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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
        
(Message started by: MaureenG on Mar 31^st, 2002, 7:00pm)

Title: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by MaureenG on Mar 31^st, 2002, 7:00pm

Has anyone tried Imitrex as both a nasal spray and injection? My boyfriend used the nasal spray in the past with no relief, but I'm reading about so many of you that use Imitrex injections with success, I thought maybe injections might work faster.
I know everyone reacts differently to different drugs, but if anyone had better results with injections than nasal spray, he might be willing to try again.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by Greg_A on Mar 31^st, 2002, 7:20pm

I have used both the spray and the injections. The spray worked good the first month but that was it.

The injections work beautiful, 5 min avg and no pain. My problem along with everyone else is that we cant get enough injections.

I have been using the Imitrex tip for about a month now. I usually inject 1/3 a dose at first signs of attack. I have tried injecting both in my leg and in my arm. The arm works alot faster for some reason.

One note on the needles: I HATE NEEDLES :( but knowing the relief i will get from doing the injection puts all my fear of needles aside. It really doesnt hurt to be honest, i just dont like needles.

Good luck. If he hasnt used the injections before i would suggest using the statdose injector in the upper arm area. Its really not that bad. I count to 5 once it triggers so im sure all the medicine is injected.

Its worth a try and i think he will like the result.

Greg

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by MaureenG on Mar 31^st, 2002, 7:55pm

Greg_A: Thanks for the extra tips, and I think he'll agree with your view on needles :), but I guess a shot immediately at home is better than waiting two hours in the ER for a shot.
As I'm sure many CH sufferers have felt, he is getting discouraged after trying so many different meds. I'm hoping he'll be willing to give the Imitrex one more try after I show him your response.
We are looking for a new neurologist who is more knowledgeable about clusters, and hopefully that will help.
Thanks for your input!

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by Karla on Apr 1^st, 2002, 12:19am

To me I find the ns and injection to be about the same reaction time and both help but I perfer not to use needles.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by Rich D on Apr 1^st, 2002, 2:51pm

Inhaled takes 20 minutes to work and injections take 5 minutes. Injections always work. Inhaled works if you catch it early. Oxygen also works if you catch it early.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by jmorgan52 on Apr 8^th, 2002, 9:34am

l have tried it in all forms - pills, inj, nasal spray.

The inj works EVERY TIME in about 10 mins. The others take too long. I often end up vomitting the pills as the pain get too intense and I get nauseus, and the nasal spray is very hit and miss and takes about an hour to work if at all.

If only it were cheaper and easier to get.

I stock up during the good times and never let myself get a monter attack any more. I jab as soon as I know it is growing out of control. I have been using the inj for over 4 years now and have had successful pain relief for over 4 or 5 episodes of 10-20 clusters in each period and then the usual (for me) of 8-15 months of CH free time (just when you have almost forgotten about them and they hit back hard to remind you!)

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by Jayne S. on Apr 8^th, 2002, 10:06am

[b][/b] Hey Maureen. My husband was put on Imitrex inj. They were a god sent. Last week Doc. gave him the nasal spray did not work for him at all. Pills too. Its now Mon. and seems his cycle is coming to an end. How about your boyfriend? When did his cycle start? Well good luck fellow supporter. Better days are ahead ;) ttyl- Jayne S.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by MaureenG on Apr 8^th, 2002, 2:25pm

Jayne:

I've lost track of when this last cycle started, but I would estimate about 2-3 months ago. I think this is his longest cycle yet. Let me clarify that I may be using the term "cycle" too loosely. He seems to have gone from episodic to chronic, so he has some degree of pain almost daily, though some days don't progress beyond shadowing. Over the past few months, he has had countless CH's that were off the KIP scale.
We had read previously about the use of oxygen, but twice in the past when it was given to him it did nothing. Then, recently, I read about the need for a nonrebreather mask. What a difference!!! Obviously, the best solution is to have it at home to abort immediately, but even though meds were needed at the ER to squelch the immediate pain, the oxygen kept him pain FREE for the rest of the night. Can remember the last time that's happened.
Unfortunately, we are working on getting a neuro in our area who specializes in CH (his past 5 were treating him for migraine), and his regular doctor won't prescribe O2 because he doesn't have a lung condition.
Hopefully, this cycle will ease up soon, and we can find a new neuro before the next one hits. Although he is discouraged after trying so many treatments, I feel somewhat confident that with O2 and Imitrex injections, we can get this under control.
I really appreciate the continued response to this question. When I initially suggested that injections may work better than the pills and nasal spray he had already tried, he kept telling me Imitrex doesn't work for him. You're all helping me convince him to give it another try. I would welcome feedback from as many people as possible.
It's nice for us supporters to have support! ;D

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by Mattso on Apr 9^th, 2002, 1:56am

[qoute]When I initially suggested that injections may work better than the pills and nasal spray he had already tried, he kept telling me Imitrex doesn't work for him. You're all helping me convince him to give it another try. I would welcome feedback from as many people as possible. [/qoute]

He really got screwed with the pills and the spray. Yes, typically, he was being treated for migraine, not clusters. The injections are what really work for cluster headaches! I don't think the injections are the ultimate solution - better to find good preventative treatment, and have the injections on hand in case of breakthrough headaches. That said, preventative treatments aren't working for me at the moment, so I'm taking around 4 (half dose) shots a day as I search for prevention. I find the thought of not having imitrex right now to be very horrifying.

