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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Urgent medication in South Africa?
        
(Message started by: LauraL on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 8:01am)

Title: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by LauraL on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 8:01am

Hi I am new to the site, and am desperately seeking medical advice. I went through the other notifications, and picked up the most common being imitrex shots & oxygen (?). On South African sites I found Imigran, and phoned my pharmacy. Imitrex, it appears is not available in SA, and Imigran is at R195 A SHOT (yeah one treatment). I am desperate here. I have yet to find a doctor who knows exactly what I'm talking about. Neurologist diagnosed CH app. 10 years ago, and reading here, I am truly convinced that this is what I suffer from. My problem is that I don't know what to ask for, and seriously doubt whether Imigran is the correct thing?

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by Karla on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 8:27am

Laura, I hope I am understanding your situation clearly. Imitrix is Imigran. It is marketed under Imitrix in the US and Imigran in foreign countries. So Imigran should be the medicine you want to get your hands on. Yes, it is very expensive. There are other abortives you may want to try that are less expensive. Oxygen, Amerge, Zomig, maxalt, migranol ns are just to name a few. Good luck in finding an affordable abortive that works for you.

Karla

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by Tom on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 9:47am

Hi Laura,

it's always the same mistake:

People outside the USA ask for drugs in their concerned countries using the US brand names instead of the international generic names of those drugs. The brand names of drugs can vary from one country to the other, but the generic ones are the same all over the world !

So, for example, instead looking for Amerge®, Zomig®, Maxalt®, Migranal®, look for naratriptan,zolmitriptan, naratriptan, and dihydroergotamine = the generic names of these drugs.

Generally ask for:

- verapamil
- antiapileptics that help in CH
- ergotamine derivatives
- lithium
- antidepressants that help in CH
- triptans, oral and injectable ones etc

If you don't know the generic name of a mentioned US drug, look at:

www.rxlist.com

And don't forget: Having found a good and efficient prophylactic drug is usually less harmful and less expansive than taking only abortives.

ATB! Thomas

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by oringkid on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 11:19am

um, 'scuse me, but what does ATB stand for Tom?(been wondering for a while)

Sherry

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by Tom on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 2:06pm

All The Best !

Thomas

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by oringkid on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 2:45pm

Oh! Thanks. Course now I feel stupid. Shoulda figured that out.

Thanks Thomas!

Sherry

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by Tom on Aug 22^nd, 2002, 5:12pm

Hi Sherry,

no reason to feel stupid - I'm not sure, is it unusual in the USA to say "all the best" ?

ATB ! Thomas

Title: Re: Urgent medication in South Africa?
Post by oringkid on Aug 23^rd, 2002, 9:17am

No, I guess not that unusual, that is why I feel stupid for not having figured it out! LOL

Sherry