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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Imitrex Virgin
        
(Message started by: DennisM1045 on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 8:59pm)

Title: Imitrex Virgin
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 8:59pm

First, a little history - I was diagnosed last June, the Neurologist prescribed O2 and Imitrex injections for abortives and we tried a combination of Neurontin (900mg) and Verapamil (280mg) for preventives. Unfortunately the Neurontin left me unable to drive safely and the Verapamil left me passing out whenever I tried to exercise. Heart rate was down to ~50bpm. So I’m now on a combination of 12.5mg of HCT (it’s a blood pressure med unrelated to CH for my hypertension), 120mg of Verapamil and 6mg of Melatonin. I’ve been using O2 and Rock Star as my main preventives. In fact, until today I hadn’t used an Imitrex injection. Though I did fill the prescription and the one refill so I had four 6mg stat-doses on hand.

My cycle started almost 3 weeks ago, so I should be about half way through if the beast is true to form. Melatonin (9mg) has kept the night hits away completely. However I’ve been waking up to daytime shadows that build to K4-K6 territory. This is not unusual. They don’t hit every day, just three to four days a week. Hey, at least I’m sleeping right!

Well, it finally happened. I got hit hard away from my usual tools - O2 + Rock Star. My wife and I were watching Mr Bean at the local movie theater with our four youngest. Picture lots of jerky, hand held camcorder work flashing on the screen. When it was over I barely got to the car with a Kip 7 rising fast. My four youngest kids were in the back of the SUV, we’re in a public parking lot, and my wife is ready to jump through the window herself after she sees me reach for the pen. She held tough though.

I struggle through loading the stat-dose into the pen (hadn’t read through the instructions in a while), shove it in my leg and then remove it too quickly. I watch I-don’t-know-how-much Imitrex spray against my leg. All was good though as 10 minutes later the pain was gone! Just like that, gone! Looks like I got enough in me. The ride wasn’t bad. A little tightness in the chest and some stomach cramps. Well worth the price of admission.

Of course the effectiveness of this med is what I’ve really been worried about and the main reason I’ve resisted using it. Imitrex is the howitzer in my arsenal. I know from everything I’ve read that it’s not good to rely on it too much. Rebound headaches and complications. O2, Caffeine and Toureine are just safer. So long as long as I can knock the pain down to a K2-3, I just tough it out. But now I’ve gone and let Pandora out of her box. The temptation to reach for the pen is going to be tough to resist.

So I’m left with two questions. One technical and one emotional.

How long to you leave the pen stuck in your leg/arm/stomach?

How do you resist reaching for it as soon as you feel the pain coming?

As always, wishing everyone PFDAN.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by Ray on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 9:11pm

Dennis:

I'll try to answer your 2 questions from my perspective, your milage may vary....

1) By yourself, it would be awkward to use the statdose pen on your arm, aim for the top of the thigh, mid way between your knee and your groin. Press the safety down and release the needle. Hold it there for a slow 10 count (1 mississippi, 2 mississippi, etc). I don't use them unless I absolutely have to, I use the ampules where you draw the Imitrex up into your own needle. I get 30 guage 1/2 cc 1/2" insulin needles.

2) You should give yourself enough time to make sure that the O2 is NOT going to work for you. High flow rate O2 usually works for most of us. Often in 5-7 minutes. I would allow at least 15 minutes for the oxygen to work, before reaching for the stat dose pen.

This is only my opinion, others may use a different strategy.

Wishing you well,

Ray

PS, did you read the "imitrex tip" link to the left hand side of the screen?

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by UN solved on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 9:11pm

First thing is : I wouldn't recommend that any first time user use a whole 6mg dose of Trex. Maybe you should try using a 4mg dose first. Ask your doc

The pen should stay in full contact with the skin for about 5-6 full seconds before you pull away.

Only use Trex injects when you know it's going to be bad. You wouldn't pull out that howitzer on a cpl of delinquent juveniles out razing hell as kids sometimes do. Save that big bad boy for the real threats ! You should be able to distinquish between the two pretty quickly.

Goodluck
'
UNsolved

BTW; I'm no doctor, just a clusterhead that uses lots of Trex. Maybe mention my advice to your doc and follow HIS/HER advice ... ok !!

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by chewy on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 10:11pm

on 09/03/07 at 21:11:40, UN solved wrote:

The pen should stay in full contact with the skin for about 5-6 full seconds before you pull away.

Only use Trex injects when you know it's going to be bad. You wouldn't pull out that howitzer on a cpl of delinquent juveniles out razing hell as kids sometimes do. Save that big bad boy for the real threats ! You should be able to distinquish between the two pretty quickly.

Goodluck
'
UNsolved

Ditto.

I never reach for the trex right away but its always close by.

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 4^th, 2007, 7:11am

Thanks for the feedback guys.

on 09/03/07 at 21:11:12, Ray wrote:

PS, did you read the "imitrex tip" link to the left hand side of the screen?

Yea I read it - last June! ;;D I didn't have it with me in the car at the time and I couldn't recall what I'd read.

on 09/03/07 at 21:11:40, UN solved wrote:

First thing is : I wouldn't recommend that any first time user use a whole 6mg dose of Trex. Maybe you should try using a 4mg dose first. Ask your doc

When he perscribed it I told him what I'd read about people using 3mg instead of 6mg to reduce side effects and extend the number of hits they can abort in 24 hours. Well I'm 5'11", 230lbs. He looked at me with a slight grin and said, "your a big guy, take the whole dose". So I'll ride the whole 6mg sooner or later. If I have a bad reaction to it I'll take that evidence back to him and rehash it then.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by E-Double on Sep 4^th, 2007, 9:02am

Forget the "big guy"remark!
Many Big guys can abort with much less.
I'm not Big but I am far from small per se and I have aborted with 1/3 and have even aborted with 1/4 of an injection.

Cake and it extends the meds

Good luck

E

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by southwalessunshine on Sep 4^th, 2007, 6:25pm

I know what you mean, I'm finding it very hard not to reach for the Imi straight away and go through the other options first. But with my Ch's I know pretty much that when they get to around kip 4 or 5 nothing is gonna stop it from turning into a full on hit, so I take the Imi then. The way I see it is I would rather face the chance of rebounds than go through a kip 9 or 10 twice a day, but I am in the midst of a bad cycle at the mo. hopefully mine will settle down and i can relax on the Imi soon, and hopefully you'll find what works for you over time. instead of looking at this as opening pandora's box, try looking at it as finding your saviour. Imi can have a hell of an affect on your quality of life if you just find what works for you. Good luck x

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by UN solved on Sep 4^th, 2007, 7:20pm

on 09/04/07 at 07:11:29, DennisM1045 wrote:

Well I'm 5'11", 230lbs. He looked at me with a slight grin and said, "your a big guy, take the whole dose".

I'm 6' and just over 200lbs myself. 4mg of Trex usually does the trick !

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex Virgin
Post by ClusterChris on Sep 8^th, 2007, 4:20am

With the pen, The shot is in your leg in a split second, Leaving the pen in there for 5 to 10 seconds would be accomplishing nothing. Once it's in, it's in.

The 'Big Guy" comment just makes me laugh. Don't waste your trex. Try Half, it works exactly the same for me as the full dose would.

Cheers!

Chris