I'm sure this has been discussed before, as most everything has, but I was having a conversation with my mom this afternoon about my CH's.

After I told her most of my attacks are like clockwork every day and every night, she asked me if I knew the time I was to be hit....for those times that I knew I would be away from o2...why not take an Imitrex pill about 30 minutes or so prior to that prospective attack time.

Thoughts?

Easy answer....try it and see.

Her suggestion does sound good in theory, but am skeptical, we'll try it and see. 

Got 20+ Imitrex pills as they are so cheap compared to nasal sprays, statdose and inj vials....but haven't used these pills only because they take so damn long to be abort and consider them worthless, so they sit in a dark cool place waiting for....hmm, good point Jimi, we'll try ;)

Clinical trials have been run: doesn't work.

tried this at 2 known times since posting last night when I needed to be away from home o2.  Neither time did this work, resulting in sheer agony.

Bob, guess I can be added to the participants of that clinical trial.  Got a link to that study?

The trial completed a few years ago.

I know Bob, that was a joke to add +1 more.

PDF file or link to study?

I would enjoy sharing with my 73 yr old mother who suggested this treatment.

I didn't keep it since the abstract had no data beyond reporting the failure to demonstrate benefit.

But, it makes sense since Imitrex has such a short life that it would not build up in the body to provide long term effect.

Thanks anyway.  As mentioned, i've tried this since my mother made this logical suggestion. 

She was told I would be attacked at precisely....5am.  She suggested setting my alarm for 415 or 430am and taking an Imitrex pill and going right back to sleep. 

If the typical pill takes 30 to 45 minutes to take effect, seems like a logical treatment that I would sleep right through my 5am attack.  I agreed.  Tried it, no success. :-[

Tried it again, no success. :'( 

Can't figure out why it didn't work though because the timing was excellent. 

My guess is that 100mg Imitrex pills have never aborted for ME anyway.

Perhaps the success ratio would vary by individual patient as they respond to 100-mg Imitrex pills. ::)

I for one and am done being a guinea pig on this trial.

i used to get hit every morning at 0430.  when i first got diagnosed i was given those useless pills... i was able to wake up at 0400 a few times and if i took a pill, the attack either wouldn't happen or would be very light.  i never went back to sleep if i woke up early, but even if i didn't sleep at all i would still normally get hit.  sometimes it wouldn't seem to work at all and sometimes i wouldn't get hit.  i think it is like everything, YMMV.

my hits come in little series, every day at 430am, 830am, and 9pm for three weeks, then at midnight and 6am every day for a couple weeks, then a few days completely random...  i have tried taurine and caffeine pills before bed before.  it doesnt prevent an attack for me, but it does make it much easier to wake up, so when i do get hit while i sleeping, i can wake up without making too much noise.

i take the melatonin first and when i start to doze off i take the caffeine and taurine tablets.  by the time the taurine and caffeine hit im already asleep(god help me if im not).  not a mixture for a good nights sleep, but helps to keep me combat ready.

This last cycle I technically did that.
Was doing 2ml about every 5 hours.  That seems to be about how long Imitrex keeps it down for me.
Did that for a few months.

As Marc indicated we also use it as a short term preventative.  When in cycle I jab myself before I drink, then every 3 or 4 hours thereafter until the alcohol is out of my system. 

Besides my own report noted above, here is what I found from START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

"Sumatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks."

LasVegas wrote on Nov 25^th, 2011 at 1:31pm:

Besides my own report noted above, here is what I found from START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE "Sumatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks."

That is false.
If I take an injection I am guaranteed to be PF for 4+ hours.  That is prevention. 
I did it at least 50x this cycle.  I did it before boarding aircraft.  I did it before drinking.  I did it before business functions. 
Injections are a 100% guaranteed 4 hour preventative.   

Guarantee is a strong word to claim for all.  You are unique!  We are all unique! 

Personally, as an abortive Imitrex inj offer me anywhere btw 30 minutes before a re-bound, up to 2 hours of relief in high cycle. 

And personally, as a preventative method I have found Imitrex ineffective-see my personal study/notes above.

Congrats it works for you though ;)