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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Zomig?????????
        
(Message started by: Biker on Aug 12^th, 2004, 3:36pm)

Title: Zomig?????????
Post by Biker on Aug 12^th, 2004, 3:36pm

I went to the VA hospital today to refill a perscription for Imitrex. I use to get 12 50mg. tabs that were suppose to last me a month. Today, I recieved 6 2.5mg tabs of Zomig. Zolmitriptan Does this stuff really take the place 50mg. of Imitrex????? Ive been getting hit 2 - 4 times in 24 hrs. Somehow, this med just doesnt look like enough. I did however get a good supply of Verapamil, and got started on (eeeeeeewwwwwwwwww) the prednisone taper. I have been having a rough go of things. The Dr. was extremely suprised when I walked into the little office carrying a backpack with a small bottle of oxygen. I think it made her a bit peeved cause oxygen was never perscribed to me.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Superpain on Aug 12^th, 2004, 4:06pm

The only triptan tabs I've had were imitrex and they were ineffective for me. Injections rule!
Hopefully the pred will get you PF at least for a while...
That's funny about the doc and the O2...
I've got a really good neuro. I told him that I'd taken matter's into my own hands before being able to see him and was using welder's O2. He approved of it and congratulated me for being so informed.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by thomas on Aug 12^th, 2004, 4:37pm

on 08/12/04 at 15:36:43, Biker wrote:

Does this stuff really take the place 50mg. of Imitrex????? Somehow, this med just doesnt look like enough.

Try it, you'll like it, trust me. ;;D It kicks the shit out of trex, in my book, brother.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 12^th, 2004, 4:42pm

Triptans: Sumatriptan (Imitrex), Alomotriptan (Axert), Naratriptan (Amerge), Frovatriptan (Frova), Rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt MLT), Zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig ZMT), Relpax (Eletriptan).

Some like Zomig ... while other think:
IMITREX INJECTIONS RULE ;;D

You'll just have to see what works best for you

Unsolved

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by alleyoop on Aug 12^th, 2004, 6:25pm

I've tried the Zomig spray, with very little success. I'm with Unsolved- imitrex injections are the ONLY abortive that works for me!

................................................alley

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Gabbahey on Aug 13^th, 2004, 1:45am

I'm on the NS, and I find if I hit the bad motha early it will completely abort. However if I don't hit it till it's really on a roll then it seems to shorten the attack, and take the pain level down a couple points.
Good luck!
Andy

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Gator on Aug 17^th, 2004, 5:54pm

Never tried the Zomig pills. I've heard the fast dissolve work in about 15 minutes. I use the Zomig NS. For me it knocks out most attacks in about 7 minutes.

Gator

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Prense on Aug 18^th, 2004, 9:46am

on 08/13/04 at 01:45:13, Gabbahey wrote:

Beats the hell out of a full duration, full blown attack.

Speaking of fast dissolving tablets... I know that maxalt MLT (dissolving tablets) takes longer to be absorbed than the regular pills. My understanding is that the reason they make these is so you can take them without drinking anything. I do not know the absorbtion rate of zomig, but I'd imagine it would be similar as far as pills being faster than the dissolvable tablets.

I used to think...rapid dissolving? Cool, this will be faster! Not true...

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Chris

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by karma on Aug 18^th, 2004, 5:25pm

Zomig will work for me if I take it at the very first sign of a CH coming on. It usually takes about 20 minutes to fully kick in.
If I take it to late I still get kicked in the ass.
At 10 bucks a pop it can get expensive fast but when I get the timing right its worth it.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by k9lover4 on Sep 17^th, 2004, 8:00pm

zomig works great for me. HA gone in 7 minutes and I dont have the side effects Trex inj gave me(tightness of chest and shortness of breath) the only side effect on zomig is stomach and low back cramping with goes away in less than an hour. Makes me a bit tired but not as much as Trex

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by bluesunshine on Sep 18^th, 2004, 3:56am

My neuro started me with zomig 2.5mg and it got the job done in 15-20 min (usualy). But nothing beats the trex injection- just feeling that you will poke you is a 1/2 relief- maybe the adrenaline effect.dont know more.

