I've been given 6mg vials for self injection (not auto inject) - the doc says take 6mg per headache.  But I find that if I take. 2mg or 3mg I can get rid of the cluster, and extend the vial.

Does that ensure I will get hit sooner (since I'm using less med)

Thanks,
Joshua

2, 4 or 6mg of Imitrex all give you the same two hours of efficacy.  The only question is, was the it enough to abort your attack.  In the experience of many here, 2mg is very often enough.

When I have to resort to Imitrex I use the 4mg stat dose kits.  It has never failed to abort an attack for me.

-Dennis-

Thanks, that's what I thought.  2 always does the trick, and I can then triple the use of my vial.  However I find that after 2 hours another hit comes, and I'm afraid they're coming b/c I'm using more imitrex (reboundish) ..but cool on the efficacy.
Thanks,
J.

Rebound headaches. "Rebound Headaches--A Review", Au. John S. Warner, M.D., in HEADACHE QUARTERLY, 10:3(1999). (There is some confusion on the board about the meaning of "rebound". There appears to be an emerging consensus in the medical literature to define "rebound" as a headache which is caused by the overuse of any medication used to abort a headache or relieve pain. "Recurrence" [of a headache] is being used to refer to the redevelopment of an attack when its "normal" duration is longer than the useful life of the medication which has been taken. That is, the medication effectiveness is reducing before the headache has come to an end; the pain redevelops.)
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Sumatriptan has a hard initial punch and relatively short effective life--a combination which works well for most Cluster attacks. However, some people, whose Clusters have a longer life, find that the med is wearing down even as the pain continues. One can understand how this sequence comes into one's thinking: Attack, Imitrex injection, pain continues, it's a rebound cluster which has developed from the Imitrex. In fact, this is a recurrence of the attack, not a rebound.

This is one of the reasons that several other triptans were developed having less initial punch but longer effective life. While aimed at the migraine crowd, at first, a number of cluster users have found this characteristic of value to them.

My nasal spray is 20mg. I dont use very often but when in cycle and I do use one, the beast doesn't even think about coming back for 3/4 days.

Joshua wrote on Dec 20^th, 2010 at 1:02pm:

Thanks, that's what I thought.  2 always does the trick, and I can then triple the use of my vial.  However I find that after 2 hours another hit comes, and I'm afraid they're coming b/c I'm using more imitrex (reboundish) ..but cool on the efficacy. Thanks, J.

One of the hardest things I've ever had to do, was quit using imitrex, just for this reason and it was one of the best things for me.  Less frequent and intense hits ever since.

hey buddie
i use vials too and i am assuming cost play's a role in this for you too.
i use 3mg and it will usually do the trick, but i do find an increase in hits (rebounds) possibly , so i use trex for the hardest hits, it can be tempting to use it out of fear of a hit.
i heard here on the board years ago. the monster says" ok you got me now but you still owe me time"  use o2 as much as possible. [smiley=twocents.gif]

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