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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> imitrex injections,safe?
        
(Message started by: seasoned_vet. on Jun 26^th, 2006, 11:32am)

Title: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by seasoned_vet. on Jun 26^th, 2006, 11:32am

hi folks, I have been seeing where alot of folks are using the injections. About 7 years ago my neurologist at barnes hospitol in St.louis prescribed them for me. They did seem to work, but when I told him that I had used four injections in just one day,(24 hour period), he immediately took me off the imitrex. Saying that it is ,"not good for ones heart". Has anyone else ever been told that? I have since managed, farely well ,(especially in the last 3 years), with verapamil, prednisone and O2. Just curious, I am new to the site and and have actually found you, my new extended family ,quite addictive,lol.. Tuck

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by Paul98 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 11:46am

Hi Tuck-

Imitrex is safe as long as you are within perscribed dosage. I.e. max of two 6mg shots/24 hr period. Trex isn't for someone with high BP, weak heart or known heart problems.

Many folks use the trex in smaller dosages. Read the trex tip to the left. I find 2mg will work just as well as 6. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to work but will knock out a headache.

-P.

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jun 26^th, 2006, 11:53am

Ditto to Paul,

If you use the Trex tip and only use 3mg each time, you can take 4 shots/day. Otherwise, you're taking a risk with your heart and blood pressure.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by Big Dan on Jun 26^th, 2006, 11:56am

They are bad for it if you take them incorrectly...

... I pinned myself twice in a 10 minute span and it felt like someone was standing on my chest.

-Big Dan

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by seasoned_vet. on Jun 26^th, 2006, 12:00pm

thanks for the feedback guys!!!!! As I said ,I have been doing "ok" without it, I was just curious.

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by floridian on Jun 26^th, 2006, 12:26pm

on 06/26/06 at 11:46:28, Paul98 wrote:

Hi Tuck-

Imitrex is safe as long as you are within perscribed dosage.

Taking too much trex is definitely dangerous, but it isn't accurate to say that staying within the guidelines is 'safe.' Even in people who have no known heart condition and who stay within the dosage guidelines, trex can precipitate a heart attack. That side effect is rare, but rather severe. Not saying that triptans should be banned, merely that people should know the risks and make an informed decision. Many people here use lots of trex for long periods and it offers relief with no serious side effects.

The traditional thinking is that some classes of heart disease disqualify one from taking triptans, and patients that do not have those types of heart disease get a green flag. This article suggests that the risk is from plaque in the artery walls that can break off and cause a heart attack when triptans cause vasoconstriction - and we don't have a way to identify who is at risk of this.

Quote:

Headache. 2004 May;44 Suppl 1:S31-9.

Cardiovascular risk assessment and triptans.

Papademetriou V.

Hypertension Research Center, Georgetown University, Wasington, DC 20422, USA.

Identifying the patient for whom triptans are contraindicated because of recognized, diagnosed cardiovascular disease is relatively straightforward. Determining whether a patient with potential unrecognized cardiovascular disease is an appropriate candidate for triptan therapy, however, constitutes a difficult challenge, especially in the absence of a framework for workup of patients. This article discusses the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease and issues involved in assessing cardiovascular risk, and it attempts to provide a framework for cardiovascular risk assessment that can be applied to decisions for prescribing triptans. Current guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment allow stratification of patients to low, intermediate, or high risk of coronary heart disease events. This framework for risk assessment can be applied to decisions for prescribing triptans. Cardiovascular risk-assessment algorithms discussed elsewhere in this supplement suggest that patients at low risk (1 or no risk factors) of coronary heart disease can be prescribed triptans without the need for a more intensive cardiovascular evaluation. Conversely, patients with established coronary heart disease or coronary heart disease risk equivalents should not be prescribed triptans according to the current prescribing recommendations. Patients at intermediate risk (2 or more risk factors) of coronary heart disease require cardiovascular evaluation before triptans can be prescribed. Current understanding suggests that the risk of future acute coronary events is a function of the absolute number of vulnerable plaques present, a variable that cannot be accurately determined using available technology or risk-prediction models. Cardiovascular risk-assessment guidelines should be evaluated in the context of this limitation.

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by unsolved1 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 12:48pm

I know that there are a ton of precautions out there, but I've used a TON of the stuff and had no problems. I've used up to nearly 40mg in 1 day before and had no problems. (Not that I would recommend that for you or anyone else)

UNsolved

Title: Re: imitrex injections,safe?
Post by chewy on Jun 26^th, 2006, 3:15pm

Quote:

I've used up to nearly 40mg in 1 day before and had no problems

Ditto

Quote:

(Not that I would recommend that for you or anyone else)

Ditto again.