|
||
|
Title: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by LadyLuv on Apr 14th, 2006, 4:45pm Hello CH Familly.. Happy Easter.. Do anyone know anything about "Maxalt"... I have had only about two weeks totally of pain free since our DAVCON meet and greet. Having so much problems getting the insurance copany to pay for my meds... I've had several trips to the ER in the pass two months, and I've begged God to take me many, many times. I went to see a new Neurologist yesterday, he is attempting to get me an O2 tank and also prescribed a new medication "Maxalt".. But there again, once I got too the drug store I find out that I need prior approval from the Insurance Company 24 hours, 7 hits later, I'm still waiting. Please say a Prayer for me during this Easter week-end.. As I will do for each of you.. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by E-Double on Apr 14th, 2006, 4:47pm MAxalt has been around a while. There are far better, faster and longer acting triptans. I hope ya catch a break really soon. Best wishes and get that tank! E |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by StressFree on Apr 14th, 2006, 6:09pm In my case, I thought triptans would be of no help since Imitrex tabs and Injections caused multiple atttacks day and night. The last round though, my doc gave me samples of Maxalt 10mg tabs and a perscription along with Prednisone taper and Verapamil. The Maxalt worked very well, though I would end up taking 2 sometimes to ensure cluster would be aborted. I also used up some old Stadol nasal spray when at home, and kind of alternated with the Maxalt to try to prevent either from becoming ineffective. This was one of the shortest cycles I had and with less frequent and less severe attacks. I did have several KIP 10's break through, but nothing compared to other cycles where it was KIP 10's daily and often many times daily. I'd give it a try. Best of luck and more importantly - prayers for you, Rich |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Skyhawk5 on Apr 14th, 2006, 7:36pm I've used Maxalt (melt under the tongue) with only limited success, 1 out of 5 hits. Doing it at the start of the hit a.s.a.p. seemed to be critical. The O2 is very helpful and is also time critical for me. Make sure you get the correct mask a NON-REBREATHER. The "Nasal Canula" is useless for CH. Prayers your way, Skyhawk5, Don |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Charlotte on Apr 14th, 2006, 7:53pm I use 1/4 generic maxalt. Timing is everything for me. I use it on the 2nd ramp up when the eyebrow is twinging & burning, it takes another 10 minutes, and then it helps prevent the periferal damage like not being able to think. I'm not using it so much for relief as for damage control. If I miss the 2nd ramp up, 1/4 or 1/2 helps over half the time. Good luck. Charlotte p.s. Have you met Nani? |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Garys_Girl on Apr 14th, 2006, 9:54pm When Gary was misdiagnosed with Migraines several years ago he was prescribed Maxalt. It didn't work for him. Hope you get your approval and that it works for you! Laurie |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Karla on Apr 14th, 2006, 10:53pm Maxalt is in the same family as imitrex it is a triptan. However, where imitrex works miricles for me maxalt makes my ha much more intense and worse. :-/ |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by LadyLuv on Apr 15th, 2006, 12:17am Thanks to each of you that answer, and to those who did not, but are still Praying.. Sorry that I am just not responding but this is the first time since earlier today that I haven't either been having an attack or been totally exhausted and trying to get a little rest before the next attack. I'm totally out of meds and as of 5pm the doctor had not gotten the o2 tank approved and my pharmacy advised that the med wasn't approved either as of 5pm. I'll check back on both first thing in the morning. God, it has never been this bad, I'll probably end up back at the ER tonight. I've missed at least one day of work per week, for the past 2 month, and since we only get 5 sick days per year, I've been using vacation days. It's very hard for me to understand Insurance Companies, each time I go to the ER it cost me $125 co-pay, but it cost them $375. I'm going broke and they're being the rear in of a horse. I guess that I shouldn't complain, there are a lot of people worse off than I am.. This not my norm, I am a very positive person; but the past two plus months have taken a lot out of me.. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Roxy on Apr 15th, 2006, 12:37am Maxalt won't even get rid of a hangover for me, much less a cluster. See if you can get your doctor to prescribe Zomig NS, Relpax or Amerge....these work much better and last much, much longer. |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by LadyLuv on Apr 15th, 2006, 12:53am Thanks Roxy.. I have the list and I will check with him on Monday... I'm Praying that I will have the 02 tank by than.. I used o2 before, and it works, but only if I use it when the headache first hits. So if it's during the night and I wake up with one, it's to late for 02 in my case, that's why I need some meds. These past two months have really showed me what a coward I am or what a Christian I am, many times during my attacks and seeing no relief, I have thought that death would be the best solution. