Hey,  I'm a 23 year old paramedic and 10 year episode sufferer of CH, but just recently have been actualy diagnosed.  I took my first imitrex injection today.  and it worked great! and I'm am very excited about that!  However I had a slight reaction as well. Burning all over,  sort of like putting menthol on your skin.  it kinof tingled and it kindof burned.  mostly on the back of my neck.  Also tightness in all of my muscles.  It was a very odd feeling and I'm not sure I liked it, but ....Hey it was much much better than an attack.  I guess my question is:  Has anyone else out there had any similar reactions to the injections.  I was concerned that this was an allergic reaction but I had no difficulty breathing so I let it slide.   I'm a paramedic and I think it safe to say If I need to use it again I'll be at work were treatmnet can be instant if it is a reaction.  Any thoughts or similar experienses please share.

I would call my doc (gp or neuro) with ANY strange reaction to Trex ASAP.

Just my 0.02€

Oliver

 I have had these reactions for years,  sore musles and joints, burning skin.  When I mentioned it to my doctor he didn't seemed too concerned.
 I started doing half doses of imi and some of these reactions are lessened.

Headache. 2004 May;44(5):414-25.Related Articles, Links
Consensus statement: cardiovascular safety profile of triptans (5-HT agonists) in the acute treatment of migraine.

Dodick D, Lipton RB, Martin V, Papademetriou V, Rosamond W, MaassenVanDenBrink A, Loutfi H, Welch KM, Goadsby PJ, Hahn S, Hutchinson S, Matchar D, Silberstein S, Smith TR, Purdy RA, Saiers J; Triptan Cardiovascular Safety Expert Panel.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers frequently cite concerns about cardiovascular safety of the triptans as a barrier to their use. In 2002, the American Headache Society convened the Triptan Cardiovascular Safety Expert Panel to evaluate the evidence on triptan-associated cardiovascular risk and to formulate consensus recommendations for making informed decisions for their use in patients with migraine. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the evidence reviewed by the Triptan Cardiovascular Safety Expert Panel and their recommendations for the use of triptans in clinical practice. PARTICIPANTS: The Triptan Cardiovascular Safety Expert Panel was composed of a multidisciplinary group of experts in neurology, primary care, cardiology, pharmacology, women's health, and epidemiology. EVIDENCE AND CONSENSUS PROCESS: An exhaustive search of the relevant published literature was reviewed by each panel member in preparation for an open roundtable meeting. Pertinent issues (eg, cardiovascular pharmacology of triptans, epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk assessment, migraine) were presented as a prelude to group discussion and formulation of consensus conclusions and recommendations. Follow-up meetings were held by telephone. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Most of the data on triptans are derived from patients without known coronary artery disease. (2) Chest symptoms occurring during use of triptans are generally nonserious and are not explained by ischemia. (3) The incidence of serious cardiovascular events with triptans in both clinical trials and clinical practice appears to be extremely low. (4) The cardiovascular risk-benefit profile of triptans favors their use in the absence of contraindications.

Publication Types:
Consensus Development Conference
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 15147249 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Here in Germany these symptoms are listed in the package insert with a nice reminder to contact your doc about them ASAP as they could be pre-symptoms of more severe things.

I have Imitrex stat injection kit with me at all times but have yet to use it, so do not know how my body will react to it.

I use 1oo% o2 to abort my hits and I get NO side effects what so ever. Can you get a script for o2? I highly recommend it!

 Barry ;)

I've had similar reactions, or variations.

I've tried to convince myself that "it hurts so good."

One time I was out on a boat in the Virgin Islands, getting sunburned, snorkeling and had to inject - as I was in charge of the boat. Injected in my arm and it started to welt up. Scared the crap out of me but smiled nervously with my passengers and hoped for the best. Half hour later all as well.

Made it to tell the story.

Thank you all very much for your input.  I did contact my dr. and he didnt seem to be concerned.  He suggested that I try verapamil as a preventive.  and maybe switch to the nasal spray to see if that gets rid of the undesired side effects. To be real honest I'm ok with the side effect as long as the attack is aborted.  I can deal with a hot flash.  The beast however is a different story. Bless  you all!

