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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Have question re: Imitrex
        
(Message started by: motye51 on Aug 8^th, 2004, 11:54pm)

Title: Have question re: Imitrex
Post by motye51 on Aug 8^th, 2004, 11:54pm

I have this on my original post, but wanted to get a quicker response with making a new topic. Husband wants to know if we need to be taking the Imitex as a preventative before he goes to bed or only once the headache starts?

Need reply soon,
Thanks,
Melissa

Have other post on Welcome to the Board Marc C.

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by vig on Aug 9^th, 2004, 12:00am

My experience is that it doesn't work at all as a preventative. Taking it before bed won't prevent a thing. You have to wait until it hits. Sorry.

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by Karla on Aug 9^th, 2004, 12:01am

Definetly wait until the ha hits. Then take it as soon as you start to feel one come on. No other way to do it.

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by DaveHar on Aug 9^th, 2004, 12:04am

OK, let me see if I can make this easy to understand. On the KIP scale I waited until I got to a 4 or 5 then hit the injection. I would take a third at a time not the entire injection. Many of us do that due to how little we can get.

DO NOT USE IT AS A PREVENT!!!!!!!

I tried that and had very bad results. It messed up my cycle, I was slammed with HA's harder then ever before and I am only now after three years starting to get a normal cycle back.

As I stated in my post to your last one. Please e-mail me and we can talk on the phone. Leesa, my wife and supporter or I will be happy to talk to you.

Dave

davenleesa@earthlink.net

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by Mark C on Aug 9^th, 2004, 12:07am

Hello again,

I can only echo what has been said....all the Triptans so far are to abort an already oncoming H/A.....for more on Clusterheadache meds look here (http://www.clusterheadaches.org/medications.htm).

You guys hang in there!

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by TomM on Aug 9^th, 2004, 5:33pm

Yes, indeed. Imitrex is an abortive and please note that many of us get rebound HA's from 'Trex. Do not let that scare you away. I use the nasal spray with allows only 2 doses in 24 hours...but you do what you have to do. I usually wait until a 7 or 8 before I take it. That way I know it will knock it down. I have also noted that taking it earlier does not help and bring on ferocious rebound HA's.

BTW--welcome to the asylum!

TomM

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by fubar on Aug 9^th, 2004, 6:46pm

I agree with all of the posts so far, but want to add one thing. When I finally broke my cycle, I believe it had a lot to do with stopping all medications. Since then, my headaches have returned, but I have resisted the urge to take medications. I find my headaches are more livable now, if that makes any sense at all. The difference is I get fewer headaches and I think the anxiety and agony of each one is much less than before, even though the pain is exactly the same. Believe me, I know how stupid that sounds, but I think a large part of dealing with this is now more mental control of how you respond to the pain. Even though I know Imitrex can make it go away very fast, I know it will make the next one so much more likely (and maybe then I won't have any trex because it's so damn expensive.) I think the addiction to quick relief is almost as self-perpetuating and addictive as cigarettes. In the last 6 months, I have taken the imitrex all of 12 times, and that is less than my presciption would allow... something I never could do before. I'd always be out and suffering more because I knew it could be had but I didn't have it.

Just my 2 cents, and probably not the way everybody should go, but it's been working for me. Imitrex=last resort only.

-Shawn

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 9^th, 2004, 8:17pm

Quote:

Shawn,

Right now this is starting to make good sense to me (maybe I'm crazy). Maybe it's time for a med 'holiday' (don't know if my mind can take it). What's your experience with preventatives?

--- Steve

BTW... I do use Imitrex PILLS occasionally as a short term preventative when I need to... of course, that was the ONLY Imitrex I've ever used until the past 2 weeks. I'm not recommending anyone use it that way.

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by IndianaJohn on Aug 9^th, 2004, 8:30pm

I have to agree with TomM. I wait till it's a 7 or higher before breaking out the NS. MAin reason is the expense and insurance limitations, but also I'm think the less Trex you take, maybe the shorter the cycle. Though that has yet to prove out for me.

I have also take the pill form when I'm getting hit multiple times. Like one right after the other. If you can get one in your system during a HA but BEFORE the HA escalate to higher Kip numbers, it will sometimes keep the rest of the HA away.

however, CAUTION: if you do this and it doesn't work you are screwed as you can't take anymore Trex after this. IMHO anyway.

PFDAN to All!

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 9^th, 2004, 8:44pm

Quote:

however, CAUTION: if you do this and it doesn't work you are screwed as you can't take anymore Trex after this. IMHO anyway.

You're correct. BTDT. And it's a BAD screw.

--- Steve

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by alleyoop on Aug 9^th, 2004, 9:16pm

I'd be willing to bet that they've got the pill form. If so, it's a very good question she asks.

If you use the pill as an abort, unless you take it at the very first signs, it's usually an exercise in futility. Unless you start out shadowing, it's probably going to kick in too late, at least in my limited experience with the pill. I would think that if a HA woke you out of a sound sleep taking a trex pill would be like spitting in the wind.

Some of you may remember a few weeks back, I posted about having to be in a wedding and asked if the trex pills would work as a short term prevent. Several of you replied affirmatively. I tried it and it seemed to work. That is the only experience I have using it as a prevent.

That said, if that were all I had and I was getting woke up at night with hits, I'd probably take a hard look at using the pill as a prevent. At least with me, most hits come within the first 1-2 hrs. of sleep. The downside of that is, of course, if it doesn't work you'd just have to ride it out. Too dangerous to take any more trex.

Maybe someone with a better knowledge of sumatriptan could shed more light on your dilema. That's if all you have is trex tabs. If you've got spray or injects, disreguard everything I've said. Do like everyone else said and use it strictly as an abortive!

.................................................alley

Title: Re: Have question Imitrex
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 9^th, 2004, 9:54pm

I use TONS of Imitrex (injections).
With docs permission, you could try the pill form as a preventative (short term). I doubt it would work. If you only took 1 pill before bed and was awaken with a headache, you could still use more Imitrex as long as your heart is healthy. Be sure to ask your doc first.
I've crushed up 4 (25mg) pills and snorted them ... with no relief and no bad side effects. I've used 3 nasal sprays at once ... with no relief or bad side effects. Injections work GREAT though !! I don't even begin to worry about the amount I use until I'm at least 3 times the 'maxium dose' ... 36 mg (injections per day).

Disclaimer:
But then again, thats just me. I'm not a doctor. I'm just saying what I've experienced with Imitrex. Just because I can handle this amount, doesn't mean you can.
Get doctors instructions on how much Trex to use.

Unsolved