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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> What's the deal with Imitrex?
        
(Message started by: luveemom on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 11:47am)

Title: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 11:47am

I read you all talking about Imitrex, and I don't know what you are referring to.....I am not able to take any triptans since years ago when I was on maxalt, amerge and a few others I forgot that gave me chest pain....My doc has asked me about Imitrex...what is the deal with it? Does it make you feel like crap? What?

Thanks,
alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by nani on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 11:50am

It's a powerful vasoconstrictor. It's usually not recommended if you have heart issues. I can't use it either.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 11:52am

I use the imitrex injectable using the stat dose pen. I sue them sparingly because i don't like how I feel. First i hate needles, once I get it in me I hate that "snakes up the back" feeling as it races to my head, but it has been 100% effective at knocking down the bad ones the oxygen doesn't tame.

It's a strong medication, obviously just from the speed in which it works. Literally in less then a minute it's in my head calming everything down. If you have any potential heart issues it is something you want to be very careful with.

Have you tried the oxygen route? It's still my favorite, most effective abortive and i like that there are no side effects for me.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 11:59am

Thanks, I was just curious about Imitrex...I do have o2, but it is not getting rid of it. I am in a bad cycle right now. My topamax just isn't high enough yet, and the o2 works to knock it down a notch, but I am getting hit all day..I have been sick for 4 weeks now. I am feeling really bad. I just want to be PF for a little while....even the shadows are driving me crazy....I don't think I have heart disease....but I get chest pains from those drugs..
I am 40 and I did smoke for 20 yrs....

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Rosybabe on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 1:25pm

maybe if you try some Cafergot, it works for me and does not give me chest pains. Melatonin at night to keep night hits at bay.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 1:41pm

Cafergot is an old one I used to take. I stopped taking it when it stopped working. I don't know if would work again. Usually once they are on the "don't work anymore" list I forget about them...I am at a loss...I guess I just have to hang tight until I get topamax ramped up some more. I am calling Stamford today though and trying to make an appt. with them, I don't like this new neuro guy...I think he see's mostly MS pt's and no cluster people.

alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 2:12pm

I tried cafergot in the mid 80's and it did nothing for me, now it's a life saver. For me, oxygen will abort a hit, but it comes back 10-20 minutes after I shut off the 02. I tried staying on the 02 for 10-15 minutes after it was gone, same result, 10-20 minutes later he's back.

Now when I get one starting, I toss down a cafergot and fire off the 02. The 02 beats him into submission, the cafergot buys me up to 12 hours of pain free time. Another of what I've seen to be many examples of meds that didn't work alone but do wonders in combo.

Hope you get some relief soon, your frustration is loud and clear. Pulling for you.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 2:20pm

Thanks....maybe I should give it a try again then. I never think to go back to the old meds, but what you describe is what is happening...it just keeps on coming back....and I can't be on the o2 all day it's just not practical.

Thanks again,

alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by CC_stole_my_Harte on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 3:55pm

I'll tell you the deal with imitrex... The deal si that it only costs them like 40 cents to make a pack of three injectibles- and yet they charge upwards of $450 for them! Making the insurance companies reluctant to buy them and (In the case of my boyfriend his insurance refused to pay for them anymore after paying for a couple of years, and then another insurance company he was on wouldn't even put him on that treatment) What a bunch of selfish b*astards. Why charge that much for something that was so cheap to make?! Alicia, my boyfriend is starting the RC seeds hopefully on monday to try and abort his cycle. I was a little sceptical at first considering the stigma with it but you should read some of the threads on it. It seems to have a ton of success.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 4:03pm

That really is too bad, I know my topamax costs me an arm and a leg too. The insurance only covers about one round of it and then it's maxed out. I don't even know what RC seeds are.....I don't think I wanna try anything alternative at this point...I know the topamax will work eventually..I pray anyway, it did before. I am just very sick right now and grasping at straws.

Thanks,

alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by CC_stole_my_Harte on Aug 3^rd, 2007, 4:25pm

I think that is how alot of these folks started the rc seets treatment- they were grasping at straws. I didn't find out about this until a week ago and now I am mostly convinced it will help my BF (We will see what happens when we start it on monday) But from what I've heard it can not only abort an attack, it will also end a cycle and also prevent a cycle. I will keep ya updated on how Chris does.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by MR_FLOOR on Aug 4^th, 2007, 10:10pm

on 08/03/07 at 15:55:42, CC_stole_my_Harte wrote:

The deal si that it only costs them like 40 cents to make a pack of three injectibles- and yet they charge upwards of $450 for them!

Hell of a mark up huh.

The deal with Imitrex is that it works,it's like a miracle drug when it comes to Clusters for me at least.

Dave

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by thebbz on Aug 4^th, 2007, 10:22pm

Imitrex is ....sumatriptan succinate. It is a triptan.