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by nani on Apr 15th, 2006, 5:31am Hi Ruthie! Girl, you are no coward, but I suspect you already know that, LOL. Maxalt worked for me, for a few months. Have you tried kudzu for this cycle? It helped you some last time, didn't it? It finally stopped working for me, so I've moved on to Clusterbusters (which has been my most effective treatment so far, and hasn't failed me yet). I'm sending PF prayers and wishes to you, hon. Be well. hugs and love, nani |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by mynm156 on Apr 15th, 2006, 10:30pm Taste like CRAP! Had better working drugs as well. I suppose if I had nothing else I'd take one. |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by FramCire on Apr 17th, 2006, 9:55am The regular Maxalt didn't work for me but the MLT (dissolving) worked better. Can you call your doctor and ask for samples of the MLT? Your perscription will probably only get you 6 tabs per month anyway, so the samples will get you more to use until you can refill. My primary care doc had samples of MXT and they are refilled on a regular basis. (Editted: MLT not MXT) |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by NotH20 on Apr 17th, 2006, 6:52pm It's been years since I've used Maxalt, but it did work for me when I tried it. I just like Imitrex a lot better. I would use that, Zomig and Imitrex since I too was having insurance problems (try not to mix the triptans during a 24 hour period). LadyLuv, we all know what's it like to fight the beast and sometimes we do feel weak.....but that's what we're here for. We're here to support each other when we're having an awful time. You are NO coward - you are a sufferer - plain and simple. Stay strong and stay on your docs and the pharmacy to get the right meds. I agree - ask for some samples since the insurance is always a problem. Good luck to you - you have a lot of people backing you up here. Mia |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by LadyLuv on Apr 18th, 2006, 1:18pm Thanks to every one for your replies.. the knowledge that I have gotten on medication and alternative relief from my CH Family over the years have been priceless, there are times that just talking to some of you have been like a life line to me. I don't have to worry about laying off one med for 24hrs before starting another, because most of the time I don't have any. When ever I'm not in cycle (which is rare over the past two years :-[) I continue to fill my prescription when ever I can and store up for when the devil attack. But most of the time, I still run out before the cycle is over. Yes, the sample thing is why I didn't have too much of a problem until the last year.. Last year Carle Clinic/Hospital Trauma Center put a band on their physicians being able to accept samples; so no longer can my doctor give me all of his samples of Trex and those of other doctors; if fact they can't even offer a sample of a asprin. I received a call approximately 1/2 ago that the 02 tank have been approved. I have an appoint @ 3:30pm to pick and my 02 tank and get instructions from a therapist... {Thank God For That...) ;;D Once again Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.... Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Beastfodder on Apr 18th, 2006, 5:29pm Been a while since I tried Maxalts - had the Melts you put under the tongue, stopped some maybe more often than not, but it's just two a day. Beware the ones they don't catch they were by far the worst I've had. Heard Frovatriptan is a better weapon of choice in Triptans, but as a clusterbuster convert I'm sorry but I just don't have to go there anymore. All the best and good luck |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by sandie99 on Apr 19th, 2006, 3:00am Maxalt rabitab (those melt under tongue things) is the only painmed which worked for my ch in the past. I was PF in 5 minutes! (I haven't tried them this time around, though.) The side effects: some heaviness on chest, I fell asleep 4 hours after taking maxalt and woke up tired and bit confused on the next morning. Sanna |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by FramCire on Apr 19th, 2006, 12:40pm on 04/18/06 at 13:18:36, LadyLuv wrote:
I hope you got a NON-REBREATHER mask. See the link to the left to make sure. If not, call the place you got it and ask them for it. HUGE DIFFERENCE. |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by crayk on Apr 19th, 2006, 5:46pm While reading through this, I saw some posts on relpax and it not working after its' used for a while. My clusters tend to be spread out. Since I quit smoking, I tend to get one cycle per year and it seems like I get every 3rd year off....before I quit, I got them at least 2x/year with longer cycles and more frequent headaches. For me relpax tends to work fairly fast, within 20 minutes (these are 40mg). I first used it in the summer of 2004 and it worked like a charm. I had a few samples left when i got them the following year. They hadn't expired, but they did not work like they did before. My doctor gave me a bunch of new samples when I went in and those pills worked just as well as they had a year earlier. My guess is that these may be more sensitive to temperature and/or age than most meds. Not sure this helps anyone that they stopped working for as you may get far more clusters cycles than I do with more headaches/day and for longer cycles. Now if only relpax didn't cost so much. |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by LadyLuv on Apr 20th, 2006, 3:19pm I won the battle, but lost the war!! After getting the Maxalt approved by the Insurance Co. and paying a $40 co-pay, I find out that it don't work for me. I was awaken at 3am this morning with a CH 5-6. I immediately place a dissolvable Maxalt under my tongue and waited for relief. 