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Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches
Apr 24^th, 2010 at 2:10pm

I'm in the middle of a cluster cycle, and it's not fun. However, one night I decided to take an imitrex pill as I was going to bed. I didn't have an attack that evening. I tried it again. Same result. Two nights over the past week, I didn't take a pill at bedtime. Both nights I've had attacks.

I have no idea if this is a fluke. If it is, it's one that's working for me. Has anyone else tried this?

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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches Reply #1 - Apr 24^th, 2010 at 2:28pm Yes, many have tried it. I have tried it. It works. Longer acting triptans (Amerge, Frova) work even better. If you don't mind taking triptans all the time. For some this is an issue.
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anthony g CH.com Old Timer Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 318 manhattan nyc Gender:	Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches Reply #2 - Apr 24^th, 2010 at 2:36pm during my peak cycle i was taking half of sumatriptan pill before sleep! i didnt have any night time hits anthony
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LasVegas

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Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches
Reply #3 - Apr 24^th, 2010 at 5:00pm

interesting concept, thanks for sharing, never thought of using trex pills this way, makes sense because the trex pills are usually ineffective for CH's as most people use abortives at the onset of an attack....trex pills usually are worthless because they take so long to become effective...however if you normally get an attack about an hour or so after you fall asleep (which I do) then it might make sense to do that....just be careful of the side effects associated with tryptans such as imitrex.....I like the melatonin idea better, but that's just me....to each his own

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chewbaccamonkeylunch

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Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches
Reply #4 - Apr 27^th, 2010 at 4:29pm

yes I do this as well at the start of a cycle. it helps being able to fall asleep without the fear of waking up with one in a few hours. glad I am not the only one! I think what some are saying about not using triptans a prevent is probably right on, because it wouldn't make sense to try to take an imitrex at noon for a nighttime ch, but if you have a headache at 8:00 every single night.....take one at 7:30 for a few days until the verap or whatever gets up to level

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« Last Edit: Apr 27^th, 2010 at 4:30pm by chewbaccamonkeylunch »

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Chad CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Posts: 738 Emmaus, PA Gender:	Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches Reply #5 - Apr 27^th, 2010 at 6:55pm I use to do this till I found melatonin.
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Batch

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Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches
Reply #6 - Apr 29^th, 2010 at 11:27pm

25mg of imitrex prior to going to bed should be good for 4 to 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I used this method many times when I was episodic and needed a good night's sleep.

Imitrex tablets take at least 30 minutes to reach a therapeutic serum level and as it has a half-life of 2 hours, 25mg should continue to provide a therapeutic level over at least 4 hours if not more...

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wimsey1

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Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches
Reply #7 - Apr 30^th, 2010 at 9:36am

Melatonin seems to be working for me, too. I take 12mgs at night (well above the label recommended dose) and I read somewhere that up to 18mgs is within the therapeutic range. I'm not sure a therapeutic range, or a cause and effect has been established between CHs and melatonin, or magnesium for that matter. Does anyone know?

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Cynde CH.com Junior Offline Posts: 53 x0\|Fairfax\|USA\|\|0\|0\|VA,Virginia Gender:	Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches Reply #8 - Apr 30^th, 2010 at 10:23am The science is definitely NOT in on melatonin...but some small studies have shown it to be effective for some people. It's not considered a premier treatment, though, according to this: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or
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Brew

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Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches
Reply #9 - Apr 30^th, 2010 at 10:44am

Cynde wrote on Apr 30^th, 2010 at 10:23am:

The science is definitely NOT in on melatonin...but some small studies have shown it to be effective for some people. It's not considered a premier treatment, though, according to this:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

I'll go with my personal history, which proves to me that it's VERY effective.

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anthony g CH.com Old Timer Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 318 manhattan nyc Gender:	Re: Imitrex Pills and nighttime headaches Reply #10 - Apr 30^th, 2010 at 11:09am I took melatonin this past cycle and didnt get hit at nite! Im with u brew!! hope your well!
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