Quote:

I am not able to take any triptans since years ago when I was on maxalt, amerge and a few others I forgot that gave me chest pain....My doc has asked me about Imitrex...what is the deal with it? Does it make you feel like crap? What?

Back up a bit. first if you cant take triptans because of heart complications what in the hell is your doc recommending the king of triptans for?...Imitrex.

Quote:

...it just keeps on coming back....and I can't be on the o2 all day it's just not practical.

Next being on 02 constantly is not needed. You should get an hour or more relief from one treatment session.
How are you administering the 02...cannula tube, non-rebreather, demand regulator, clustermasx? What is the flow rate?
How long is your 02 treatment? 10min,,,20.,,,what?
Are you getting 100% 02 or are you ingesting ambient air from some source?
What the ??? If you have heart problems make sure your doc knows before you take imitrex. NEVER MIX TRIPTANS ...never.
thebb
Screw how much it cost. ...that shit will kill you if you have a heart condition. There are numerous warnings about this on any packaging. Get a new doc.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by E-Double on Aug 5^th, 2007, 8:33am

read up on zyprexa (olanzapine)
If you have health problems that prevent you from taking triptans or ergotomines then zyprexa may be a more than efficient and practical alternative( if you want to take medicines)

I will post the research later and some more info that I have on my other computer.

good luck

E

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 5^th, 2007, 10:32am

One of the things I have heard about olanzapine is how quicky it acts as an abortive for those who use it. I have heard that it can work in 7-10 minutes, and it's a pill!

Some around here SWEAR by it.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Lenny on Aug 5^th, 2007, 1:06pm

[quote

The deal with Imitrex is that it works,it's like a miracle drug when it comes to Clusters for me at least.

Ditto..............Lenny

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 5^th, 2007, 4:54pm

I will have to look into the zyprexa. I'll ask the doc about it. As for the o2, I have a little jimmy rig here...my hubby rigged the o2 concentrator to the small tank we have and together we think we are getting about 15lpm. Yes, I have the non-rebreather. I do get some relief, but only temporary, then I get hit again. It's not been very effective, that may be because my topamax is still way too low right now, I don't know. I don't have any known heart conditions, all I know is that when I do take a triptan drug I get chest pain.
thank you all...
alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by horsegirl on Aug 5^th, 2007, 9:30pm

this is ofcourse just my oppinion.,but just to break your cycle out of pattern, i would get on predisone taper, it pretty much stops my ha for the whole time i'm on it. have you ever tried verapamil? I think it has less side effects then topamax. I was only on 360 a day, and I rarely got ha till my cycle finished. and o2 didnt work to well for me during the peek of my cycle , but works great for all the rest. :)

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Purple_05 on Aug 5^th, 2007, 9:38pm

I think sometimes the issue is we find preventives that work but while we're tapering up on them to the dose that works for us we have to suffer. Imitrex works as a good abortive for a lot of people but lately I'm not getting as much help from Imitrex as I use to. :'( This morning it took and 1 hour 20 minutes to work.....I'm not quite sure what that means. :-/

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 5^th, 2007, 10:52pm

I have never tried prednisone but doesn't that have lots of it's own bad side effects?? I don't have bad side effects from topamax, it's just that I am ramping up right now and until I get to 200mgs I will be suffering. The o2 is not working so great right now, but probably will once I get the topamax up. My doc did say that he was tempted to put me on verapamil, but he said why bother if topamax works so well for me. I just ramped up to 100mgs tonight so....yippee...almost there....

alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by thebbz on Aug 5^th, 2007, 11:32pm

Alicia,
the 02 has to administered correctly to get the proper effect. You must be gettng 100% 02 at a high flow rate.
Does your non-rebreather have any opening in the nosepiece? It should have two round..butterfly's one will have a rubber disk to keep the air from entering when you inhale.. the other one needs to be blocked, and not left open. Or you need to pilpher another butterfly cover...or tape it shut. You need a high flow rate for the 20 min. With no flow indication or regulator you may not be getting the proper flow. Breathing an unknown amount will have a detrimental effect. With the situation your describing you may not be administering properly resulting in failure of the treatment.....
Clustermasx.com
Get one they work well
12 to 15 lpm to start. Your mileage may vary.
Proper flow and treatment technique will improve the effectiveness greatly.
all the best
thebb

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 6^th, 2007, 10:35am

Prednisone is okay for short periods. I ususally go on a 2 week taper from 80 mg a day down to zero, when I first start a cycle. That allows time for the lithium to build up in my system.

