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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Imitrex dosages
        
(Message started by: aceserve on Aug 13^th, 2007, 10:29am)

Title: Imitrex dosages
Post by aceserve on Aug 13^th, 2007, 10:29am

I am in Puerto Rico, and got hit with my first cycle since moving here. At a pharmacy here, I obtained the vials of Imitrex, instead of the prepackaged subcutaneous injection setup that's normally sold on the U.S. mainland.

I have been able to stretch out one vial of 6mg of Trex into four dosages. But I can get only two doses out of one of the injection packages, after I take the plastic shooter apart and remove the needle and dose, which also supposedly is 6 mg.

I suspect the prepackaged stuff contains less than the vial, even though the amounts are supposed to be the same.

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by vietvet2tours on Aug 13^th, 2007, 10:38am

GET SOME OXYGEN

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 13^th, 2007, 10:46am

I only use the stat doses, and am so freaked about needles I could never do the "Imitrex" tip and poke myself!! What Vietvet is suggesting is you get yourself set up with an oxygen outfit. I use oxygen to abort 90-95% of my hits. The imitrex is only a last ditch when the oxygen has failed abortive. 02 is so much cheaper then imitrex and it doesn't beat me up the way imitrex does.

Hope your cycle is nearing its end!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 13^th, 2007, 12:23pm

An alternative which is almost as fast acting as Imirtrex inj, less expensive on a per dose basis, with the convenience of a pill.

Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Aug 13^th, 2007, 6:42pm

I have never noticed the stat dose being less than the vial. I use vials and have emptied the statdose into an empty vial, it didnt strike me as being different. Its possible u measured the dose wrong?

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by UN solved on Aug 13^th, 2007, 7:08pm

I also use both and see no difference. 6mg is 6mg, no matter if it's in the vial or if it's in the stat dose.

BTW, getting 4 doses out of 6 mg is incredible. I wish that small of an amount would help me. I require 3mg, but 4mg works better & faster for me. (the full 6mg is too much for me)

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Aug 13^th, 2007, 8:29pm

on 08/13/07 at 19:08:47, UN solved wrote:

I am really lucky too, a 1/4 does works for me. 1/3 of a dose works faster.

Title: Re: Imitrex dosages
Post by Lenny on Aug 13^th, 2007, 11:47pm

I too have not noticed a difference between the 2 of them...the only difference for me when i use 1/4 it takes appr. 20 minutes for the magic to work...PF to all...Lenny