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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Sumatriptan
        
(Message started by: Itz_Me on Mar 28^th, 2005, 10:10am)

Title: Sumatriptan
Post by Itz_Me on Mar 28^th, 2005, 10:10am

Last night I was in so much pain I was rolling round the floor!! Within 10 mins of my ch starting I gave myself a shot of imi but cant understand why after a whole hour later the pain just kept getting worse >:(

So I called the Doc, eventually he turned up and gave me another shot, that did the trick in under ten mins!!
This is the first time ive taken these injections and they havent worked near enough straight away. I wonder if im getting immune to them.

I hate taking them anyway and wish I could get my Doc to give me something without so many side effects and easier to take...when im out and about and my ch starts I have to go to the nearest toilet to take them!!

Im also taking 4 pizotifen tablets every eve but getting very down coz my ch arent improving at all.

My Doc told me its ok to take two injection for one ch, is this ok? the leaflet in the box tells me not to!!
jx

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by E-Double on Mar 28^th, 2005, 10:25am

Sometimes it happens where the abortive med won't touch an attack....That sucks!!! Most of the time I can abort with literally 1/3 of an injection......

You may want to look into other types of preventatives.

Here is a great resource to know like the back of your hand
It will discuss transitional, preventative and abortive meds:

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

It will present the appropriate treatments that you should seek and your doctor should know!!! Print it out and give it to doctor to memorize!!!

Demand Oxygen for your house and for travel (can get different size tanks) read and print this out!!!

http://www.headachesupportgroups.com/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Wishing you the best !!
Best,
Eric

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by Gator on Mar 28^th, 2005, 2:18pm

The biggest trick to aborting an attack is to hit early - the sooner the better.

Definitely try O2!!! I use the oxygen at the first twinge of an attack and can abort about 75% with no need for Imitrex.

I've also had the ones where 20 minutes of O2, Zomig Nasal Spray, 200mg of Demerol and 50 mg of Phenergan did absolutely nothing.

Nothing is 100%. You have to find what works best for you. Read and print the links that Eric gave you. Here are a few more that may help.

Here is a link to some non-prescription alternatives different people have used to help with the pain:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/resources/non_script_treat.htm

If you are currently taking medications, I would suggest you talk with your doctor before taking any of the nutritional supplements. At the very least check for interactions at a website such as:

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home/AllAboutDrugs

Nutritional supplements can interact with prescription meds just the same as some prescription meds interact with each other. Better safe than sorry where your health is concerned.

Oxygen is an excellent abortive. Works for most people when used properly. Defintely try this. As well as it works, I have a hard time understanding why more doctors do not prescribe it. If your doc won't prescribe it for you, you might try welder's O2. It's the same pure oxygen used by medical suppliers. Many people here use it and would be more than happy to help you set it up. Here are some links that tells about using O2:

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

http://www.headaches.org/consumer/topicsheets/oxygen.html

http://www.chhelp.org/mhni.html

Here is a link to a letter that may help explain things to your friends, family and co-workers.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/Cluster%20Headache%20Syndrome.doc

If you haven't already done so, you should check out the Kudzu thread. Many people are having great success with this. Read the entire thread as there is information updates all throughout the thread.

Welcome to our little corner of the web.

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by Kevin_M on Mar 28^th, 2005, 7:50pm

on 03/28/05 at 10:10:31, Itz_Me wrote:

My Doc told me its ok to take two injection for one ch, is this ok? the leaflet in the box tells me not to!!

I'm no doctor but I remember Big Dan doing that once and posting quickly here how "not right" and WORRIED he felt and asking for answers, quick. I've never done that and I am willing to bet my bottom dollar Dan will not again.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by pubgirl on Mar 29^th, 2005, 4:50am

Bluntly itz_me (bluntly is my middle name ;;D) my view is that Pizotifen is useless for CH. It is a migraine prevent and can work well for that, but I have yet to hear of one single Ch'er who it works for. I used it but it made me sleepy, hungry and fatter, and did diddly squat for the CH.

r.e. the Imigran.
Suggestion. Get yourself the 02 set-up available for Ch sufferers here in the UK (i.e. correct tank and regulator and mask) and use Imigran as your "back-up" if 02 doesn't abort. Then you have two abortive options for the attacks, and only any risk if the 02 AND imigran fail twice over in any 24 hours.

I personally don't like how the Imigran makes me feel, hence the 02 as first attack, Imigran as second. 2 doses of Imigran in a short period of time is theoretically "safe" but I wouldn't do it as I feel very bad if I do, and for me that is enough not to do it.

Wendy

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by Gator on Mar 29^th, 2005, 9:35am

on 03/28/05 at 10:10:31, Itz_Me wrote:

My Doc told me its ok to take two injection for one ch, is this ok? the leaflet in the box tells me not to!!
jx

Quote:

Posted by: Kevin_M Posted on: 03/28/05 at 18:50:57

I'm no doctor but I remember Big Dan doing that once and posting quickly here how "not right" and WORRIED he felt and asking for answers, quick. I've never done that and I am willing to bet my bottom dollar Dan will not again.

Kevin M

This is true, Kevin. Dan was having a major hit and the trex didn't work, so he took a second shot within about 10 - 15 minutes of the first. He was having major tightness in the chest and increased pulse rate, head felt like it was gonna explode, sweating like a wh0re in church, all the signs that he needed to get his ass to an ER, but he refused, so we sat with him in chat until the storm blew over. Scared the shit out of all of us. I would be willing to bet he'll not do that again.

Itz_me, the way I was told was hit the trex once. If it still hasn't done anything an hour later you can hit it again. If you split doses, like many of us do, this is not a problem. Some people can abort with as little as 2mg - 1/3rd of a shot. Me, I need 3mg - half a shot. You should try this. It doubles or tripples the number of attacks you can abort and gives you room for a second shot during the same hit if the first one doesn't work like it normally does.

If you use the StatDose Kits with the autoinjector, there is a tip to the left on disassembling the injector and giving yourself a partial shot. I did this for a while until I got the doc to prescribe trex in vials. With the trex in vials, I use a .5cc, 30 gauge, short needle syringe. It's much easier to accurately measure out a partial dose and the finer needle makes for a less painful injection.

I'm not saying your doctor doesn't know what he is talking about, but a lot of us have come to realize that doctors are not all knowing. They do give bad, or maybe in this case, incomplete advice sometimes. If something doesn't sound right, check it out with your pharmacist or another doctor. ALSO, I believe OUCH_UK has a 24 hour hotline you can call for advice. Check out their website and write the number down by your telephone.

And again, check into Oxygen.

Damned filters! >:(

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by BlueMeanie on Mar 30^th, 2005, 11:41pm

Hello,

I wouldn't be doing 2 shots if a where you. I hate even doing one full shot. Half works just as good as one if you do it right.

IT'S ALL IN THE TIMING. Not only taking it too late, but also taking it too early sometimes it will not work. Once you get used to it, you'll figure out when the time is right.

Good luck,
PFDAN

Title: Re: Sumatriptan
Post by Itz_Me on Apr 10^th, 2005, 2:55pm

Thank you all for you time and helpful advice jx :D