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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Imitrex question
        
(Message started by: Bond007 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 4:07pm)

Title: Imitrex question
Post by Bond007 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 4:07pm

I've recently been diagnosed with CH. My neuro and GP both believe that I also do suffer from migraines as well. In the past, I've tried Imitrex for my migraine attacks and it didn't even touch the damn thing. Is it possible that Imitrex could help abort my CH attack even though it doesn't help my migraines?

Title: Re: Imitrex question
Post by vig on Jul 27^th, 2006, 6:03pm

give it a shot...

(pun not intended.)
[smiley=laugh.gif]

what have you got to lose?

Title: Re: Imitrex question
Post by hwm54112 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 7:21pm

I could be mistaken, but I believe that, while imitrex was developed for migraine, the injection form is much more effective for cluster than it is for migraine. It probably has to do with the half lives of the medication and the delivery form and that would make sense. Imitrex pills are generally useless for cluster because they take too long to act, but they are effective for migraine The HA tends to be over before the medication can act on a cluster. Conversely, a migraine can last for days while the effect of an injection is out of the system in an hour or less. So the pills tend to work better for migraines, even though both were developed for migraines and both are promoted as migraine medications.

I'd give the injections a try. Just try to use it as soon as you feel an attack coming on.

Title: Re: Imitrex question
Post by Bond007 on Jul 28^th, 2006, 6:14pm

Y'all have a point! There's no harm in trying and right now I'm willing to try just about anything to get these damn things to stop. :-/

Thanks for the advice gang!