So, I got into town, went right to the nero (no CH on the plane - btw - thanks to all for your tips) and Dr gave me some imitrex - thank the lord, or the sun or whomever you worship. But he also gave me Maxalt. It dissolves under your tongue - in about 5 seconds. Doc said it's less side effects than imitrex and not as drastic an effect short and long term (which after all the stories on this site I was looking for). He wanted me to put the imitrex on the shelf for a couple episodes - I told him I'd come find him if it didn't work and I had to ride the beast b/c of it.
The verdict...
I hit about at kip 5-6 right away at night in bed, after a very crazy but painfree day. Took the Maxalt and in just a little more time (maybe 3-4 min more) - less than 15 min I think - I was painfree, without any of the crazy imitrex feelings - like the heat rising, lighting in my veins, fire in the head, pain in my leg/arm, etc... And actually it almost kinda knocked me out for a second - not sure if it's b/c I was just tired, but either way I slept for a second which was nice. When I woke up I was painfree and fell right back asleep. I am gonna try it again next time.. and i'll report back  :)

Anyone take Maxalt before?

I tried it my first year i got these, about 6 years ago.  It was mediocre- sometimes it worked, but most times it just wasnt fast enough.  If I took it RIGHT at onset it was pretty good, but if it progressed beyond that i was kinda stuck.  about 30 minutes for it to be fully effective for me- but if it works for you over imitrex, thats the way to go!

I used Maxalt during one cycle and found it only slightly helpful. Took a K-9 down to a K-6, but did help. It's a triptan and is in the same family of drugs as Imitrex.

I am able to stop most hits with Oxygen @ 15-25lpm with the O2PTImask from Lifegas, I used a standard non-rebreather before I got the O2PTI and there is quite a difference.

O2 works for 70%+ to abort upwards of 90% of attacks so if you haven't tried it, maybe give it a try. It's the safest treatment out there.

Good Luck, Don

Alright so I was doing good, celebrating the aunt's graduation and walked into a smokey place and it hit almost instantly. I him the Maxalt and it took FOREVER to kick in. About 45 min to an hour. Sucked!!

I like it b/c it doesnt have the harsh effects as imitrex, but it takes too long to kick in. It took me from a kip 7 to a kip 5 in about 30 min then down to about a kip 2-3 in 15 min. It sucked. sucked.

I'm the 30% O2 doesn't work for. Yea for me. I'll keep trying things. But what I noticed as I cut dairy out of the diet and I'm having less attacks and the ones I have are not has harsh - nothing above a kip 7-8.

I tried Maxalt and it just didn't work for me. I hate imitrex. I abhor the way it makes me feel, but I'd rather feel like crap for a day than have a CH for a second...

Nyteguardyan wrote on Dec 14^th, 2008 at 1:34am:

I tried Maxalt and it just didn't work for me. I hate imitrex. I abhor the way it makes me feel, but I'd rather feel like crap for a day than have a CH for a second...

Have you tried Cafergot (ergotomine)? It's an OLD drug, but doesn't have the side effects of imitrex and works (to me) as well or better. It comes in pills or suppositories. Some of us use it instead of trex.

I've used O2 to abort (totally) since August and my cafergot is getting dusty on the shelf.

Hugs BD

Maxalt Melt was the ONLY helpful thing I got out of the neurologist I saw 4 years ago. I think I may be helping to keep the shareholders in the money the amount of those I must have taken.
It made life a slightly nicer place.

Most of the time it works for me because in cluster I get 3-6 hits a day. It does not do b. all for the first one but it does take the spike of the following ones as I do find it can take 30+ minutes to begin to notch pain downwards so that is too late for the first but its ready and waiting for the second.
Tried just about all the triptains and taken part in drug trials in the past for sumatriptain.
Used to take ergometrine before the 5HTs came out but that gave me the 'spiders' to the point I did question if I was going mad. I prefer to not take that again as a result.

What works for one person may not work for another, if you find something that does help you - go for it.

it works mediocre for me but better than zomig nasal, i use that stuff for work. imitrex is still my gold standard  along with o2