Headache and Migraines Forum - Imitrex Questions

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Q: Imitrex Questions

asked by: MyHeadHurts on June 23rd, 2005

New User

I am 26 and have suffered from what I have always thought to be sinus headaches since I was 18. I assumed it was sinus because the pain is almost always behind my right eye. Over the years i've taken every form of otc sinus meds and finally saw an ent specialist 1.5 years ago. She recommended a septoplasty to correct my deviated septum. I thought that would be the answer to my prayers and after a very painful surgery and recovery (it's just like a nosejob) and then a follow up surgery to cauterize a vein, I thought I would finally find relief. Nope. It did nothing. I now have a perfectly straight nose and can breathe better through my left nostril, but the headaches still persist.

Anyhow, in all my years of agony, no doc ever suggested that it may be a migraine. A few weeks ago, I got what I define as a "whopper"... One of those sinus headaches so painful that it's positively debillitating. When I get these, all I can do is take a couple otc sinus pills and hit the bed, hoping to sleep it off. Well, I took sinus meds and it had no perceptible affect. The next day the pain was equally as severe so I gave up and took an imitrex that my sister had given me. I'd only taken imitrex once before and it knocked me out so I vowed not to take another one unless I absolutely had to. In this case, I split the 50 mg pill in half. Surprisingly, it made me a tad drowsy but didn't knock me out and it actually rid of the headache!!

Sooooo, to make this very long story short, my question is this. Can imitrex really be a permanent solution for me? Anyone have any experience with this? I guess my concern, aside from side effects, is that I hate being medicated and avoid drugs, especially prescription. I suffer from these headaches on a weekly basis, sometimes for several days at a time. So can I end up taking an imitrex once or twice weekly?

My last question is how in the world can you differentiate between sinus and migraine headaches? And can imitrex alleviate those headaches that actually are sinus?

I really appreciate any help or insight anyone may have!

Replies(6)

Mariek3

replied on June 28th, 2005

New User

Hi

i am also 26 and have been taking imitrex for a little over two years. On average I take it twice a week. I am concerned about the long term affects it may have, and just like you prefer not to be on any medicine. I have done quite a bit of research on the drug myself and several sources state that people who do not have a true migraine do not respond. Imitrex is a new drug for migraine and cluster headaches only. Imitrex containes what is called triptans. Triptans are not pain medication, pain medication only increases your tolerence for the pain. Triptans on the otherhand are suppose to abort the migraine. I have also read patients who thought they had migraines were perscribed imitrex, but did not respond to the drug. So if you are responding they are probably classic migraines or cluster headaches.

I have been dealing with migraines since I was 12 and have found no solution. Imitrex at least helps get rid of the migraine, but will never resolve the problem, migraine is only a sympton of the problem. I just went to a new nuerologist today. Like every other doctor I have seen for migraines I told him my goal is not to take any drugs, I want to find out what the problem is and fix it. But of course because we live in such a money hungry world and corrupt society I walked out of his office with a new script. This time it as a anti-depressent! It is suppose to help prevent migraines. I am not giving up hope yet to find a solution to this ailment that I live with everyday of my life....But doctors dont care anymore, they are overbooked and rush you in and out of their office and hand out drugs without investigating the problem.

Mk
fort lauderdale, fl

MyHeadHurts

replied on June 28th, 2005

New User

Wow, mariek3, thank you so much for that information. It's very helpful. I'm encouraged to at least realize now that these are migraines and not sinus, as I most definitely respond to imitrex.

I guess i'll ask for a prescription and go that route now. I swear i'm to the point now where nothing else works. Although I guess it makes sense that sinus meds aren't very effective, given that these probably aren't sinus headaches.

sandyallen

replied on June 28th, 2005

Extremely eHealthy

Hi there! In the 1st place never take someone elses medication, this can be very dangerous, even if it is your sisters. If it does seem to help you get a prescription of your own, they have different strengths, what works works for one may not work for another and some meds should not be broken in half. I take 100 mg as soon as my migrane starts kicking in, this is what works the best.
Sincerely,
sandy

mixmastacoco

replied on July 19th, 2005

New User

Imitrex User

Im 16 and have been doing migrane studies since I was 12 I use imitrex and my last resort. It works very well for me and wipes the headace out in 45 mins to an hour ive noticed that the worse the side effects are the better its working

spilk

replied on May 21st, 2009

New User

Migraines & Anti-depressants

I have suffered from debilitating migraines since I was 12 yrs old and by the time I was 17 I felt for sure they would drive me to suicide...not long after, immitrex injections came out and I realized I could survive. Immitrex is an abortive not a prevenative, but it is quite effective for *true* migraines not for tension headaches.

When I was 32 my doctor changed me from the SSRI I had been taking for years (zoloft) to Effexor (an SSNRI)and an unexpected side effect was that my monthly migraines completely stopped! At that time my doctor was unaware of any documentation that this type of anti-depressant would work as a prevenative for migraine sufferers, but hallajua (sp?) it did for me and I've been on it ever since.

beth1954

replied on June 29th, 2009

New User

Wow........in the details on the drug "description" it shows that migraines can be a side effect of Effexor. Lucky you to have it work the opposite way! Before I take ANY drugs, I read all the ingredients. ALL of them. I had a period of time probably about 15 years ago where I would have sometimes 2 migraines in a day. This went on for about 2 months. 60 migraines total in that amount of time. Two a day would be like this: I would have the aura, nausea, headache, etc. Then later in the day I would have a NEW aura, more headache and more nausea on top of that. My doctor prescribed Imitrex which was fairly new at the time and only available in an injection form. I had to use it so often though that he would make me get an EKG every month or so. Imitrex can cause heart trouble. So just be careful about how much you use it and let the doctor know everything that happens. He/she needs to be informed.

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