25 minutes later I had escalated to a kip-8 and by this time I was no longer just waiting for relief, but I was Praying furiously for quick relief. Seeing no relief in sight I turned to my newly acquired o2 tank, (feeling in my heart that the o2 tank would not help me, because I had allowed the CH to escalate to high) with in 10 minutes the pain level had start to decline and with-in the next 5 minutes I was able to stop the tears. I was hit again at 6:15am, and decided to give the Maxalt one more try, it was like having a cert in my mouth, absolutely no help for my headache, once again, after 25min and a sturdy climb of escalation, I turned to the o2 tank. Now it will probably take an act of Congress to get the insurance company to approve some other medication for me. I'm only allowed six o2 tanks per month, and I've already used one in the last two days. I called the doctor's office to advise of the situation, and the nurse advised me that I probably did not give the Maxalt enough time to work. She advised that I should give it AT LEAST TWO HOURS, than take another one and give that one some time also before I say the med do not work. I was very calm (Yea right), well, I tried to be calm as I explained to her that I could not stand the pain that I was in for 2-hours... and the reason for medication is because one is seeking immediate relief. So now here I sit, waiting on some kind of answer. I don't expect any of you to solve anything for me I just wanted to say a BIG THANKS to each of you for listening and understanding, when no one else seems to have a clue. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Charlotte on Apr 20th, 2006, 3:29pm That 2 hour thing is because they're thinking migraine. I'm sorry it didn't work. What are you thinking to try next? Charlotte |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by LadyLuv on Apr 20th, 2006, 4:29pm Thanks Charlotte... Once again this has proved to be the place to learn. I did had know idea why this woman was telling me to suffer for two hours... But the idea that she was thinking MEEGrain makes a lot of since.. This even help me to be able to say to the next person, this is not at MEEgrain, this is a cluster.. which has about as much in common as a drizzle and a hurricane.. Charlotte, I will try anything that will help.. I told her to ask the doctor if I could have the Imitrex (in the vial) or zomig.. I have taken the Trex, but never the Zomig.. The problem is going to be getting them to let me have anything and they just okay the Maxalt.. I'm Praying that they understand the the Maxalt did work, so that's like not having anything... I'm even dreading going to sleep to night, because even if I am Blessed enough for them to give me something, I want be able to take it until tomorrow morning, since I last took he Maxalt this morning.. Peace & Blessings Ruthie... |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by StressFree on Apr 26th, 2006, 2:36pm About the effectiveness of Maxalt tabs, as well as other triptan tablets, I take mine with a few chugs of fairly hot water immediately at sign of cluster attack. The ones I had were not "melt under tongue" either. Also I did not get rebounds like I did with the Imitrex (tabs or injection). The Maxalt seemed to have a long lasting effect in my case. Of course who knows if this would work for me again? It seems to change constantly and from cycle to cycle. Wishing you the best, Rich |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by Cerberus on Apr 26th, 2006, 4:47pm on 04/20/06 at 15:19:12, LadyLuv wrote:
O2 FIRST.......... at first sign of hit. dont wait. 'Bus |
||
|
Title: Re: What can you tell me about "Maxalt"? Post by jmorgan52 on May 3rd, 2006, 7:28am LadyLuv As for Maxalt: The melting under the tongue version was apparently developed for those who had problems swallowing a pill. They don't work any quicker, nor are they any more effective than the pills - both of which are absolutely crap for CH in my own experience with trying 6 of them a few years ago. Might be ok for migraines? As for Imitrex - in my experience the pills and nasal sprays are also crap at stopping a CH. The injections are wonderful. I have taken lots of them over the years and I have never yet had the experience when they did not stop the pain 100% within 10 minutes, no matter how bad the pain was or how long ago the CH had set in. I've never tried the oxygen but the portability of the inj kit is great for me. Especially at work. Just pop off to the toilet, inject, and 10 minutes later I am back on th ejob without taking the day off sick. The only problem is making sure you have enough stock. I always did this by making sure I filled my monthly prescriptions even when I was out of cycle so that I had enough in reserve for the bad times. Currently I am PF for a few years but I still keep my out of date Imitrex injections for "just in case" and have no problems with using years out of date stock. Just keep it in a dark cool place. Good luck John |
||
|
Clusterheadaches.com Message Board » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1! YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved. |