WARNING!!

watch out for the limits of triptans you can take in 24 hours ( mixing triptans is a so so, no no) , some poeple are sensitive to that (read- - life treathning for some poeple).

read, educate yourself, ask questions to many pharmacist, not only docs.

blue

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Karla on Sep 18^th, 2004, 7:03am

Ive taken zomig 5 mg tablets in the past. But I prefer the imitrix or zomig ns.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by yikes_another_one on Sep 24^th, 2004, 8:02pm

2.5 mg.....and 20 minutes after takingthe pill....

Clouds dissapate, birds start to sing....

The World becomes a wonderful place....

it even ended a few attacks days earlier, for me anyway...

But I wondered if they came back a bit more frequently...

Instead of having jsut 2 or 3 attacks in one year, the next year i had 4....

btu then it could have jsut been the monster,
gearing up and changing his pattern yet again.

But yeah, 2.5 was plenty. the 5mg...was over kill...made me foggy for a day and a half....

good luck and let us know how it worked.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Jonny on Sep 24^th, 2004, 8:34pm

on 09/24/04 at 20:02:15, yikes_another_one wrote:

2.5 mg.....and 20 minutes after takingthe pill....
Clouds dissapate, birds start to sing....

Why wait 20 mins when you can have all that in 5 mins with a shot of trex?

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by mynm156 on Sep 25^th, 2004, 9:28pm

I have not used the Zomig Pills but have the Nasal spray. Works just about as well as Imitrex does. I use either or what ever I can.ue to insurance Limits My new neuro and I use both. So I can have as much as I need. Injections and nasal spray.

Good Luck and Good VIBES baby!

MYNM156

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by lars on Sep 27^th, 2004, 11:26am

I'm one of the "lucky" females to have CH. Well... at least it's not brain tumor has it was expected....

I use Zomig Rapimelt (the disolving tablets) 2.5Mg for more than 2 years now. Although I've been suffering CH for more than 5 years, the attacks used to be once or twice a year, then 3 years ago went to about 2 to 3 times a month, each lasting 12 to 24 hours with 2 to 3 headaches.

The Zomig Rapimeld is the only thing that relieves me, besides oxigen (but somehow is hard to get a doctor to prescibe it) when going to ER. Never tried the shots but tried the non-disolving pills and the time that takes to take effect is longer in fact (at least for me).

With ZRapimeld, takes 15 to 30 minutes to start taking effect but then i always have to sleep... i don't know if it's normal.

I've had some "quiet months" with only 2 attacks per month until 2 months ago, maybe related to the stress of having had an accut kidney infection, now i'm having about 4 attacks per month, the regular 1 day/attack, 2 to 3 headaches/day. But this last one has started a week ago, 1 headache on moday, remission on thursday, back thursday night, one headache on wednesday, remission again and contant headaches since friday. Runned out of tablets last night and tonight i woke up at 1 am wit another headache that is lasting until now. today i've taking 2 tabblets, one in the morning and one an hour ago (simptoms are running out except for the blury vision but probably because i didn't sleep and now i'me too excited to sleep)

but nevertheless, Zomig has been my lifesaver....

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by thomas on Sep 28^th, 2004, 12:01pm

on 09/24/04 at 20:34:20, Jonny wrote:

Why wait 20 mins when you can have all that in 5 mins with a shot of trex?

I'd rather wait 20 min for 6-8 hours of relief than to get relief in 5 mins and have to do it all over again in 2 hours.
;;D Non-rebounding Tom.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Margi on Sep 28^th, 2004, 12:30pm

on 09/27/04 at 11:26:54, lars wrote:

I use Zomig Rapimelt (the disolving tablets) 2.5Mg for more than 2 years now. Although I've been suffering CH for more than 5 years, the attacks used to be once or twice a year, then 3 years ago went to about 2 to 3 times a month, each lasting 12 to 24 hours with 2 to 3 headaches.
...I've had some "quiet months" with only 2 attacks per month until 2 months ago, maybe related to the stress of having had an accut kidney infection, now i'm having about 4 attacks per month, the regular 1 day/attack, 2 to 3 headaches/day. But this last one has started a week ago, 1 headache on moday, remission on thursday, back thursday night, one headache on wednesday, remission again and contant headaches since friday.

boy, that sure doesn't sound like cluster to me. Not trying to criticize but my gut tells me you've been misdiagnosed. :(

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by mynm156 on Sep 28^th, 2004, 5:22pm

Zomig works pretty well for me I can take both Trex and Zomig. Hope it works for you!

