Posted by Simon (213.1.170.135) on February 29, 2000 at 15:15:32:
In Reply to: Imitrex, for clusters? Read this. posted by NicholasD on February 29, 2000 at 14:25:59:
Hi all,
Don't know whether the manufacturer has to include a patient leaflet in the US, but for your info, this is taken
from the leaflet they have to include over here in the UK - it may help, even if it only removes any anxiety many
feel from the above!!
What your injection does
IMIGRAN injection contains sumatriptan, a medicine developed for the treatment of
migraine and a rare condition called cluster headache. The symptoms of migraine may
be due to temporary swelling of the blood vessels in the head. Medicines like IMIGRAN
are believed to work by reducing the size of these blood vessels. These medicines are
called 5HT, receptor agonists.
If you are not sure why IMIGRAN has been prescribed or you ask your doctor.
Before using your injection tell your doctor if:
you are allergic to sumatriptan, any of the other ingredients in IMIGRAN or to medicines
called sulphonamides;
you suffer from unexpected shortness of breath, or from pain or tightness in the chest
(which may or may not spread to your jaw or upper arms);
you have any of the following medical conditions: heart disease such as heart failure,
angina or coronary thrombosis (heart attack), high blood pressure, disease of the liver or
kidneys, epilepsy or brain disease;
you are taking any medicines for your migraine which contain ergotamine, or ergotamine
derivatives such as ergotamine tartrate or methysergide maleate (if so, you should stop
taking them at least 24 hours before using IMIGRAN injection);
you are taking any medicines on a doctor's prescription for the treatment of depression
such as lithium, MAOI's or SSRI's (including citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine,
paroxetine and sertraline), or if you have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks;
you are taking any medicines on a doctor's prescription to help you lose weight, or for the
treatment of epilepsy;
you are pregnant, or likely to become pregnant, or breast-feeding, or have stopped having
periods altogether;
you are a man over 40 years of age;
you have any risk factors for heart disease, such as: family history of heart disease; sugar
diabetes; high blood cholesterol; if you are a regular cigarette smoker or if you are very
overweight. you have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Even so your doctor may still want you to use it and will advise you about using the
injection. IMIGRAN may cause drowsiness. If you are affected do not drive or operate
machinery.
How to use your injection
Carefully read the Patient Instruction Leaflet provided with the IMIGRAN SUBJECT
injection. Only use the SUBJECT Pen in the way shown. The IMIGRAN SUBJECT
injection will inject a dose of IMIGRAN just below the skin quickly and without pain.
The injection must NOT be given in any other way than with the SUBJECT Pen. DO
NOT inject IMIGRAN into a vein.
For migraine:
Use ONE injection at the first sign of a migraine attack, although it will be equally
effective if used at any time during an attack. If your migraine does not go, do not use a
second one for the same attack. IMIGRAN can be used for your next attack. If, after
your first dose, your migraine goes away but then returns, you may use another injection,
provided it is at least an hour since the first injection. DO NOT use more than TWO
injections in 24 hours.
For cluster headaches:
Use ONE injection for each cluster attack. DO NOT use more than TWO injections in
24 hours and make sure you leave at least one hour between the two doses.
There is little experience of IMIGRAN in children or those over 65 years of age so it is
not usually prescribed for these age groups.
(This is from the injection pamphlet, but I can't see any reason why the tabs would be any different - the blessed Dr. Goadsby
happily allowed me both - case proven!)
All the best,
Simon