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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: FDA 
        
(Message started by: Melissa on Jul 19^th, 2006, 3:36pm)

Title: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: FDA
Post by Melissa on Jul 19^th, 2006, 3:36pm

From Reuters....

Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: FDA

1 hour, 10 minutes ago

The use of some migraine drugs with certain antidepressants can cause a fatal condition in which patients experience hallucinations, overactive reflexes and rapid heart beat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned on Wednesday.

The antidepressants of concern include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, the FDA said.

Patients should talk to their doctors before discontinuing antidepressant or migraine drugs known as triptans, it added.

Does anyone have anything else to expand on this??

Thanks,
mel

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by walkertexasranger on Jul 19^th, 2006, 9:21pm

And these drugs are called??????

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by john_d on Jul 20^th, 2006, 7:34am

This article does, caught it this morning....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_he_me/migraine_warning;_ylt=AsgJBSqzyBREHpjwWLSMXYcDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhZDhxNDFzBHNlYwNtZW5ld3M

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by clarence on Jul 20^th, 2006, 7:38am

I saw this too...you beat me to it!

I take Imitrex and Prozac...and I will probably mention it to my doc on Tuesday when see him.

Casey

edit to add: the article says that these drugs are:

Quote:

Commonly prescribed SSRIs include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Lexapro. SNRIs include Cymbalta and Effexor. Triptans include Amerge, Axert, Imitrex and Zomig.

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by Melissa on Jul 20^th, 2006, 10:15am

Thank you John and Casey.

On a more personal note, I was on Cymbalta for my last cycle, but fortunately I did not need the imitrex I had stashed because I was trying kudzu along with O2. I am currently on nothing (except vitamins) and out of cycle.

This whole thing has me EXTREMELY concerned about everyone here as a huge majority of us are on SSRI/SSRNI's along with taking triptans.

Please, everyone carefully monitor your physical and mental health!!

Melissa

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by thomas on Jul 20^th, 2006, 3:53pm

Triptans are chemically very similar to seretonin. I am going to have to re-think my own treatment regimen.

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by Pinkfloyd on Jul 20^th, 2006, 7:27pm

Many migrainers have known about this for a long time. Unfortunately, its usually the sufferers that begin logging bad side effects before the FDA gets involved and does a study.

Serotonin Syndrome can be very serious/dangerous and if allowed to go on for too long, becomes more difficult to treat, and recover. Its a good idea for anyone using SSRI's and/or MAOIs and triptans to know what the symptoms are.
It isn't something that happens often but the numbers of cases have been on the rise.

Since SSRI's aren't usually very effective for treating clusters, I don't think many doctors/researchers have looked at these possible complications for cluster sufferers as often as with migraines, since many migrainers use SSRI's, MAOIs and now, in combination with the triptans, in one treatment plan for migraines.
They seem to forget, or they may be being prescribed by two different doctors, for problems unrelated to cluster treatments, that many cluster folks DO use these combos.

Check out the symptoms and don't wait around if they begin to appear. Here's a good place to start:
http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/feat/acf2fa6.htm

Bobw

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by MattNL on Jul 21^st, 2006, 3:37am

I suspected this already. Have used several years ago SSRI combined with sumatriptan and thought it had very negative impact on CH. (more attacks, more intense) My Neuro told me (6 years ago!) he heard this from more patients.
BTW I also found something interesting on the internet.
I think good news specially for Americans?
I hope generic Sumatriptan subcutane will also soon be available here in Holland because of cost.
http://www.spectrumpharm.com/sumatriptan.html

Regards,

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by FramCire on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 6:47pm

Thank you for posting this. I just started Lexapro TODAY and took it minutes after taking Maxalt.

I will have to talk tomy doctor about it. I was on Wellbutrin but the 3 times I tried taking it, it triggered a cluster. The first 2 times I attributed to coincidence, not this time.

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by Melissa on Jul 28^th, 2006, 8:49pm

bump

Title: Re: Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: F
Post by big_guy on Aug 9^th, 2006, 7:12am

This needs to be kept recent. An E R Dr prescribed Axert for me with out seeing I was on Celexa. Or maybe he didn't know, but after the third time I took the Axert I began to feel really bad. Fever, chills, profuse sweating, confusion and alternating between lethargic and almost manic. I found this thread and recognised seratonin syndrome. Since my regular Dr was out of town I decided to quit the Celexa on my own. My Dr is very agreeable to letting me work with my meds as he has beeen very impressed with the research I have done, mostly through links on this site. What a great resource CH.com is. I went to see the Dr when he returned to town, and showed him the information. My diagnosis and treatment were right on. He is adjusting all my medications based on information I have provided him.

Thanks to everyone here for a great resource

Big guy