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REACTION TO IMITREX

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 11/1/2006 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning, I am new to this forum, I usually post on the Lupus forum.  Anyway I have been having a lot of problems with headaches over the last month and I am having a hard time figuring out the cause or any good treatment.  I have been to the chiropractor and he says my back is not bad enough to cause the type of headaches that I am having...my rheumatologist says he doesn't think they are migraines as I don't have an "aura".  I went to my PCP yesterday evening and he thinks I might be having migraines and prescribed Imitrex and Fioricet.  I had had my headache just about the whole day so he told me to take the Imitrex when I got home.  Within about 20 minutes of taking it I had the worst headache I have ever had.  It felt like the top of my head was going to come off...then I developed a tightness in my upper chest and across the back of my shoulders, then I had the weirdest heaviness in my jaw.  Anyway needless to say I just went to bed and when I woke up this morning my eyes were very puffy and I still have the headache although it is down to a dull roar now. 

Has anyone had any experience with Imitrex that was even close to this.

Obviously I won't be taking it anymore, I called my PCP and they made me an appointment to see a neurologist (in 3 weeks).  Hope my head doesn't explode by then!!

Thanks for any info anyone has and thanks for letting me vent!

Kelly

Posted 11/1/2006 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kelly, I take Immitrex and it does seem like at first my headache gets worse and I experience a tightness/heaviness throughout my body before my migraine gets better. I hope that others will come along to tell you that every person has different chemistry and different reactions to each med. Your neurologist will give you samples to try. I hope that you feel better soon.
Posted 11/1/2006 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kelly,

Sorry you have had this experience with Imitrex. I have had this in injection form for over 13 years - granted I have had to stop recently whilst the Docs explore other health factors - but I have had the chest tightness/heaviness and it usually only lasts for a short while. Yes it does zonk me out, but does get rid of the pain. Just occasionally I am left with it down to a dull roar! If you read the leaflet that comes with the Imitrex it does explain some of the expected side effects such as the heaviness.

I hope you get on ok with the Neurologist, who may suggest another of the triptan family for you, not everything suits everybody!! Please let us know how you get on.

take care

Ann
Posted 11/1/2006 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Imitrex always causes a heavyness/tightness and jaw pain. I dont know why. My guess is that you didn't have a "allergic reaction" or anything, but that it probably didn't work for you. And the heavyness just a side-effect. I take ativan sometimes with the Imitrex inj. to help me relax. But the injs. only work like 1 in 10 headaches.
There are a lot of different triptans to try. My favorite for a while was Maxalt quick melt tabs. But they only worked for a few weeks. I prefer the nasal sprays too, like Zomig, because of nausea and vomitting and they work faster (even though Zomig has a nasty after-taste.)
I hope you find what works for you. Good luck with the neuro. appt. He should be able lto help you and maybe even prevent them.
Best to you.
Posted 11/3/2006 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
I have had migraines since 4th grade. We've tried so many different things to prevent/control my migraines/abort the migraines...but nothing has been successful.

I just started taking imitrex within the last two months. I had tried Relpax in the past..which seemed to actually work better for me. But anyways...my doc prescribed 100 mg imitrex tablets which i guess is the biggest dosage available...in the pills?

Well, when i first took them..they gave such a heavy pressure on my chest/etc.and they MADE me get sick/throw up. Now i don't get sick from them anymore but i get this feeling where my entire body feels warm/crampy, and it feels like it is somewhat hard to breathe (like it takes EFFORT). This feeling lasts maybe 15 minutes or so and then it seems to take the EDGE off the migraine, but never seems to actually kill the migraine.

Unfortunately i second guess my migraines all thte time. I think, "well, maybe excedrine will take it waway..or maybe my aleve sinus headache will take it away..etc...so i wait too long to take the imitrex"

Anyways..i was so relieved to see this forum exists..I have never had anyone to really relate to before..with migraines.

Good luck for everyone!!
Posted 11/3/2006 6:54 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Kelly,

Welcome to the Migraine Forum.

I can't believe a doctor told you a migraine wasn't a migraine because it didn't have an aura. There are classic and common migraines. The difference is auras. I don't generally suffer from auras with my migraines and I definitely have migraines.

Imitrex is a member of a family of medications called Triptans. I originally took Imitrex and now take Amerge or Zomig. You might discuss trying a different medication with your doctor. You might not have the same reaction to other triptan medications.

Good luck.

Posted 11/3/2006 7:02 AM (GMT 0)

Hello 23yearoldmigrainesufferer,

Welcome to the forum. I noticed in your email that you take excedrin for your headaches. I just wanted to warn you of rebound headaches in case you weren't aware. Excedrin contains caffeine and if it's taken regularly can cause rebound headaches.

In reference to your paragraph about second guessing yourself. I used to do that and my doctor (neurologist) recommended I stop doing that. He said it was okay to take medications, especially if you have a drug program recommended by the doctor. If you're taking a preventative and feel like you're taking too many preventatives then the doctor needs to know that so that he / she can adjust your prescription.

One of the worst things associated with migraines is guilt. Guilt about taking too many medications. As my doctor tells me, it's okay to take the medications if I'm in pain. If the program isn't working then it's up to the doctor to help you find the right program. Hopefully this helps you stop second guessing yourself.

Posted 11/4/2006 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this forum, but I wanted to agree with Nicky. I was an excedrin junkie until I started to scare myself with the amount of OTC pain medication I was taking. Finally my doc prescribed midrin, which sort of worked....sometimes. Now I'm on Imitrex (hence the opening of this post) and it seems to be my lifesaver. I really had to finally admit to myself that its OK to take something strong, even if my headache isn't knock me over horrible at that exact moment. If I don't take it early, it doesn't go away.

On another note, I got a few samples of the Imitrex nasal spray. I used it today, and not only was it sort of an icky sensation, and it ran down my neck for about an hour, it did NOTHING for my migraine. Has this happened to anyone else? I was hoping this was going to knock it out faster than the pill (I'm on 100mg....maybe that's the issue?), but this is definitely not something I'll try again.

Nice to meet you all!
Jen
Posted 11/4/2006 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jen,

Welcome to Healing Well. Sorry about you experience with Imitrex. The nasal spray should act much faster than the tablet, but faster still are the injections that you administer yourself - they have been a life saver to me and given me a quality of life that I never had before.

Unfortunately I cannot have them at the moment, am just waiting for the all clear from other health issues. I have not had any experience myself with the nasal sprays, but am just wondering if there is a technique to perfect when taking them?

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.

take care

Ann
Posted 11/5/2006 2:16 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Kelly,

I've had "common" migraines, the ones without auras, for about thirty years.  I've tried literally every medication associated with the treatment of migraines.  None of the "triptans" have ever worked for me.  The one time I tried Imitrex, via a shot in the doctor's office, I had so many bad side-effects, I preferred having the pain from the migraine over the Imitrex.  What works for one person, won't work for the next.  The only drugs that work for me are Stadol Nasal Spray as an abortive, and Lorcet Plus for breakthrough pain.  Unfortunately, both are Narcotics, and my doctor has decided not to prescribe them for me anymore.  I was supposed to be referred to a pain clinic, but they did a switch-up on me and made the referral to a Detox center.  It has taken over two months, and I never was given an appointment.  So I ended up detoxing cold turkey.  I did get a referral to the Pain Center at the University of Virginia, via a neurologist I was referred to by my doctor.  Hopefully, I will get some medical assistance via this referral.  I hope you find something that works for you also.

Welcome, and let us know how you are doing!

Leigh Ann cool

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