Imotrex

[suzannews]

Anyone here take imotrex for headaches/migranes?

My dr gave me a prescription, got it filled yesterday and was sick to my stomach for a few hours after taking one pill. Not to mention how much it cost even after my insurance. WOW!!

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I used to take it for migraines but the last time I took it I ended up on the floor in the middle of a move sick as a dog and throwing up.

Now I take daily topamax and I have relpax for migraines but I haven't needed it since being on the topamax.

 

[RUDisney]

I have imotrex on hand for my headaches. I know what you mean about the price.

I get sick to my stomach with my migraines sometimes, so I don't think it's the drug that is doing it. That being said, my dr told me that if you have this problem, she'd prescribe maxalt for me because it desolves on your tongue and you don't have to have a drink that could upset your stomach with a bad headache. That worked well, too.

See what your dr says about switching to a dissolvable med and ask for samples.. the dr doesn't pay for them and it'll save you a copay to try something new. (Don't forget to ask for some every time you go, too. Why should you have to pay for all of them?)

 

[Disney_Dani]

I also take Imotrex, but I use it as a last resort. I've been through so many different migraine medications, and they all have horrible side affects. Most make me light headed, dizzy, nauseaus, and hot. Some of them have made my heart palpitate so much so that I've gone to the ER. Imotrex isn't quite as bad as some I've taken (for me anyway), but I still don't feel very good when I take one. It does help with the migraine though. I usually won't take it unless I know it's going to be one of those 3 day migraines that keeps me in bed. Then it's worth taking it. And yeah, the cost of them is HUGE! I think they're $25/pill before insurance. Yikes!!

 

[Tuffcookie]

I use the dissolvable Maxalt tablets for my migraines. I also have the Imitrex Stat (injections) on hand for really bad migraines that don't respond with he Maxalt. I have had alot of luck with both these medication not upsetting my stomach. The Imitrex injections work much faster than the Maxalt tablets but they are more expensive. I only get 2 injections with each Imitrex Stat refill compared to 12 tablets with each Maxalt refill.

I just had an experience with the Imitrex Stat Sunday. Somehow the pen malfunctioned (the injector) and I was unable to use the medicine in one of the injection vials. As you stated, these medications are very expensive even if you have insurance. I contacted my pharmacist, who put me in touch with the supplier. They were very nice, took some information from me, called the pharmacist and authorized replacement of my defective Stat kit!

I am so glad for the new migraine meds. They are a godsend!

TC

 

[minnie56]

I took it by injection many years back...it worked, but made me too sick to continue. Wonder if the side effects settle down?

 

[suzimar57]

my DH had been taking imitrex for over 10 years - until they stopped having any effect on his migraines and we'd be visiting the ER every other weekend for a shot of dilaudin to help with the pain....

now DH is on Depakote (anti-seizure meds) to prevent migraines entirely - he started with one/daily, now he's taking two/daily - hasn't had a migraine in almost 2 months (as compared to having had migraines every other day for almost 10 years)

yes, imitrex was expensive - but luckily it was covered by our insurance

 

[Ride Junkie]

I once had a headache that pounded for about a week, and they gave me Imitrex for it. I took one & got all nauseous. I stuck with Excedrin after that. So, it didn't work for me either! Luckily, I have never had another headache that was that bad.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

my DH had been taking imitrex for over 10 years - until they stopped having any effect on his migraines and we'd be visiting the ER every other weekend for a shot of dilaudin to help with the pain....

now DH is on Depakote (anti-seizure meds) to prevent migraines entirely - he started with one/daily, now he's taking two/daily - hasn't had a migraine in almost 2 months (as compared to having had migraines every other day for almost 10 years)

Has he had any side effects with Depakote? My son has hemiplegic migraines, and I have hesitated trying anything because of the side effects, and the debate if abortives even work on hemiplegic migraines.

 

[DwarfMaster]

Yep, I used to take Imitrex. It made me sooo sick ~ I'd reather deal with the Migraine. I would get nausea, dizzy, light headed & my throat would feel like it was swelling up I switched to 3 or 4 different meds including the Maxalt Melts....then figured the Excedrine Migraine works just the same for me.

 

[sunlver]

Ive been taking Imitrex for the last two yrs and love it . The only real side effect it has on me is it makes me hot/sweat. I can deal with that though.My migraines are not severe more mild. I try to take Excedrin Migraine and 2 motrin first....if that doesnt take it away then I use Imitrex. The dr gave me the 100mg, but you only get 9 a month... I use a lot of it. Then I was reading on another board that people use a pill cutter and cut in half as inusurance "normallY'only pays for a certain amt a month due to cost of it.

