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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Imitrex nasal spray
        
(Message started by: Bstrong on Apr 17^th, 2008, 11:54pm)

Title: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Bstrong on Apr 17^th, 2008, 11:54pm

Has anybody tried this medication? If so can I get some feed back please.

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by mezza on Apr 18^th, 2008, 12:09am

sure have - used it for all of my cycles with good success- its a good abortive

Tastes yucky running down your throat but well worth it when pain is relieved.

I have used the imitrex stat doses too- faster relief - 5 minutes compared to 15 or so with nasals- jabbing yourself the first time is feels pretty crazy though-you get used to it-

Problem with triptans is insurance- even with physician overrides couldn't usually get enough to cover a cycle- so for now my doctor has been giving me samples of different triptans every couple of weeks when i see him- for 8 days I took Frova- loved that , now taking zomig nasals- which is fast acting for me too-

BIg thing is don't mix triptans- can be dangerous-

Do you have o2?

Good luck

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Bstrong on Apr 18^th, 2008, 12:13am

Meza, thank you for the reply! Yes just got these Rxs today. Oxygen delivered tomorrow. These are both new to me. Not what I'm used to. A little nervous about it but man am I willing to do anything at this point. This is my worst cycle ever!

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by mezza on Apr 18^th, 2008, 12:26am

sorry you are having such a hard time-

the pf time that abortives allow you are great in the beginning of a cycle- Lots of folks have noticed rebound headaches with triptans- I probably got them too- just difficult for me to tell the difference between strong shadows and rebounds-

I was nervous about o2 at first too- I worried about my kids being scared around it and confused, my dogs tripping over it - surprisingly none of that is a problem- just part of my bedroom now- My cycle is winding down ( or my meds are really working - who knows) so i haven't really needed it in a week or so

Give it a shot! Look to the left and read all about o2 and flow rate etc- you'll get the best info there-

Good Luck to You!

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Kevin_M on Apr 18^th, 2008, 6:44am

I try to not use them that often, keeping a couple at work for an abortive. With its 15-20 minute time span, it's good to be sensitive to which indications are going to develop and which are heavy shadows that don't materialize, being wrong can be a bit late within the opportunity to react to prevent being incapacitated for a short time. Or using them at night only when oxygen use gets very frequent on some nights, it can curtail constant waking if not used often during peak times.

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Gator on Apr 18^th, 2008, 8:10am

For me, when it works at all, Imitrex Nasal Spray takes 15 - 20 minutes to take effect. I get much faster abort times with Zomig Nasal Spray - usually around 7 minutes, sometimes less. Imitrex injections start working for me in around 5 minutes.

My first-line abortive is Oxygen. Cheap, few to no side effects and works in 5 - 7 minutes most of the time. I use it at 15lpm via a clustermasx, which you can no longer buy, but you can get the parts to make your own. Check out this link:

http://www.mushys.com/O2/mymask.html

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by stevec on Apr 18^th, 2008, 10:37am

The nasal spray has never worked for me whereas a tiny dose of injectable Imitrex almost always works. I still don't know why the nasal route doesn't work for me when it is the same medication. If you are congested (common during a CH) then the nasal route will be less effective. Still, give it a try. If it works, you save yourself having to fuss with the injections. Obviously, O2 should be your first line abortive. Good luck.

Steve

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Trooper on Apr 18^th, 2008, 8:07pm

I found the nasal spray to work most of the time but not always. There were two times that I went to use it and nothing discharged from the spray. >:( This really sucked when my insurance only alloted so many per month. You only get one shot to get it right.

I now use the vial dose and it is awesome! Doc. gave me a script for 31 guage insulin syringes so the needle does not hurt so bad. I can usually split one 6mg. vial into three doses. The great thing about this is that if I need more, I can just hit it again. The 6mg. vial is actually meant as one dose but I usually do not need so much. I have found this to be much more effective and it cost me less than the nasal sprays did.

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by RichardN on Apr 19^th, 2008, 6:48pm

Hi Brad

Did you get your 02 today? 15 lpm regulator? Non-rebreather mask?

PM me or post on this thread if you need any hints on using same . . . . tis truly wonderful for most of us.

Be Safe, PFDANs

Richard

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Linda_Howell on Apr 20^th, 2008, 12:36am

Bstrong...if you need a regulator or a non-rebreather mask, please pm me your address. I will send them to you free of charge of course.

Linda

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by Bob_Johnson on Apr 20^th, 2008, 12:42pm

Be sure and follow the directions re. head placement and how hard you squeeze the container.

Title: Re: Imitrex nasal spray
Post by zapparulz on Apr 20^th, 2008, 2:18pm

on 04/17/08 at 23:54:59, Bstrong wrote:

Has anybody tried this medication? If so can I get some feed back please.

i did use it and it does work sometimes for me-if i take it more than 1 day on the second day,i get bad rebound headaches- but i guess if i didn't use it 2 days in a row,i might still use it-