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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Imitrex tip--
        
(Message started by: jmc1106 on Oct 19^th, 2003, 9:45pm)

Title: Imitrex tip--
Post by jmc1106 on Oct 19^th, 2003, 9:45pm

To those of you who use this method to get a few more uses out of your Imitrex injections...how soon do you generally use what's left in your injector? My husband has only been having one cluster each night...I was thinking about trying half the 6 mg dose tonight, cleaning the needle with alcohol, and saving the second half til tomorrow night. Or is this something generally used by people who have more than one cluster each night? If you can't tell, I'm REALLY nervous about trying this, but also sick about what I just paid for two more injections (I was wrong before, it was $130 at Walgreens). Thanks!

Jan

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Oct 19^th, 2003, 10:31pm

Jan,
I would STRONGLY suggest you split up the doses.
Safer for hubby (and less sides) and cheaper for you.
If you can, look into getting vials, and using insulin
syringes. Then you could probably get 3 doses out of
each vial.
Good luck, it's really not that scary once you've done it a couple of times.
Take care,
Mast

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Yos on Oct 21^st, 2003, 9:14pm

I've been wondering something about the Imitrex Tip. Does anyone worry about the air bubble that is in most of the syringes? I mean, I know that an air bubble in an intravenous injection can be very bad, and since I'm afraid I could be in a vein and not know it, I try to stop before the bubble.

I'm probably being paranoid, especially since I guess the bubble would get in using the self injector anyway. Just thought I'd see what anyone else thought.

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Prense on Oct 21^st, 2003, 9:20pm

If it concerns you, hold the vial pointed up and gently shove your q-tip/syringe (however you are doing it) in until a drop is formed on the needle. The injection sites are used to avoid those veins as well as nerves. I wouldn't imagine that it is a big deal for skin injections... I am guessing though.

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by t_h_b on Oct 21^st, 2003, 10:23pm

You do not have to worry about air in a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. You do not have to worry about a few bubbles in an intravenous injection because it takes a large quantity to cause an air embolism (at least 3 ml per kg). The amount of air that can be contained in a syringe does not present a hazard.

Prense is right: if the air bothers you, point the needle up, thump the syringe a few times to cause the air to rise up to the needle end, and then slowly eject the air until a tiny drop of liquid forms at the end of the needle.

Incidentally, reusing needles three times shouldn't be a problem. It would be better NOT to wipe the needle with alchohol but to have the USER of the needle recap it. (You should clean the skin with alcohol before injecting.) This presents little risk of infection:

http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/1989/404/1

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Mark C on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 7:17pm

I just received a script from my General for 100 insulin syringes. I don't know how much they will cost but they can't be much. I am lucky enough to have the Auto-Injector and the 6mg vials which should make controlling the dose much easier.

I am still a little weary of re-using a syringe though, just use a fresh one if possible. I hear some folks go ahead and draw up several syringes and have them ready for use.....I like that idea.

One of my fear is how to store this stuff out of reach of my children, 4 and 8. I am thinking about a small metal box I can lock, or something of the sort.

Also, at what point in a childs life do you tell them about the need for their Father to take shots. They know I have CH, or at least bad HA...but when and how do you describe the need for a 4 years old's Daddy to take shots.......no child likes shots and neither do I.

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Roxy on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 4:48pm

I buy the syringes in a box of 100.....it's $15.00 at Walgreens. Keep 9 syringes filled at all times. Three in my purse, three beside my bed and the other three in the kitchen. They have sat for quite a bit of time, it doesn't make a difference in the trex. I also reuse my needles, usually twice, sometimes three times, but by the third time they do get a little dull.

When you fill the syringe, make sure you press the plunger part of the syringe all the way down....then fill the syringe. They are packed with a small amount of air in them. Then just whack on the needle if some air happens to get into the syringe as you fill it, and press it out. Easy as pie.

PFDAN,
Tracey

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by jmc1106 on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 8:55pm

Mark, I don't necessarily relate this just to cluster headaches and shots...but anything out of the ordinary that is a regular part of your lives. It seems best to start talking about it to the child as early as possible. That way it never comes as a shock, and won't seem like such a big deal. As far as the shots themselves go, I tell my kids that sometimes a person needs something that hurts a little (like a shot, or like cleaning a cut) to keep from getting something that hurts a lot (like an illness or an infection). Worked well enough to get through the Kindergarten vaccinations anyway... Good luck!