Good Vibes and PF days

MYNM156

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Mr. Happy on Sep 29^th, 2004, 10:49pm

Aye God, Woodrow, count me in the Zomig fan club. I've always found the pills to be moderately friendly; not quick acting, but with a decent half life. Got some nasals in stock this afternoon (Praise Wotan)........but I'm not sure I'll be able to BETA test them because I ate a bunch of them damned mushrooms, and, after 2 days, I can't buy a fuckingheadache, no matter how much rum I drink.

It's always something,
RJ

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by lars on Sep 30^th, 2004, 7:48am

on 09/28/04 at 12:30:16, Margi wrote:

boy, that sure doesn't sound like cluster to me. Not trying to criticize but my gut tells me you've been misdiagnosed. :(

was diagnosed after catscan and mri as chronic (not episodic) ch by the best neuro in Portugal who had accompained me for 4 breakdowns some years ago..... but i'm curious, what makes you think it's not? the symptoms are the same i've seen described in my internet research and even as described in http://www.clusterheadaches.com/traits.html ....
i'm confused

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Margi on Sep 30^th, 2004, 1:04pm

Hi Lars,

Again, I'm not trying to be judgemental - I just worry about the increasing number of misdiagnoses we see happening here over the last few years. A lot of doctors seem to be throwing otherwise unidentifiable head pain into the "catch-all" box of cluster headache.

Some of the things you say here are what make me think that maybe you are experiencing migraine instead...but it could be just the way you are expressing it, I'm not sure....

on 09/27/04 at 11:26:54, lars wrote:

the attacks used to be once or twice a year, then 3 years ago went to about 2 to 3 times a month, each lasting 12 to 24 hours with 2 to 3 headaches. By "Attacks" - do you mean "cycle"? We refer to each individual headache as an attack and a cycle is the time period during which you have the attacks.

I've had some "quiet months" with only 2 attacks per month until 2 months ago, - again: 2 headaches per month? ..... now i'm having about 4 attacks per month, the regular 1 day/attack, 2 to 3 headaches/day.....this is confusing. How long does each headache last, Lars?

But this last one has started a week ago, 1 headache on moday, remission on thursday, back thursday night, one headache on wednesday, remission again and contant headaches since friday. No pain freedom at all, since Friday?

Runned out of tablets last night and tonight i woke up at 1 am wit another headache that is lasting until now.
Again, you had a constant headache since 1 a.m. that day?

Actually, it was me who wrote that Cluster Traits thing for DJ a few years ago and my husband has cluster, I have migraine. Clusters are of much shorter duration and much higher intensity of pain. Migraine can last days and can happen randomly (like you say 1 or 2 times a month). Cluster attacks (each individual headache) happen multiple times in a day, day after day, for the duration of a cycle.

To be diagnosed Chronic right off the bat is also a warning sign that your doctor really doesn't understand. A sufferer needs to be "in cycle" for a period of 12 months with no more than 30 days of unmedicated pain freedom. It's impossible to know if you're chronic at the outset, therefore. Also, you say you were diagnosed by a CT Scan and an MRI. Again...imposible to diagnose cluster that way. In fact, I think the only way to 100% diagnose cluster is by autopsy and examining the hypothalmus. Kind of a drastic diagnostic measure! Cluster sufferers (if they have no other underlying conditions) would be negative on both CT scans and MRI.

Maybe it is just your "accent" or the way you are explaining your symptoms that is confusing me, Lars. I hope I haven't offended you - certainly not my intention.