I feel like I have discovered a miracle, as now I realize only half a pill can take my headache way. Now my monthly prescription lasts twice as long

 

[Disney_Mama]

I used to take Imotrex and it did not work for me. Now I'm on Zomig rapid melt. As soon as I feel one coming on I pop one and it usually does the job. It seems with the older I get the less migraines I get. The only good thing about getting older

 

[Disney Ella]

My dd used Imitrex for a while, but it only helped the mild headaches. She has been through Maxalt (made her very sick), and Zomig (pill form). Zomig (nasal) and Relpax are currently working the best.

 

[MoniqueU]

My son was on it briefly. He would not get sick but he would still have breakthrough migraines and need more then one pill a day. Our insurance charged 30 dollars for 4 I believe. Very expensive. He is now on topamax nightly as a preventative and it is working great.

 

[Towncrier]

My wife has been taking Imitrex for years in all forms: injectible, nasal spray, and pill. She would be lost without it. She has had migraines since puberty and they were (and are) awful. I don't think that she could cope with this wonderful medicine. It doesn't work for everyone, but thankfully for us, it works wonderfully for my wife.

 

[Barb D]

I've been having severe migraines almost every day for over 9 MONTHS, and Imitrex is the only thing standing between me and total insanity. I also get very nauseated with my migraines, and take Phenargan for the nausea. None of the migraine preventers work for me, and I've tried all the rescue meds out there. My insurance only allows me 8 Imitrex injections a month, my neurologist gives me free samples if she can spare them, and I take Imitrex pills (and sometimes Percocet) in between. The only reason I'm able to be up on the computer now instead of sleeping in a dark room is because of Imitrex.

I'm having surgery on June 4 to implant a device in my head that hopefully will stop the constant migraines.

ETA: Excedrin Migraine taken WITH the Imitrex helps a lot. I'm not using it now because I'm hoping for a closer surgery date and I want to be off aspirin in case I can get one.

 

[minkydog]

I tried Imitrex--once--and Maxalt--once. With Imitrex I felt like I was having a heart attack and on Maxalt I hallucinated terribly. I'd rather just have the migraine, throw up, and get it over with. My migraines last about 10-12 hours, but that's better than the side effects of Imitrex and Maxalt (shudder).

 

[RUDisney]

I've been having severe migraines almost every day for over 9 MONTHS, and Imitrex is the only thing standing between me and total insanity. I also get very nauseated with my migraines, and take Phenargan for the nausea. None of the migraine preventers work for me, and I've tried all the rescue meds out there. My insurance only allows me 8 Imitrex injections a month, my neurologist gives me free samples if she can spare them, and I take Imitrex pills (and sometimes Percocet) in between. The only reason I'm able to be up on the computer now instead of sleeping in a dark room is because of Imitrex.

I'm having surgery on June 4 to implant a device in my head that hopefully will stop the constant migraines.

ETA: Excedrin Migraine taken WITH the Imitrex helps a lot. I'm not using it now because I'm hoping for a closer surgery date and I want to be off aspirin in case I can get one.

I'm sending a to you. I had constant, severe headaches when I was 19. They weren't migraines, but felt like them. I found out that I had a hormone imbalance and taking meds to fix that also fixed my headaches. So, I know what you're going through.

I hope the surgery does the trick and you are feeling better than you ever believed that you could immediately after.

Godspeed, Barb! Prayer will continue for your recovery.

 

[dananbethany]

I took Imitrex for my migraines and it made me shaky but it got rid of the headache. I switched to Relpax which also got rid of the headache but I didn't shake. I then had to switch back to Imitrex because my insurance covered the Imitrex but not the Relpax.

I then got rid of the job that caused the migraines and ended the entire problem entirely.

 

[piratesmate]

for all those suffering from migraines! I used to get 15+/month as well as other types of headaches so that I had one type or another 28 days/ month. Thankfully, mine pretty much stopped after I had my children.

DD has had a transformed migraine continually since Sept '06. Yes, nearly 2 years! She also had one that lasted from Feb '06 to Jul '06. We've tried just about every drug on the market. She's currently being seen at a headache center in a teaching hospital. These are the first doctors who have prescribed nausea meds whenever she takes her rescuse meds. They told us that nearly all of the drugs will cause stomach problems. She's taking Compazine now whenever she takes the Midrin. It really seems to help.

Her daily pain level is actually lower than it has been since all this started, although she still can't function normally. They've got her on only 1 preventative, Zonagran (sp?), but added Petadolex (butterbur) back at Christmas. It seems to be helping somewhat. At her last visit they also added Riboflavin. I offer the information in case someone wants to read up on either & ask their doctor about them.