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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> imitrex tablet form ok?
        
(Message started by: krtman on May 17^th, 2006, 8:36pm)

Title: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by krtman on May 17^th, 2006, 8:36pm

Probably been asked before, but I was prescribed Imitrex tabs rather than injection, and wondered if people have found them effective, considering the quick onset of CHs and the digestion time needed for the tabs. Should I ask for a change? I have tried them twice in this cycle and the first time it seemed to work in time, but the second time it seemed like about 45 min. before I got any relief.

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by Jonny on May 17^th, 2006, 8:46pm

The tabs take much longer than the injects, if you wake up with a Kip 10 you are screwed with the tabs.....with the injects you can kill it in ten minutes or less.

Having taken Terx injects for years myself I found that they caused rebounds bad, I switched to Zomig nasal spray, works just as fast as the Trex injects without any rebounds.......and, the half life is five times longer.

This is just my experiance (30 years chronic)

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by Kris_in_SJ on May 17^th, 2006, 9:01pm

Ditto to Jonny,

Tabs take way too long to work for a classic cluster. Autoinjects have been my personal salvation, but you might also consider the nasal spray.

One more tool in the arsenal ...

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by Dave on May 17^th, 2006, 9:52pm

You're right. Oral triptans work too slowly, especially considering that a typical CH lasts around an hour. On the other hand, the oral triptans do have a fairly prolonged period of effectiveness.

I have had some success with oral triptans when combining with other abortive methods. The other method slows it down; then the triptan kicks in and can keep it away for the night.

For some people, O2 inhalation works fairly quickly. Others (myself included) report significant relief from vigorous exercise like weight lifting. These methods, if they work for you, may take 5-10 minutes to kick in. One problem with these abortive methods is the CH often comes back, sometimes as soon as a half hour to an hour later. That's where taking an oral triptan is useful. It helps keep it from coming back.

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by Jonny on May 17^th, 2006, 10:00pm

Or you could just take the tab before bed as a preventitive ;)

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by thebbz on May 17^th, 2006, 10:40pm

Ditto all of the above. I had 100mg trex tabs several years ago. They didn't work fast enough until I chewed them up then chased it with coffee. Mixed results even then. I still have them in the dope bag though [smiley=laugh.gif] Get the injectables.
jb

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by D_Robinson on May 18^th, 2006, 12:38am

Taking a tab before bed would not be wise. You will get addicted to it pretty fast and well the rebounds are not fun. Also my bp was really high when I was on the zomig, and normally even when I was smoking my bp was 110 over 70, and on the zomig I could set a high score on any bp testing machine.

The nasal zomig works in about 20 minutes for me and well if I catch it fast enough I was getting relief just as the pain was really building. The unusal taste was worth the speed. The tablet would take an hour for me. I am not a needle person.

The tablet did seem to stay in my system much longer then the nasal spray, which was good from a standpoint of it would keep me headache free for around 12 hours, and the nasal spray would run a few hours shorter sometimes.

I still would not recommend taking them as a preventative. I did that in 2003, and well the rebound headaches were allmost as bad as the CHs after 30 days. It was a really stupid mistake and well had to really work on weaning myself of the zomigs and it was very painful. I am only eposidic so maybe the rebounds from taking zomig as a preventative had a bit more impact on me since my normal cycle is 4 weeks long.

David

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by krtman on May 18^th, 2006, 8:54am

Thanks all for your advice. Had another episode last night and the tab worked in about 15-20 minutes, just in time to keep it from getting real bad.

By the way, can one of you explain what rebound is all about?

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by The mad viking on May 18^th, 2006, 8:59am

The imitrex-shots takes some 7-9 min to kick in,and as far as i know there is no meds for us clusterheads that start sooner then that.
I think the docs main consern is economy.
Some of the docs are strange in this matter,for some reason

Svenn

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by jmorgan52 on May 19^th, 2006, 5:51am

I wasted much time and money on Imigran tabs 10 or more years ago. They did nothing much for me. An hour later I was still in agony, and that's if I had not spewed them up by then! I tried them 6 times

The nasal spray was just as useless. Maybe it was my technique but they didn't help a bit. I also tried them 6 times.

All this because I was too chicken to try the injections.

The first time I tried the injection was after being driven home by my wife from a social lunch and I did not have any meds with me and I was really bad. The guys I was with thought I was having a big problem with my red eye tearing badly.

I took the inj as soon as I got in the house and didn't expect it to help much as the tabs and spray had never worked, but 10mins later I was jubilant and totally pain free! The only big problem was getting more from my medical aid who only allowed 2 per month. Useless for a clusterhead!

Jonny I never tried Zomig yet but will keep this in mind if (when) there is a next time. I'm a couple of years PF so far. 8)

John

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by chewy on May 19^th, 2006, 7:11am

Rebounds are low level headaches caused by overuse of medication.

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by Dave on May 20^th, 2006, 8:47pm

For all these reasons, taking it easy with the oral triptans and saving them for the really bad attacks is not a bad idea.

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by NotH20 on Jun 1^st, 2006, 1:02pm

I use the injections during the night and tablets during the day. The injections work for me shortly after 5 minutes...the tablets take about 15 minutes. The 50 mg tablets don't work for me unless I'm at the beginning or nearing the end of my 4 month cycle. Not sure if it helps, but I usually take the pills with warm water [smiley=huh.gif]

Mia

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by rhino on Jun 6^th, 2006, 11:57pm

I am having a hell of a bad time now, is it possiable to get caught up in a cycle of rebounding?

My cycle is generally 3 to 4 weeks. I am now 3 months
and no light at the end of this tunnel.

Title: Re: imitrex tablet form ok?
Post by Charlotte on Jun 8^th, 2006, 8:34pm

Rhino, I think that is possible. What are you taking and on what schedule.

krtman, do get ramp up warning signs like twinges or spasms or burning in your eyebrow, upper lip, or chin? If you do, that would be the time to take the Imitrix tab so that it would have time to get in your system.

You might want to read about Kudzu in the Medication section. It is a systemic thing, not an abortive. Many people have had some relief with it, myself included.

Charlotte