Any experience with Imitrex for Migraines?

[Simba's Mom]

This morning my doctor gave me a free sample of Imitrex to try for my Migraines. Wondering if anyone else has tried it and if so, did it work? Also, I checked the Internet already, and they're expensive! So even if they do work, I'm wondering what other alternatives there might be. So far I've only tried non-prescription Excedrin Migraine or Ibuprofin. Neither really do anything to help. The migraines totally wipe me out when I get them, looking for SOME relief. I'm a teacher, and I usually get them most the first month or so of every semester. So I'm really dreading this week coming up!

 

[swanmom]

Imitrex is very 'person' dependent..... works very well for some people, not at all for others. But if you don't find it to be a big help, don't give up. I was first put on Imitrex but didn't find much relief. Then my doctor tried Maxalt and I felt like a new person!
Couldn't understand why I waited so long and suffered so much before seeing the doctor. I spent years taking Exedrin Migraine (which wasn't very effective and began to really upset my stomach.) Now, at the first 'aura' of a headache, I take the Maxalt and never get the full-blown headache. I feel like I've been let out of prison!

 

[luvwinnie]

the pills didn't. Now I take Amerge and it's GREAT. Good luck.

 

[luvwinnie]

be sure to take the Imitrex AS SOON AS YOU FEEL THE MIGRAINE coming on.

 

[CBRorBust]

I've taken Imitrex since I was a sophomore in High School. This has been the miracle drug I had waited for all my life. Normally, one pill will rid my headache, on some occassions it takes two.

Your right about the pills being expensive. Almost like $15 a pill! Luckily for me we have excellent insurance and I get about 30 pills for $15!

I would definitly give them a go just to see if they help.

 

[Wendy]

My 7 year old takes Imitrex in the nasal spray form and it does help him. I've tried it for mine and it won't touch them. It's hard to say if it will work for you until you try it. I take Maxalt in combination with a couple of other things and it works great for me. In treating migraines, it's all about trying to find the right drug or combinations of drugs that work for you.

If you're getting them the first month of each semester, it sounds like they may be caused by stress. You might want to look into treatments such as biofeedback and massage to help with them. My neurologist prescribes biofeedback for virtually all of his patients and it does help a lot. Once you learn how to do it, it doesn't cost a thing.

 

[Towncrier]

My wife could be a poster child (adult??) for Imitrex. She has used it since the days that it was only available in injectible form. She has suffered from migraines since puberty and she gets one every month. I don't think that she could survive without Imitrex. I pray that it keeps working for her (and for the thousands of other people who use it).

 

[Pumbaa_]

They didn't work for me. Caused my heart to race, and my skin to feel like it was itching from the inside out. I would rather have a migraine than EVER take that again.

It works fine for my Mom though, she swears by it!

 

[Krisu]

I have seen the injectable work on a true migraine in 10 to 15 minutes. Don't know how effective the pills are.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I had a perscription for Imitrex, but infortunately it never helped. I would take the pill and promptly throw it up a few minutes later. I had a hard time keeping anything down when I get a migraine, so no pill has ever really helped me. Now, I just take nothing and just try to bear with it.

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[Tuffcookie]

I started on Imitrex and then my doctor gave me some samples of a new migraine medicine called Zomig. That seems to work faster for me. They key is to take it as soon as you feel the migraine coming on. Now when the tablets won't work I have a back up system of Imitrex injections. Those are fantastic and usually, in about 20 minutes after giving myself the injection, the migraine is gone! The injections are more expensive than the pills so I save them as a last resort. Thank goodness I have prescription coverage thru work or I would get a migraine worrying about how I was going to pay for them!

TC

 

[Towncrier]

As I understand it, once a migraine gets going, pills won't help. I know that Sue can't keep anything down during her migraines. That's why, as Tuffcookie stated, the injections and, for that matter, the nasal spray imitrex work well (for some people) once the headache starts.

HugsForEeyore - You might want to give the other forms of Imitrex a try (or one of the other miracle migraine drugs that are available).