I'm sort of surprised that anybody's very first Imitrex injection isn't administered under care, i.e., urgent care, neuro's office, etc.  My neuro insisted on it, and she wouldn't prescribe it until she was sure I could tolerate it.  So I induced an attack and went to urgent care who immediately called my neuro to verify it.  My first shot was administered by a nurse who stayed with me the whole time, telling me I'd feel some tingling and tightness around the neck and possibly the jaw.  Obviously I had no heart attack, vomiting, difficulty breathing, etc. (at least at the time) to finally receive the prescription.

Yes, it feels very weird.

Dreamofire wrote on Dec 18^th, 2008 at 11:06am:

Hey,  I'm a 23 year old paramedic and 10 year episode sufferer of CH, but just recently have been actualy diagnosed.  I took my first imitrex injection today.  and it worked great! and I'm am very excited about that!  However I had a slight reaction as well. Burning all over,  sort of like putting menthol on your skin.  it kinof tingled and it kindof burned.  mostly on the back of my neck.  Also tightness in all of my muscles.  It was a very odd feeling and I'm not sure I liked it, but ....Hey it was much much better than an attack.  I guess my question is:  Has anyone else out there had any similar reactions to the injections.  I was concerned that this was an allergic reaction but I had no difficulty breathing so I let it slide.   I'm a paramedic and I think it safe to say If I need to use it again I'll be at work were treatmnet can be instant if it is a reaction.  Any thoughts or similar experienses please share.

Great to see another Paramedic! Sorry we both suffer from this crap...but I have the same reaction to Imitrex, pill or injection. Injection is worse than the pill though.

Hello. During my last cycle i was given imitrex for the 1st time. I was a little nervous as the doc did no prescreen tests for any reaction, just gave it to me. yes there is a warm feeling involed and it went all the way to the top of my head and then started to burn more but the attack was gone. i did a total of 6 imitrex shots and each time it was the same, it is what promted me to find clusterbusters.com and since clusterbusters the only things i have used to abort these attacks are Rc Seeds and 02. Good luck Coach Bill

As an episodic sufferer I've been using Imitrex for over 15 years, and I only notice very minor side effects, who'll disappear in 5 to 10 minutes over I've taken the shot.

They are these:
Stiffening of the neck
Getting tired
A funny taste in my mouth
A slight chemical smell in my nose

But as said, they always diminish very quick.



Pascal.





Modified to add:
I forgot to mention I sometimes get a ''stoned'' feeling for a couple of minutes.

So I picked up the nasal spray this morning. Used it twice already today and it doesnt work worth a piss.  started of the morning with a kip 5 and im on the downhill slide (I hope) of a kip 7 thats lasted for about an hr.  I think I'll stick with the injections, the side effect kinda suck, but still MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the beast.

I get several consistent reactions to Imitrex injections.  The effects are less after I switched from the 6mg stat dose kits to the 4mg.  

Initially I feel a tightness in my head and chest and sometimes in my arms.  For about two hours I feel it in the back of my throat.  Hot coffee, which I live on, burns after a shot for about two hours.

My Dr wasn't concerned about these effects though.  

I dislike the side effects so much that I made the effort to try Oxygen.  It works for my almost as quickly and has no side effects.

You are a paramedic, grab an e-tank and a high flow regulater with a non-rebreather mask and give it a shot.  Make sure you cover the holes on the side of the mask so no outside air gets in.  Use a flow rate as high as you can get.  Just make sure you're sitting down in case you get dizzy.

So when I get an attack it's O2, then if it's stubborn and energy drink followed by more O2 and then Imitrex.  Using this strategy I only used four injections during my last 12 week cycle.

I hope you give it a shot and I hope you're one of the %70 club for which it works.

-Dennis-

Trex inj side effects start in my legs and move to my chest, arms and head.  It does feel sort of like a heart attack when it gets to my chest---really heavy feeling--, but it stops a bad CH.  Side effects don't last nearly as long as my head would.

I only use the injections if 02 doesn't work, or isn't working fast enough.  Usually the 02 does the trick. :)
Tabitha

Get yee some OXYGEN!!!  O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂, O₂ ...  Do you get what I am trying to say?  LOL!

As far as the Imitrex goes, I get a tightness in my chest, but other than that, no reaction.

On the left side of your screen, go to the tab that says imitrex tip ... It tells you how to split each shot in half, or even in third.  I don't take full shots.  It extends the use of a VERY expensive drug, and it also cuts down on the side effects.

It can't hurt to give it a shot (I know, very punny!  LOL)

Good luck!

Chuck