Posted by pinksharkmark (196.3.74.234) on July 13, 2000 at 20:07:13:
In Reply to: Maxalt posted by ADame on July 13, 2000 at 18:46:36:
Maxalt is one of the "triptan" family. Imitrex was the first, followed by Amerge, Zomig, and Maxalt.
I have not yet tried Amerge. Several posts I've seen here indicate that it is best taken an hour before an expected attack, as it is not very effective at stopping one that has established a foothold.
Imitrex tablets work fine for me, although they can take up to an hour to kick in if the CH is well-established. I have never tried the injectors... I can't afford them. I tried the nasal spray several times, but for me it was much less effective than the tablets.
Zomig is my favorite so far... faster-acting than Imitrex, and longer lasting. With Imitrex I will get a CH every six hours, with Zomig every eight hours. It makes me kind of sleepy, though.
I just tried Maxalt MLT for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I got a six-pack of the wafers, and have used five so far. For me, like "ADame", they are completely useless... like sucking on a breath mint for all the good they do.
My question is... why do the Zomig and Imitrex tablets work for me, and not the Maxalt? All three are triptans, all three use the same mechanism to abort a CH. As a matter of fact, since Maxalt is a second-generation triptan, like Zomig, one that more specifically targets the receptors involved, it should be MORE effective than Imitrex, as Zomig seems to be. The increased effectiveness is reflected in the much lower doses for the second-generation drugs: 10 mg for Maxalt, only 2.5 mg for Zomig, versus 100 mg for Imitrex oral.
I'm glad to hear that the Maxalt works for you, Mike... I'm just baffled that it won't work for me.
pinky