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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Too much Trex?
        
(Message started by: wingnutCH1 on Feb 10^th, 2006, 10:51am)

Title: Too much Trex?
Post by wingnutCH1 on Feb 10^th, 2006, 10:51am

First Post. Clusterhead for 25 years. The beast decided he really likes me the past couple nights. I wake up with a kip 8, shoot some Trex and try to go back to sleep. This episode has been the worst ever. My question.....Has any suffered side effects from too much Trex? I took three shots two nights in a row. The prescription says np more than two in a 24 hour period and no more than 4 per week.

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 10^th, 2006, 12:07pm

One possibility:
: Headache. 2004 Jul;44(7):713-8. Related Articles, Links

Subcutaneous sumatriptan induces changes in frequency pattern in cluster headache patients.

Rossi P, Lorenzo GD, Formisano R, Buzzi MG.

Objectives.-To document the relationship between the use of subcutaneous (SQ) sumatriptan (sum) and a change in frequency pattern of cluster headache (CH) in six patients. To discuss the clinical and pathophysiological implications of this observation in the context of available literature. Background.-Treatment with SQ sum may cause an increase in attack frequency of CH but data from literature are scant and controversial. Methods.-Six CH sum-naive patients (three episodic and three chronic according to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria) are described. Results.-All six patients had very fast relief from pain and accompanying symptoms from the drug but they developed an increase in attack frequency soon after using SQ sum. In all patients, the CH returned to its usual frequency within a few days after SQ sum was withdrawn or replaced with other drugs. Five patients were not taking any prophylactic treatment and SQ sum was the only drug prescribed to treat their headache. Conclusions.-Physicians should recognize the possibility that treatment of CH with SQ sum may be associated with an increased frequency of headache attacks.

PMID: 15209695
-----
Safety concerns:

Funct Neurol. 2000 Jul-Sep;15(3):167-70. Related Articles, Links

Sumatriptan overuse in episodic cluster headache: lack of adverse events, rebound syndromes, drug dependence and tachyphylaxis.

Centonze V, Bassi A, Causarano V, Dalfino L, Cassiano MA, Centonze A, Fabbri L, Albano O.

Dept of Internal Medicine and Public Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.

This observational study was designed to examine the pattern of sumatriptan use in patients with cluster headache using more than the recommended daily dose of subcutaneously injected (s.c.) sumatriptan. Thirteen patients suffering from episodic cluster headache were asked to record the characteristics of their attacks and drug intake for 1 year. All reported a high daily frequency of attacks (more than 3 per day) and the related overuse of s.c. sumatriptan. The results show that the overall incidence of adverse events among patients receiving sumatriptan injections for the treatment of cluster headache is low. The extended administration of this drug in episodic cluster headache did not result in tolerance problems or tachyphylaxis. Only 4 patients experienced minor adverse events and recovered more slowly than the others. They suffered from migraine without aura and cluster headache, and showed a family history of migraine. Even though they must be viewed with caution, due to the observational nature of the study and the low number of patients included, these results suggest that the profile of sumatriptan may differ in cluster headache compared with migraine.

PMID: 11062845

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by wingnutCH1 on Feb 10^th, 2006, 4:11pm

Thanks Bob. You couldn't be more right. I have been Shadowing and rising up to a Kip2/3 all day. Oh goody, Can't wait to see what the night brings. The sucky part is that when I'm at a kip 9/10 I don't care about anything else. I just want it gone. Sometimes I wish there was a drug that could just knock me out for a couple days.

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by Jonny on Feb 10^th, 2006, 4:28pm

Using Trex caused me to have three times more HA's than I normally would, I switched to Zomig nasal spray (Another triptan) and it dont happen anymore....plus, the Zomig works just as fast as a shot of Trex and lasts WAY longer.

Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by BikerBob on Feb 10^th, 2006, 5:19pm

Yes, that's WAY too much Trex. In addition to increasing the frequency and severity of CH attacks, I believe that triptans cause cardiovascular damage long-term.

I've been episodic for 30 years. During my most recent episode I was able to abort 75% of the CH attacks within 15 minutes with O2 at 12 lpm through a non-rebreather mask. I only used triptans as a last resort for the 25% of the CH attacks when O2 failed. I haven't had any CH since I found Clusterbusters.

BB

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by unsolved1 on Feb 10^th, 2006, 7:00pm

I've done TONS of Trex. I was doing 6 - 8 injections per day for a LONG time. My doc said use what you need and thats what I was needing at the time. I don't think 3 per day will hurt you.

UNsolved

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by BlueMeanie on Feb 10^th, 2006, 7:10pm

Have you read the Imitrex tip to the left of this page. Splitting a shot in half works just as good as a whole shot for most people. You can do 3 half shots instead and still be under the recommended daily dosage. Plus it cost 1/2 the price.

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by BikerBob on Feb 10^th, 2006, 7:25pm

on 02/10/06 at 19:00:25, unsolved1 wrote:

I've done TONS of Trex. I was doing 6 - 8 injections per day for a LONG time. My doc said use what you need and thats what I was needing at the time. I don't think 3 per day will hurt you.

UNsolved

Have you considered the possibility that that is why you are UNsolved?

BB

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Feb 10^th, 2006, 7:34pm

As already said, follow the Imitrex tip to the left, or ask your doc for multidose vials and syringes.

It is dangerous ... repeat, dangerous ... for your heart if you exceed the recommended 12mg/24 hr. dosage. Plus, it causes pretty bad rebounds.

Here's wishing you relief very soon!

Kris

Title: Re: Too much Trex?
Post by unsolved1 on Feb 10^th, 2006, 9:05pm

on 02/10/06 at 19:25:36, BikerBob wrote:

Have you considered the possibility that that is why you are UNsolved?

BB

I take the Trex whenever I need to ... as much as I need. There's no doubt about it, it has saved my life. Without it, I would've ended it all long ago ! Now that I'm doing Histamine, I don't need it much ;)

UNsolved