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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
        
(Message started by: JoeKen on Nov 13^th, 2005, 5:31am)

Title: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by JoeKen on Nov 13^th, 2005, 5:31am

:),
I hope this works as I have never done anything like this before, but trying a new web search engine I typed in Imigran as the subject for the search and came up with the folowing article. It's URL is: - www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=13765
and it talks about 100 mg doses of Imigran as a new 20 minute treatment for migraine relief. This sounds a trifle high to me, based on what I recall from various postings on this message board - at this level I would expect it to cure most pain, possibly permanently, or do I misunderstand?
Hope you find it interesting.
JoeKen

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 14^th, 2005, 1:07am

Used to do pills. Zomig. Chew one down, wait exactly 22 minutes, and BINGO. Discovered snorts and O2. 22 minutes was too long.
The 100 mg dose of Trex (instead of 50 mg) is no big huhu when taken in pill form, mostly. It's not like taking a 12 mg shot of Trex. Although absorbed quicker in the gut, there are faster methods of delivery than pills, quick melt or not.

Minutes count, right?
RJ

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by Gator on Nov 14^th, 2005, 3:57am

If every minute counts when a migraine strikes, then every second counts when dealing with CH. Pills suck. 20 minutes is 1200 seconds too long. Trex injects work in 5 - 7 minutes for me and I don't feel like crap for hours afterwards.

I believe the only approved treatment in the UK for CH is Imigran (Imitrex) injections. Tell your doc you want those - period. I forget the specifics, but basically the doc can't refuse to prescribe trex injects unless the patient has a heart condition or something like that.

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by JoeKen on Nov 14^th, 2005, 7:17am

:)
Thanks for your interest and replies.
I understand that Imitrex injections are the preferred treatment, but here in the UK they are difficult to get prescribed, particularly in my case where I am Chronic, but the HAs are Kip 6 or 7 maximum with very few exceptions and they last for a few hours if untreated (not 'classic' CH).
As an example, in my recent discussions with my GP on this subject he told me that 6 doses if Triptan by 10 mg tablets costs the Health Service £18, 6 doses of Imitrex by 5 mg nasal spray costs the Health Service over £40, and 6 doses of Triptan by 10 mg Maxalt Melts costs somewhere in between. He has a limited budget to spend, hence the difficulty, but he did prescibe the Maxalt Melts as a trial when I requested the nasal spray. When the beast strikes, budget limitations are not what you want to hear about, but unfortunately that's how it is here in the UK unless your private finances will bear the cost - mine won't.

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by zanychef on Nov 14^th, 2005, 7:23am

it doesnt matter a shit about the costs tell him to look in the bnf the ONLY ABORT FOR CH LISTED is IMIGRAN SUBJECT INJ!!!
if nhe wont prescribe tell him general med council for mistreatment!!!

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by Ueli on Nov 14^th, 2005, 9:06am

GSK said: "In the first 30 minutes the plasma level is on average 20% higher than with the conventional pill."

This may be of interest for meegrainers, but doesn't make Imitrex pill more attractive for clusterheads.

I suspect, the mixing of an effervescent powder to the pill is not so much an attempt for improvement, but a feeble attempt to get a prolongation of the patent.
(Even if the patent office rejects - after 4 or 5 years - the patentability of this "improvement", the competitors are effectively out of business, for fear of litigation.)

Ueli [smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by zanychef on Nov 14^th, 2005, 9:27am

btw a 2 shot pack of imigran costs the nhs £35!!

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 14^th, 2005, 9:37am

on 11/14/05 at 07:17:20, JoeKen wrote:

:)
6 doses of Imitrex by 5 mg nasal spray costs the Health Service over £40,

I've never seen the 5 mg trex n/s here in the states or prescribed for clusters and would not opt for it. The 20mg n/s takes already a long enough time getting enough dosage to the pain, but eventually does. I'd hate to wait that long and not have it do its job adequately.

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by JoeKen on Nov 14^th, 2005, 11:03am

:)
This reply is mainly intended for zanychef.
Thanks for your reply and other message. I would be extremely reluctant to threaten my GP with the GMC - I am sure that he is doing his best under difficult circumstances, and my HA, although very painful and prolonged at times, is relatively minor compared to some of the suffering that he has to treat (and budget for). In addition to this, I was very ill around 2 years ago - got myself carted off to the local A&E dept. twice in the middle of the night within a few days of each other and discharged twice within a few hours as having nothing wrong with me - and my GP was very good at identifying the problem and treating me for it at the same time as getting me tested for various other possibilities so that he could eliminate them. In short, I have a lot to be grateful to him for and would prefer a dialogue of negotiation, rather than confrontation.
It is also a little complicated by the fact that any meds, including all the CH meds, could impact on the other problem, which has not gone away but is currently lying dormant and not troubling me too much.
Once again, please accept my sincere thanks for your concern - I replied to your message before reading your postings above - I hope that you better understand my position now.
JoeKen.

Title: Re: Imigran at 100 mg dosage.
Post by zanychef on Nov 14^th, 2005, 11:04am

hi again joeken
to repeat myself the ONLY prescription medicine in the u.k to abort ch is IMIGRAN SUBJECT !!!!
please use telephone and i'll explain ,your doc cannot and should not refuse to prescribe this