I have been known to horde my prednisone and will keep enough on hand to take short breaks during a cycle when I'm really getting creamed. I'm one of the lucky ones that pred will give me 100% relief from them so if I'm taking a special trip or have something planned that I absolutely can't get hit, I'll go on a short pred run. But you're right, long term pred will really play havoc with your body, it's not childrens tylenol by any strecth!!!!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by luveemom on Aug 6^th, 2007, 2:31pm

Thanks guys....as far as the o2 your right I am not sure on the liters exactly....I inquired about the cluster masx and after several days got an email back saying they are sorry and are having problems with their order and payment systems and are not taking any orders at this time..... :( so..............

thanks again for the info

alicia

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by thomas on Aug 6^th, 2007, 5:23pm

I know that an O2 concentrater will NOT give you 15 lpm. As far as imitrex goes, if amerge gave you chest pains, I would STRONGLY caution you NOT to try imitrex. Instead get a good O2 regulator and some tanks that hold enough O2. Do NOT experiment with triptans they are serious business and can cause some major problems, even death.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 6^th, 2007, 5:27pm

on 08/06/07 at 17:23:29, thomas wrote:

I know that an O2 concentrater will NOT give you 15 lpm.

But connecting two of them in parallel will.

Edited to add: This usually is not a good solution for CH'ers because the concentrators can take up to 10 minutes before they're delivering their capacity, which at best is still only 90-92%.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by DWAL on Aug 7^th, 2007, 12:23pm

I was getting a headache at 7 last night and i knew it was going to be bad because it was escalating fast. took the imitrex for the first time ever and it was gone in 15 minutes. I still got twinges in my head, felt flush, sick to my stomich (not real bad), dizzy, tired, kind of shakey. The side affects were better than the pain. I took it again today.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by billyjoe on Aug 7^th, 2007, 1:44pm

You will get less side affects with a smaller dose of Trex. You probably only need half a dose. See the Imitrex Tip on the left<--.
Warning: This stuff is addictive, in the sense that you will want to use it all the time, and it may extend your cycle.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by BlueMeanie on Aug 7^th, 2007, 8:03pm

on 08/07/07 at 13:44:39, billyjoe wrote:

When I used to take a full shot, the trex would make me dizzy and a little uneasy feeling. Since learning the Imitrex tip, no problems. CH gone within 10 minutes. Not sure about extending cycles and addictive, but to rid a CH, its' a life saver. I've had very short AND very long cycles using Trex. With episodics, it seams the beast last however long it feels like it no matter what you do.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Redd on Aug 7^th, 2007, 8:25pm

I think we need to qualify and/or quantify "addictive" when it comes to Imitrex.

It is not physically addictive in the way narcodics are.

However, blend the fear of an attack, and (if effective) the speed at which it takes effect and aborts an attack, there would be a possitive reinforcement based behavioral dependancy on this drug.

E Double will come along if I have this wrong, being the behaviorist. But when one is getting hit frequently, and that person has experienced the fast acting effect of this med, it seems logical to me that one would get conditioned to attempt to abort each and every attack, rather than see how high the thing ramps up, or pick and choose when it's more important to abort or when it's ok to ride it out.

Do I have the concept right Eric?

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by DWAL on Aug 7^th, 2007, 8:59pm

All I know is that it works. Will continue to take it to stop the hell. Mine is a pill, the box says not to break them, does anyone know the affects if you do break them in half?

Oh yea what is a rc seed?

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by BlueMeanie on Aug 7^th, 2007, 9:23pm

on 08/07/07 at 20:25:14, Redd wrote:

one would get conditioned to attempt to abort each and every attack, rather than see how high the thing ramps up

Redd, I know we are all different and I see all the time about people who get 10 hits a day with a few 5's, a few 3's and maybe a 7 then a 9. (just an example).

I'm only speaking for myself, but after 26 years I've NEVER had a Kip 6 or below. I get no more than 4 a day max, but they have ALWAYS been KIP 7 and above prior to Trex,. I never even knew there where milder hits until I found this board. So to clarify, yes I always do trex and it always works.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by E-Double on Aug 7^th, 2007, 11:16pm

Negative reinforcement Pegg :-*

key word is removal= removal of pain would increase the likelihood of using medication.

It is an automatic negatively reinforced behavior ;)

That is IF taking trex in itself is not aversive.

Who gives a @$@$

PF wishes ;;D

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by Purple_05 on Aug 8^th, 2007, 12:31am

I"m just not clear on this.....why would you wait to see how bad it's going to get? For me when I realize it's going to get bad it's going to take a lot longer for the meds to work and most of the time I'm trying to become pain free as quick as possible not just for myself (although for that too :-* ) but I have to work. Secondly, if I'm at work I'm not accomplishing anything while I'm waiting to see how bad it's going to get.

Now define addictive....1 a day, 2 day, 3 or more a day, etc.... [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by rolo65 on Aug 8^th, 2007, 12:40am

The more you take, the less it works over time. :(

Rolo.

Title: Re: What's the deal with Imitrex?
Post by southwalessunshine on Aug 16^th, 2007, 11:07am

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that Imi is a triptan! Here in the Uk it's called Sumatriptan. i take the tablet form and the injection, so if you're not allowed triptans for chest pains and the doc is offering you Imi Iwould point out that it's a triptan.