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by lars on Sep 30^th, 2004, 6:00pm

on 09/30/04 at 17:58:27, lars wrote:

Hi Margi,

by all means no offence taken at all, it's very thoughtful you're concern in providing the best information and giving your experience and your husband's more imortant is to

i'll begin with answering your questions and then you can help me ok? serously asking. I've just scheduled another apointment in Portugal for December as the pain's back again but i might consider to see a doctor here in germany if you think it's best. I trust completely your judgement as being in presence of both types (migraine and ch). Please see at the end of the post a brief description of my symptons as well.

on Sep 27th, 2004, 11:26am, lars wrote:
the attacks used to be once or twice a year, then 3 years ago went to about 2 to 3 times a month, each lasting 12 to 24 hours with 2 to 3 headaches.
By "Attacks" - do you mean "cycle"? We refer to each individual headache as an attack and a cycle is the time period during which you have the attacks.

yes, attacks= cycle. this would be then one or 2 cycles a year at the beggining with 2 to 3 headaches, being the cycle of 12 to 24 hours. Then went to 2 to 3 cycles a month each one of them with 2 to 3 headaches.

Like i've mentioned in another post the info in my country is very rare and nomenclature is tottally new to me (i'm learning here)

I've had some "quiet months" with only 2 attacks per month until 2 months ago,

- again: 2 headaches per month?
2 cycles

..... now i'm having about 4 attacks per month, the regular 1 day/attack, 2 to 3 headaches/day.....

this is confusing. How long does each headache last, Lars?

on average 2 hours counting from when the eye starts "crying".

But this last one has started a week ago, 1 headache on moday, remission on thursday, back thursday night, one headache on wednesday, remission again and contant headaches since friday.

No pain freedom at all, since Friday?
No unmedicated pain free since friday, pain in different levels of pain (i don't know if i can say like this)

Runned out of tablets last night and tonight i woke up at 1 am wit another headache that is lasting until now.

Again, you had a constant headache since 1 a.m. that day?

yes, until i got zomig at 4 p.m.

To be diagnosed Chronic right off the bat is also a warning sign that your doctor really doesn't understand.

A sufferer needs to be "in cycle" for a period of 12 months with no more than 30 days of unmedicated pain freedom. It's impossible to know if you're chronic at the outset, therefore.

My neuro had been accompaning me for several years before the diagnose, i was seing him on a 2 month basis, complainning about headaches each time i was there. Only when i went there once actually having one of those headaches he saw how looked like.

Also, you say you were diagnosed by a CT Scan and an MRI. Again...imposible to diagnose cluster that way. In fact, I think the only way to 100% diagnose cluster is by autopsy and examining the hypothalmus. Kind of a drastic diagnostic measure! Cluster sufferers (if they have no other underlying conditions) would be negative on both CT scans and MRI.

exactelly; the CT and MRI was (as i've mentioned in previous post) to put aside the option of brain tumor....

[b]Maybe it is just your "accent" or the way you are explaining your symptoms that is confusing me, Lars. I hope I haven't offended you - certainly not my intention.[b]

ok, now for the simptoms.

first of all is always on my right side. Starts wit having like a itchy sensation on the eye like when you have something inside and you try to "scratch it off", then in some minutes i start "sniffing" like when you have a cold and the start running from your nose; the eye and area around it swollows (i'm not sure is writting like this but i can't think straight now), loose sensability in my skin like when i had facial paralysis when i was a child, and i usully say i want to tear my eye out of my face cuz that's just what i'd do if it made the pain go away. there's 2 pressure points that relieves me a bit if i presse them: one is right above my eyebrow and the other is on the back of my head on the right side in the place where the would be if we'd had eyes in our head (this one is hard to explain without a drawing). also ice on those two points give me some reliefe but only zomig makes it go away. Not even talking about paracetamol and normal aspirin, before i experienced zomig i took "migraine aspirin" (tried on my own on a farmacist suggestion as the codeine did nothing) and "codeine tablets" (prescribed by the doctor) before he saw me looking like ..... well .... what you all know.

help?

[smiley=huh.gif]

help... because if it's not ch i'm not sure i want to know what it is... the pain is back...

Title: Re: Zomig?????????
Post by Margi on Sep 30^th, 2004, 7:25pm

ok, well, I'm still a little confused because you said first that your attacks only last two hours, then later you said from 1 a.m. until 4 p.m. - that's 15 hours.... And, again, the frequency of the headaches, in my opinion, is more like migraine than cluster. But...I'm not a doctor.

Even if this is migraine, zomig will still help you. Ask your doctor for a prescription of oxygen - it helps with both types of h/a as well.

Best of luck, Lars - I hope you find pain freedom soon.