Jan

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Zonie on Oct 24^th, 2003, 9:25pm

Back in the good old days of Imitrex, I would get 3 shots from each syringe and I did not clean the needle with alcohol following each injection. I did clean my arm before the next one, but never the needle and I had no ill effects from this. My headache specialist, at the time suggested this and it worked fine for me. The needle does get more dull with each use, but I never minded that as the results obtained well outweighed the inconvenience of a dull needle.

Good luck and hope this works for you'all.

Zonie

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Yos on Oct 27^th, 2003, 11:10am

t_h_b or others -
Just curious, why is it better not to wipe the needle with alcohol?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by noonch on Oct 27^th, 2003, 4:41pm

Hello,

I have been getting Clusters for the last 12 years. They have been in remission for the last two years but started up again two weeks ago. During all my years of Clusters, this is the first time my doctor would give me the Imitrex Shot. I was very amazed at the results. I have been using the Imitrex “tip” over the last few days and it too has been working for me. My question is: Where is your preferred injection site? I can only seem to self inject into my leg because using the “tip” I need both hands. I would like to try it in my arm, but can’t control it with only one hand. Has anyone experimented with different locations on the body or seen if there was a faster reaction time from one spot to the other?

Adam-

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Prense on Oct 28^th, 2003, 7:45pm

I personally cannot think of any rational reason to inject anywhere but my thigh. There is plenty of room to move the injection site around enough to prevent hitting a "bruised" area. The tip requires two hands, and unless you have someone assisting you, I would love to see a picture of you shoving a q-tip down the vial while injecting into your arm. ;;D The other option is the rear-end, but seriously...why risk the neck strain to see what you are doing? ;;D Stick with the leg!

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by noonch on Oct 28^th, 2003, 11:31pm

That is what I figured ;;D

Especially since most of the time I am shaking so bad I can hardly see what dosage I am giving myself. :o

Thanks !!!

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by Hai on Oct 29^th, 2003, 2:47am

Just wanted to thank you for posting the TIP. LasVegas Greg put together our first meeting in well Vegas tonight, and I handed out the procedure to everyone. Most everyone had used it already believe it or not, however a few had not.

This trick not only saves me $$$, but knocks out the cluster in the same amount of time without giving me the "Fuck I feel like my chest is gonna blow up" feeling.

Thanks again!

Larry

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by LasVegas on Oct 29^th, 2003, 3:29pm

Great demo of the Imitrex Tip last night at our meeting Larry, appreciate it. thanks.
Gregg in Las Vegas

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by bjordan4 on Nov 1^st, 2003, 6:51pm

I've used the Imitrex injections for well over 2 years by splitting the dose, 3mg (appx) each. No concerns. However, I've recently tried Zomig pills (5mg) and they work just as fast as long as you let it dissolve in your mouth. It takes about ten minutes to work on a full blown cluster...Imitrex takes about 5.
Tom

Title: Re: Imitrex tip--
Post by t_h_b on Nov 4^th, 2003, 12:35am

When reusing needles, it's better not to wipe the needle with alcohol because it removes the lubricant and causes additional wear. The danger with reusing needles is not infection but tissue damage from rough or bent needles. If the alcohol is not from a sterile single-use wipe, it could actually cause contamination. Anyone wanting more information can do a Google search for "reusing insulin needles". The American Diabetic Association advises not to reuse them at all. Since needles are fairly cheap, that is probably the best advice. The MD who prescribes the imitrex can prescribe needles, which are cheap. Some insurance companies don't even charge for them.

Here's a link illustrating what can happen as you reuse a needle, but it is from a manufacturer of syringes so take it with that in mind:

http://www.bddiabetes.com/ca/english/managingdiabetes/dangers.jsp

(The article is near the bottom of what appears to be a blank page.)

In hospitals the rule is to never recap, but the only danger from recapping your OWN needle is getting stuck in the finger. This inconvenience can be avoided by sliding the needle back into the cap while it is sitting on the table rather than held in the hand.

Also, the used needles should be treated as hazardous medical waste and proper disposal is important. In a worst-case scenario, your MD or emergency room should let you put them in their sharps container. Some diabetics use a coffee can with a hole in the lid as a temporary container.