Relpax

Hi,

I am new to this forum although I've been on the Ulcerative Colitis one for a while. I"ve always suffered from 'really bad headaches' way back into my teen years. For years, Tylenol, then Advil and sleep usually solved things after a few hours. Since being diagnosed with UC 5 years ago, I can't take anything with NSAIDs so a lot of over the counter products are out the window for me. Over the past few years the headache have taken a turn and are now migraines - for a while i thought it was sinus related but nothing in that category of drugs offered help either. Over the past year I've tracked my migraines and they are definitely hormonal. anywhere from 3 days before to the day after getting my period, i get one and they last from 24 -48 hours.

I finally asked my Gastroenterologist for suggestions seeing that I can`t do NSAIDs ( advile, asprin, midol, motrine, naproxins... etc.. ). He prescribed me Relpax 40mg.

I did a search on here but all the posts I found were fairly old. I`m wondering if anyone here uses/ has used Relpax nd how you find/found it?

Thanks for any info.

I have Relpax, but have not tried it. I use Maxalt which works for me and the Relpax being just as expensive to buy I figured why stray from what I know works. I do have a friend that goes to the same neurologist as I do and she uses it and likes it. My neurologist also uses it and prefers it to other triptans. He seems to think it works faster. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I do have hormonal migraines and Maxalt is also a triptan like Relpax. I went years before taking it because I was afraid of the side effects. It was a life saver for me as it is the ONLY thing other than an injection of Toradol in the ER that will get rid of a migraine for me. It takes about an hour and a half to two hours to work if at that point it doesn't get rid of the headache I take 800 mg. if ibuprofen and that will almost always knock it out. I don't know what I would do it I didn't have it. I was at a point recently (being perimenopausal) where I was having daily migraines and of course can not use triptans every day. I was put on topamax which I also resisted and that has reduced greatly the number of migraines I have as well as the severity. I still get the hormonal ones but there are much more tolerable and easier to treat.

Hi Canadagal,
How have you been taking Relpax since January?
I have had a similar pattern to my headaches/migraines to you and have been prescribed Relpax. I've had fairly good relief from it but I do find that I can't carry on with my usual daily activities if I get a migraine and take it. I have to lie down and rest for about 45 min at least or it doesn't really work. If I carry on going then I end up with the shakes and cold sweats and will invariably need a second dose and a lie down to kick it in the butt. Can be a bit difficult when you're trying to hold down a job and also look after a very active 1 year old!
Anyway, just wanted to see how you were getting on and see if you had any advice...

Hi Sammyjane

Thanks for your reply, I have yet to try the Relpax - will probably need them later this week : ) seeing my migraines are pretty predictable.

I'm hoping the fact they are monthly and predictable, I should be able to take the pill early enough to hopefully rear the migraine off track.

Guess trying it is going to be the only way to find out if it helps me or not.
I'll post results once i do give it a try.

Thanks for your response Sherri,

I did get my 'timely' migraine last month and took my first Relpax. It worked really well -within 20-30 minutes migraine was gone! yay- did get dry mouth during the night thought but i can live with that!

I did strangely get another migraine 2 days later (rode that one out with Tylenol) and then another one about 5 days later (took another relpax for that one! not sure if it was just a fluke or if it just push symptoms back or if it was rebound migraines...

Should be having another one in the next few days so I'll see how i respond to this one.