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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> questions about Imitrex
        
(Message started by: Guido on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:22am)

Title: questions about Imitrex
Post by Guido on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:22am

I got my first prescriptions of Imitrex ( is that better Mr. Happy?..lol). It is a nasal spray. I got six and it says not to use for more then 4 headaches in a month. why is that? what happens if I need more ( and of couse I will)? Heck I have had 3 in the last 14 hours and it is only 9:20 pm here..so.............................
Guido

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by thebbz on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:39am

Guido ,
It is because Imitrex is a migraine hand me down.Should always follow directions though. Nasal dont work for me Injectors only. Hope your hangin in there.

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Giovanni on Oct 7^th, 2004, 9:06am

I've used more than that in one day! Instructions for me was no more than two per day and no more than one per headache and no sooner than two hours apart. Nasal spray didn't work for me--only the stat dose injections which work in 5 minutes. Good luck.

John

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Tom K on Oct 7^th, 2004, 2:59pm

The NS worked for a while for me. I would talk to your doc about what they feel is good for you. I'm not going to say you can take more, but I will say that it got me through peaks where nothing was working.

T

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Gator on Oct 7^th, 2004, 3:15pm

Never done the Imitrex NS. Have done the Zomig NS. The instructions said no more than 2 in a 24 hour period, but the doc said I could do up to 3.

Everyone is different, so your best bet is to talk with your doc and find out how many s/he says you can do per day. Have your doc write a letter of medical necessity to your insurance company explaining why you need more than 6 per month. It works sometimes. My previous insurance company originally only gave me 6 Zomig NS per month. After the letter from the neuro, they gave me 30 per month. Still shy of the 90 - 150 attacks I get per month, but better than 6. I could at least abort one per day.

Hope this helps.

Gator

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 7^th, 2004, 5:11pm

Never used the nasal spray. I'm a self-injector girl, myself.
But those directions sound fishy to me. I'd sure call the doc. I've always understood it to be no more than 2 doses per day (of spray or injections).

Good luck,

Kris

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Guido on Oct 7^th, 2004, 5:37pm

Apperently I have not made it clear, sorry. It says "may repeat once in 2 hours if headache returns. do not treat more then 4 headaches per month".
It is that last statement that causes me concern. I no I will need more. What does one do about that?
Guido

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Tom K on Oct 7^th, 2004, 6:38pm

on 10/07/04 at 14:59:49, Tom K wrote:

I would talk to your doc about what they feel is good for you.

['70's music voice on] Say it again...huuh! ['70's music voice off]

T

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 7^th, 2004, 8:33pm

Sorry - but that still sounds very wrong. Giovanni said it above. There's certainly a limit as to how much you "should" take, but when in the height of a cycle, most docs even relent on that.

Regardless, I've never seen it limited to 4 HA's a month. That's just totally unrealistic for a CH sufferer in cycle!

In case you haven't seen it, here's an excellent link on clusters and medication. It's currently stapled to the inside of my patient file at the doc's office. Maybe it could help you negotiate a little!

http://www.future-drugs.com/admin/articlefile/ERN020304.PDF

Good luck and many good wishes,

Kris

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by thebbz on Oct 7^th, 2004, 9:56pm

hey Guido!!
How ya doin today? Hopefully you called the doc and asked for the statdose. I have in the past completely ignored the old doc and doubled up...oh the pain. All are different. How good of shape are you in,smoker ect..
this will tell ya ... I'm only 45, smoker but in fair shape in the cardio dept. The trex is a life saver...my first choice is the statdose after that the 100mg trex pills...NS never works...for me, and the pills 50/50..statdose works for several times then I have to use frova or relpax...Rainin up there? Hope ya get some rest.
BB 8)

Title: Re: questions about Imitrex
Post by Guido on Oct 8^th, 2004, 12:46am

It sounds like I need to quit being a "muffin" as my friend calls it ( instead of the word P***y) and do the injection thing. This will be the second night with the nazal and the o2 comes tommorrow. We shall see. This is all so new and and you all are a welth of info and encouragement. thanks
Guido