I fill a large zip lock bag with crushed ice (premade) and rub it from the back of my skull to my forehead while sucking on the 02. This usually kills the beast within 20 minutes for me.

Hopfully works for you.

Sean

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by stevegeebe on Apr 27^th, 2004, 9:06pm

First off..if you don't get in early don't waste it.

I've tilted my head down, toward the floor. and pinched my nose to keep it from going down my neck.

I've not noticed any difference between seasons. It still hurts either way.

Good luck.

Steve G

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Jeepgun on Apr 27^th, 2004, 9:25pm

The nasal spray is utter garbage. It's nearly impossible not to end up with a bunch of it in your throat, and it tastes like sh*t. The only thing it did for me, was to distract me from the pain in my eye and focus it on the "Holy f*ck, I'm gonna spew!" feeling in my stomach. Horrid stuff...

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Kevin_M on Apr 27^th, 2004, 9:32pm

Stibs,

jonny's definitely right about the technique. Absorption through the membrane in the nose is where nasal is meant to be effective. Getting it there takes a bit of practice.
Sorry to hear about the 50 minutes. I always get up quickly when I feel it wake me up. Sometimes there is the urge to just lie there because your mind is a bit foggy and it is not that intolerable just at that moment, but jump right away to the ns.
When you just lie there for a few minutes because you
are still tired, you waste precious minutes, and you will soon be getting up to grab the ns because it gets quickly more painful and THEN you feel it hitting hard. Taking the ns at this time, well, I glance at the clock and get the exact time I took it because I know 40 minutes is the limit before it disappears. That clock becomes important because I can at least have hope as it nears the 40 minute mark. After 20 to 30 minutes you need something to look forward to badly. Icepack gives you something to do in the meantime.
I use those icepacks that you put in a cooler to keep
things cold. I have three of them because I may get hit that many times a night and I use them until they are about melted, they are not ready for a second hit later that night. Always have a frozen one ready.
Use the ns as SOON as you are awoken by the beast at night. Believe me, you will wish you did when 20 to 30 minutes passes and it is still stronger than ever trying to resist whatever can be thrown at it. Those beginning minutes are important to cutting the length of time until it subsides.
Forty minutes is bad, but usually the worst I've had
before it departs. That can be cut down by instantly getting the ns upon waking. Don't convince yourself it may go away by just lying there, it gets worse and will last longer the more you wait to use the ns.

Daytime use, be aware. While at work, don't fool around there either. When it first feels like it is coming, use it. I have waited and then it is too late. The ns is then playing catch up and it will take 20 minutes of pure hell to clear up waiting to long. I will put on sunglasses and get tissues for those times. Hard to stay functional.
Issue is with the ns, get it early, or pay.

Hope you find better results than that 50 minute first try. If that persists, maybe O₂ will be best for at home. Try that too if you can get a script. Fifty minutes is too long, but keep trying it. Sounds like too much went down your throat.

Sorry lengthy but ns is handy, easy to carry and easy to use at work. Hope it works better, keep posting. The ns has caught oncoming attacks just before they get too painful, but know when to grab it. Averting a cluster is fantastic, but ns may take you to the brink first.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by 5-string on Apr 27^th, 2004, 10:31pm

on 04/27/04 at 19:55:48, jonny wrote:

I did that to the tee the first couple of times and got nothing except a nasty taste in my throat.
If it stays put in yer head it should work pretty well.(it does for me).
Good luck.
...Mark..

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Sean_C on Apr 29^th, 2004, 7:55pm

Kev,

I had flash backs reading your post from the old days when I would wake up with a CH and I couldn't do shit about it, even worse I didn't even know what it was, other than my head exploding for no reason. Thank god for meds.

Keep the faith Stibs, it does work 99% of the time.

PFDAN to all.

Sen

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Tiannia on Apr 29^th, 2004, 8:02pm

Keep it chilled and it helps cut down on the taste.

I dont sniff at all. I sparay it and then plug my nose until it absorbs. That is the only way that I can get it to work. It only take about a min for it to absorb into the membraine. And sice it is to damn expensive to waste, then I use it only when I have to. Normally 15 to 20 mins. to relief.

Hope this helps,
-Tia

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Patrick_A on Apr 30^th, 2004, 12:06am

I agree with Jonny. It is all in the technique. But it also has a lot to do with how quick you respond to that first sign of pain coming on. I can usually stop the pain in as little as 8 minutes, and rarely longer than 12. But only if i respond quickly!

Patrick

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by fubar on Apr 30^th, 2004, 12:31am

I'm amazed *any* relief was experienced. If the drug was delivered via the nasal membrane, there would have been a maximum affect much sooner, so the '50 minutes' was probably just the headache resolving itself on it's own.

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by ozzman on Apr 30^th, 2004, 9:21am

Agree with Jonny and others, don't snort too hard and do take it at the first sign of an attack. There is definetely a "sweet" spot for me, where it just hits it right. With time and practice you learn.

Now to all you ~~wimps~~ people, ~~whinning~~ complaining about the taste, and how it makes you gag....get over it!! If the pain is so bad, why do you care about after taste? If the pain is so bad, you would "do anything to make it stop", what does it matter if it is a little bitter? Get over it.

Ozzy

Title: Re: Thanks!! And Imitrex Nasal Spray
Post by Mac on Apr 30^th, 2004, 11:12am

For me the taste is a minor distraction. I like to hold it in the nasal passage for as long as possible. If I've done it just right I can taste the trex just about the time I start to feel relief - 15 to 25 minutes. There is the odd attack however(in my case) that is going to be a bitch and takes longer to relieve. PFDAN everybody.