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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Imitrex http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1361715591 Message started by Bob Hatrock on Feb 24th, 2013 at 9:19am |
Title: Imitrex Post by Bob Hatrock on Feb 24th, 2013 at 9:19am
Hi, it's been awhile since I've had a cluster, 5 years Thank God! I'm not sure why it's been so long. I've had clusters for over 30 years 1-2 times a year. The last cycle I had was the longest, 5 months, 4-6 headaches a day. The last couple weeks it seems like they are trying to come back and that scares the hell out of me. I have about 12 Imitrex shots left, but they Expired in 2008. I've used expired shots before and they worked, but not any that were over 3-4 months. Any body know if they might work or if they are safe. This stuff is worth more then gold to me. Thanks for being here. Bob
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Title: Re: Imitrex Post by jess-MTL on Feb 24th, 2013 at 9:44am
I would not think (and I am no pharmacist, just my personal opinion) that they would be bad for you, but they might not be very effective after being expired for 4 years. I used a Zomig nasal spray that had been expired for a little less than a year, and I could tell it wasn't at its best. It did help, but wasn't as effective as a new one.
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Title: Re: Imitrex Post by Bob Johnson on Feb 24th, 2013 at 4:10pm |
Title: Re: Imitrex Post by 9thNerve on Feb 26th, 2013 at 1:03am
Great resource Bob. This should be posted where it is readily available in a Q & A for everyone.
Bottomline: 80% of all drugs are good for 66months PAST their posted Expiration Date |
Title: Re: Imitrex Post by CH Brain on Mar 25th, 2013 at 5:03pm Quote:
What a load... My specialist IS a clinical pharmacologist. He is an experienced pain and headache clinician with 700 clinical trials to his name and 80 first in human molecular structures. An ethicist, with no commercial interest to declare (Not a drug company stooge), he is an expert on Triptans particularly, he came up with Zolmitriptan or (Zomig). I have expired Sumatriptan (Imigran, Imitrex) injections here that he prescribed. Some are out of date. I asked him if they are suitable to use. He replied along these lines: "As a general principle, no-one should ever used medications after the expiry date. The expiry date is put there for a reason." (note to cynics - this reason is not to make money for the huge much maligned drug companies, but to help YOU avoid "harm by prescription pad" - first do no harm...) Effects of out-of-date medication may be unpredictable; ranging from little/no effect, lessened effect, or perhaps an undesirable or even dangerous effects. Some molecular structures change with factors including; time, environmental exposure (heat, light, cold etc) or they may become inactive, or active as an entirely different compound - very undesirable - in some compounds, perhaps lethal. I have nearly died from drug contraindications or interactions on at least 2 occasions. After 34 years of Chronic CH, I know a CH attack will not kill me. Pick the wrong medication, taken out-of-date and it just might. Ask yourself, Is it really worth the chance? In 3 hours, after the pain has passed, you will still be here. I understand the desire to use what you have, all too well. I will now throw 14 unused , out-of-date Imigran injections in the bin. I will have a new supply prescribed to me. I hope I set an example in doing so. Until then I will make do with what other treatments I have, including simply toughing the bastards out, if I have to. Now I'm walking straight past my out-of-date Imigran injections, off to pop an Imigran 50mg FDT instead, here comes another one again... Cheers, Ben. |
Title: Re: Imitrex Post by Guiseppi on Mar 25th, 2013 at 8:37pm
Hmm....as for me, I will stick with Bob's research on this subject. An extremely personal decision each person should make on their own, after careful research. I have used numerous medications after their expiration date and am still here. I have seen numerous studies on patients who accidentally die doing EXACTLY what their docs told them. Life's a crap shoot! ;)
Joe |
Title: Re: Imitrex Post by CH Brain on Mar 26th, 2013 at 12:19am
I agree Guiseppi,
Firstly I should fess up, I have used expired drugs, but had problems, so I sought a professional opinion on the idea. Many people do die under medical supervision and specialist advice. This has nearly happened to me, under supervision of some less than scrupulous, but nonetheless, qualified GPs and Neuros, but not this man. Together with my current specialist I made the "personal", but what I also consider to be "informed" decision, not to use out-of-date medications. It's the general principle I mentioned in my previous post that I am labouring on here. I've done over 70 drug trials now and would have a pile of expired drugs 6 feet high if I kept them all. I wouldn't want to be seen advising people to circumvent in-built safety mechanisms, then where to we draw the line? At a particular drug type? At a specified date after expiry? Under a certain temperature threshold? At a particular CH treatment? Efficacy is one thing, safety another. Can't help it, I was an OH&S officer in an industry where people could die if I had got one thing wrong. It's a grey area, indeed. I don't have a monopoly on opinion, let the debate continue! Cheers. |
Title: Re: Imitrex Post by Chad on Mar 26th, 2013 at 8:43am
If those old doses still work, I can't stress enough using the tip on the left hand column of this page. It will save you $$$ and possible rebound HA's. If you haven't tried O2, check it out. I haven't used trex in over 5 years because of it.
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Title: Re: Imitrex Post by wing_nut on Mar 27th, 2013 at 1:34pm
I have been using mine that expired in 06, with success.
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Title: Re: Imitrex Post by LasVegas on Mar 29th, 2013 at 3:22am
Suppose you would really have to consider the storage conditions of the medicine. Was it stored in a cool, dark, dry location or in a hot, humid garage/attic?
"To each his/her own." but me personally, yup, I have used Imitrex that were expired by 5 years and worked just fine, within minutes, sometime less than 60 seconds. I prefer o2, but an Imitrex injection to the stomach is my 2nd preferred abortive, expired or not! Again, "to each his/her own." ;) -Gregg in Las Vegas |
Title: Re: Imitrex Post by Guiseppi on Mar 31st, 2013 at 8:38am
I', sorry to hear that Ben. :-/ Still crossing my fingers and hoping the D-3 can slap the beast down for you like it has for me. Hang in there.
Joe |
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