Glad to see you're not relying solely on any doctor's advice anymore.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by jmorgan52 on Apr 9^th, 2002, 2:25am

I also feel worried if I do not have enough shots available. My Dr will now give me 3x2 inj refills at a time which is better. I use the jab in the top of my right leg and it is usually painless and bliss 10 mins later. Do not suffer - take the jab!

I am intrigued by the 1/2 measure inj, and another post mentioned using a 2nd injector with a shorter pin to only push out 1/2 the dose and use the original to push out the rest later. You need to be careful and label shots and injectors well. Anyone know how much exactly to shorten the pin? I worry about bending the needle when putting it back in the case, and needle re-use. I don fancy the imitrex tip as it stands, to much risk of pain and infection/injury trying to stab yourself with a vial with a short needle.

I started Prednisone (12 tabs at first) at 6pm last night after 2 weeks of CH and woke up at 4pm with the feeling one was on its way but nothing happened.
Tapers down from 3 x4 a day to 1 a day x4 over about a week. I hope it helps to break the cluster. Will let you know

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by jmorgan52 on Apr 10^th, 2002, 4:53am

I feel much better today

I started the Prednisone tapering down regimen 2 days ago and have had a whole 48 hours with no CH since starting the Pred. The most relief in the last 3 weeks of the current cycle! Just a very slight dull headache that I can live with.

I have had some weird side effects in the last 2 days like having problems with remembering names (normal at my age?), waking up at 4am with the feeling another CH is about to hit me but it doesn't, and feeling a bit tired and slightly dopey most of the day, but have been able to perform my job fine. Now the taper down has started the effects should get less (hope the pain don't come back).

I have tried this med several times in the past with little success, but was encouraged by what I read on this site to giver it another go. The taper down was not the same as this time. I previously took 12 pills day one, 10 on day 2, 8 on day 3, 6 on day 4, 2 on day five and 6 and the 1 a dat for 3 days. All taken at one on each day.

Now I am taking 12 pills (5mg each) on day one all at once, then 4pills x3 times on day 2, 2 x3 day 3 (today), 2x 3 day 4, 2x day 5, 2 x1 day 6 and then 1 a day for 2 days. Hopefully this is working better than in the past.

I am going to take the Pred at the 1st sign of a CH episode when over the counter painkillers still work for a few weeks until the killers arrive and see if it staves the episode off.

I have had these damn CH things since I was a teenager (37 years ago) in England and missed a lot of school classes and work when everyone thought I was just slacking off with a "headache" (everyone gets them - take an aspirin and shut up complaining!). It was hard for me. The problem was that they got worse and doctors and specialists never helped me.

After all the "it's stress related" bullshit later in life, I was finally diagnosed by a neurosurgeon with CH in 1995 (in South Africa) and tried Lithium (loopy stuff!) and lots of other meds which did not help. In 1996 he discovered Imigran and after overcoming the thought of self injecting and breaking the medical aid bank with the high cost, and the reluctance of doctors supplying me enough at a time I have not looked back. I take the jab as soon as I can when the painkillers stop helping and avoid the suicide inducing CH where I vomit and scream in agony.

I now have a store of 12 imigran (imitrex in USA) and hope I don't need them for at least a year until the next cluster attack if the Pred has really broken the cycle.

Sorry to rant on but this site has helped a lot and I hope my feedback helps someone else :D :-*

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by eyes_afire on Apr 10^th, 2002, 8:56pm

I think that if inside of nostril has been cauterized, then nasal spray will not be effective. That may be something to consider for anyone deciding which form of imitrex to use.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by doogienj on Apr 25^th, 2002, 7:03am

I tried the nose spray a few years ago and it was very hit and miss. The taste in my mouth from breathing it in was so nasty, that I went back to the Imitrex 50mg pills.

Most of the time they work great, as long as I take them when I feel the warning signs. I may try the injections next.

Good Luck,

Douglas

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by johnrudd on Apr 25^th, 2002, 8:56am

Used injection for about 3 weeks at least once a day and a few twice and aborted in less than 3 mins. After reading some of the shroom posts about heart attacks associated with the injections, I researched GlaxoWellcome's data on imitrex and found that in both the tablet and injection methods there is a risk of heart attacks, HOWEVER there is none with the inhaler and there is less chance of overdosing. Been using the inhaler (20mg) for a week at least once per day, sometimes more and although relief takes about 10-15 minutes I can handle the extra 10 minutes of pain knowing that I not going to kill myself unintentionally.
John

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by oringkid on Apr 26^th, 2002, 8:31am

Maureen, I wouldn't assume that he has gone chronic, my cycles have been known to last 5 months and then I get a 2 year remission. I don't think I have gone under 2 months except at the very beginning.

Title: Re: Imitrex Inhaled vs Injections
Post by johnrudd on Apr 26^th, 2002, 5:24pm

Maureen-Thought I was episodic but-first bout in "72 that lasted about 5 months with CH daily and took "Space Tablets" (the U.S. Army Walter Reed Hospital's RX, still have medical records); in '88 for 7 months with daily CH and took prednisone, and Demerol 150 CC per attack; in '95 for 5 months with daily CH and took prednisone, veramipil, and DHE45 per attack, and now with attacks at the worst 4x per day and at least once. If chronic mean a person has to endure these attacks daily, don't see how anyone could cope? Thought I'd pass this on in light of my previous post.
John