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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
        
(Message started by: Pokenaut on Aug 20^th, 2003, 12:55pm)

Title: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Pokenaut on Aug 20^th, 2003, 12:55pm

I read on one of these messages that Glaxo is now marketing a smaller dosed injector than the std. 6mg. Does anyone know of this?
I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow as my cycle started last week while out camping with my son. Luckily I had a bunch of old (outdated) injectors stashed in my van, and they worked pretty well. Feeling flushed and without energy is better than the pain.
I have suffered from CH for 15 yrs now, and just had a 20 month remission. I've tried nearly every drug (legal) there is and nothing has worked like the Imitrex. Oxygen does help, and I'll be asking for the tank at the Dr.s tomorrow.
I only frequent this site when suffering...bless all of you that help me get through these times.
'Naut

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Pokenaut on Aug 20^th, 2003, 2:35pm

OK...so I spent the better part of the afternoon reading old posts, and found out that some have tried removing 8mm from the injector pen's pushrod so that the first shot would be approx 3mg, and using an unaltered pen to administor the second half.
My question is this:
After injecting the 3mg with the shortened pen, do you simply screw the now-half-full syringe back into the case as you would an empty one? (obviously being careful to not bend the needle)
I just cannot sem to get the nerve up to use the "tip" with the q-tip, manually inserting the needle. I have tried...and failed. The delay in doing so just allows the beast time to take a firmer foothold on me.
'Naut

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by ksmiggy on Aug 20^th, 2003, 5:11pm

Check with your dr. , i am sure he once offered me a 2ml instead of 6ml, but that is in the uk, may not be the same everywhere

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by kbbogo1 on Aug 22^nd, 2003, 8:13am

The Imitrex tip works excellent - just takes a little nerve the first time you try it. I know, sometimes the needle just doesn't want to go in, especially if you are getting 2 or 3 treatments out of one syringe. Just push a little firmer and it will be over with and you will be pain free in a few minutes. You'll probably never go back to the injector pen w/a full dose again once you try this - the side affects are lessened with less dosage. And yes, I just carefully put the needle back in the case again.

Hope all went well at the doctor. Did you get a preventitive?

Kim B

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Pokenaut on Aug 22^nd, 2003, 10:28am

Kbbogo1:
I really don't think I could do the manual insertion method. Hell, I can barely load the stat cartridge some attacks. I am thinking about trying the 8mm cut on the plunger method. My Neuro gave me a new Stat pen and case yesterday, so I have an extra to experiment with. Also, while I was there, the rep from Glaxo was there and we talked about Clusters and smaller stat doses. She said they wouldn't likely market a smaller one when the 6mg one works so well. She was nice, and GAVE me 5 twin packs of the injectors as samples, along with two inhalers. I used an inhaler last night when the beast woke me at 1am, and it worked, but seemed to take forever. And I woke up in mild pain this AM, but it faded with a massage under the eyebrow ridge in my right eye socket where the vein was pulsing. Today I am carrying a shadow, with WEIRD popping and crackling sensations in my right eye, never felt before.
As far as prevents, she wanted to try some kind of injection cocktail at the base of my skull, combining steroids with some kind of numbing agent. I told her maybe later if the cycle intensifies, but for now the 'Trex is working well. She also wrote me a script for Prednisone, but I may not use it either, as it has only worked for me once in MANY years of trying it, just making me feel fucked up the other times. She offered Vicodin, which HAS helped me in the past, taking one before bed to help me sleep, but again, I declined, because they make me feel fuzzy at work (worse than just being sleep-deprived)
Oxygen is being delivered tonight (which always seems to help), and I have a script for plenty of more 'Trex needles. Actually, everything is pretty much a blur now, so I'm not even gonna bother spell checking this response.
Thanks for replying
'Naut

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by kbbogo1 on Aug 22^nd, 2003, 1:35pm

Can't say I have ever had any popping behind my eye - have had an annoying twitch before, though.

Sounds like the doctor is putting forth a lot of effort to help - hope the prednisone works - many here have had success with it stopping a cycle. I just am on the Verapamil, it works great for me as a preventitive. Have you already tried this?

Wish I could meet a Glaxo rep!! :) Nasal sprays take too long to work for me, also. Plus, when it runs down my throat (no tonsils) the taste makes me puke. I will stick to the injections.

Good luck with the O2!

Kim B

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Prense on Aug 22^nd, 2003, 9:00pm

on 08/22/03 at 10:28:08, Pokenaut wrote:

She offered Vicodin, which HAS helped me in the past, taking one before bed to help me sleep, but again, I declined, because they make me feel fuzzy at work (worse than just being sleep-deprived)

Isn't Vicodin a relatively mild narc? If so, I prefer to avoid those for a HA, but I am chronic. They never touch an attack for me anyway.

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Patrick_A on Aug 23^rd, 2003, 12:07am

I am with you on the nerve thing. I sit there for 15 minutes, full blown trying to work it in. Just cant do it! Though i have! I wonder if they can make that needle smaller in diameter. That fugger is huge! If it was smaller, it goes in easier!

Patrick

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Domi on Aug 27^th, 2003, 4:01am

I have tried to use one third of normal dose (2mg) and it works fine.

As I do not want to do it mannually I split a normal dose using a small diabetic seringue and :

1) I take out the piston of the empty diabetic seringue
2) I make the imitrex injection into the diabetic seringue tube
3) I put back the piston of the diabetic seringue (with the needle up as soon as the piston fills the hole)
4) I take three empty imitrex seringues
5) I take out the rubber piston of those seringues
6) I punch this rubber with the needle of the diabetic seringue
7) I place back the rubber into the empty imitrex seringue with the needle of the diabetic one inside
8) I inject the one third dose into the seringue
9) I do the same with the two others empty imitrex seringue
10) It works fine (for me)
Wish you the same !

Domi

Title: Re: Smaller Imitrex Injectors made?
Post by Pokenaut on Aug 27^th, 2003, 9:20am

FYI, yes the Vicodin is a narc, but in high enough doses it allowed me to sleep through the night (sometimes THROUGH an attack without waking...I knew this because of the tenderness and shadow the next morning). I won't use this this cycle unless I am that desperate for sleep. So far I am still getting an attack (level 6-7) about 1 hr after falling asleep, and waking early with another, so the two dailys are about 5-6 hrs apart. This morning, I woke up with one coming on only 4 hrs after injecting the 'Trex, so I tried something I read here. I turned the O2 to only 2l/min and put the mask on and went back to sleep. This not only aborted it, I slept another hour in peace. Problem is, now at work I keep feeling one creeping up. So far, three times I have had the stat pen in hand here at my desk (no daytime attacks yet...three weeks into this cycle), but the pain faded to shadow. With any luck I may already be halfway through this cycle.
May start Verap/Pred. soon.
'Naut