Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Axert
        
(Message started by: jhgnopain on Aug 12^th, 2004, 8:12pm)

Title: Axert
Post by jhgnopain on Aug 12^th, 2004, 8:12pm

I have been dealing with attacks for going on nearly two months. I have never had any medication that will abort an attack once it starts and I have tried many. I visited my general doctor yesterday and he suggested I try Axert (almotriptan malate) tablets. I have been regularly taking verapamil and indomethacin for preventative measures. Since my attacks have lessened in number, I am thinking that this combination does some good. However, I have had five attacks in the last six days. Today there has been tearing of the left eye and drainage of the left sinus. I am frustrated with the doctor because he kept using migraine interchangably with cluster (because he says they are both vascular in nature). Does anyone out there use Axert and has it helped. The literature states it is used for treating migraines. Help!

Title: Re: Axert
Post by don on Aug 12^th, 2004, 9:15pm

Just about every CH med out there is labeled for Migraines. Dont let that throw you. It's the dosage that makes the differance.

Title: Re: Axert
Post by jhgnopain on Aug 12^th, 2004, 11:58pm

Thanks for such a prompt response! I have been dealing with these for over 20 years and I only discovered what they were about six years ago! I have been trying many things for each cluster and am always game to try nearly anything!

Title: Re: Axert
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 13^th, 2004, 12:03am

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

Axert is a Triptan. MANY clusterheads benefit greatly from Triptans. Imitrex injections are my abortive med(and the only triptan to work, for me)

Verapamil may help if one can reach a fairly high dose without too many side effects.

Indomethacin is 100% effective for CPH. I think most or all clusterheads should give this a try. 6 days is all you need to know if it is going to help or not. If it doesn't help within 6 days ... it's futile !

Unsolved

If the Axert isn't helping ... maybe you should ask for a different Triptan.

What about 02 ? Have you tried it ?

Title: Re: Axert
Post by jhgnopain on Aug 17^th, 2004, 10:28pm

I have tried O2 to no avail. I also tried Maxalt, depokate, sansert, prednisone, and a couple different beta blockers. I do think if I catch the attack at just the right time (hard to do when my first response to anything I think might be an attack is denial) with the Axert, it may help? I failed on Sunday and paid dearly. Now I am out of the stuff and the insurance company is giving me grief. Any suggestions on that font? I have thought of asking for an injectable, but have never done so. I am sure you understand when I say that I am getting very down because I feel the constant fear of another attack?!

Title: Re: Axert
Post by Karla on Aug 18^th, 2004, 12:27am

axert works great. Just dont forget about the imitrix and zomig nasal spray. I love em.

Title: Re: Axert
Post by Prense on Aug 18^th, 2004, 9:40am

on 08/17/04 at 22:28:42, jhgnopain wrote:

I have tried O2 to no avail.

What flow and delivery did you use?

Triptans, especially the slower acting ones (pill form) tend to be more effective when used early in the attack. If I let an attack progress far enough, even injectible trex will not abort for me.

As for prevents... Several folks here have reported long term success (more than a couple of months) with verapamil and lithium.

Don is absolutely correct. If I am not mistaken trex is the only med labled for CH use as well as migraine. Zomig might be another one, but I am not sure.

Chris

Title: Re: Axert
Post by jhgnopain on Aug 18^th, 2004, 11:47pm

It was five years back when I used the O2 and the attacks were frequent and I was in a fog. I can't for the life of me recall what flow I used? I used the portable tanks and had a machine by the bedside. I just recall being really bummed out that it did not work. Over the course of three-four months, I tried so many different things. Prednisone was the last thing I tried and I hated it because of the side effects (although any side effect is better than an attack)! I think that the cluster simply ended for me because after I weened myself off that, I had a little over two year remission (BLISS)! Now my clusters seem to be doing an every two years appearance? Since they used to come in two bouts a year and then once a year, I am hoping that as I get older, they will simply disappear?! What I would not give for that!!!

Title: Re: Axert
Post by Prense on Aug 19^th, 2004, 9:21am

Odds are that you were not given the correct method to use O2. You need a setup capable of 15lpm with a non-rebreather mask. O2 typically has to be used at the very first sign of an attack to be the most effective.

Chris