My 19 year old daughter was just prescribed by her neurologist Imitrex pills-100 mg to take for her headaches. She was originally prescribed prednisone for 6 days to try to knock out the cycle of headaches, but on the 5th day of pred, the headaches came back in full force. I have been googling Imitrex and am terrified to let her use it after reading the side effects! From what I've read, people have even died after use. I am planning on calling the Dr. and talking to him about it and other options but just wanted some opinions from people here.

Is there something safer that she could be taking that I should ask about?

She is going back to college in a few weeks and we need to get this figured out so she can function because there is no way she will be able to handle school with these headaches.


Thanks for any help!

It sounds like her neuro is not totally up to speed with treating CH. First off prednisione is only a short term preventive used to cover the time it takes for a longer term preventive, like verapamil, lithium or topomax, to build up to an effective level. It is no surprise that the CHs are back after just a short course of prednisione.

The other sign is that imitrex pills were prescribed. These take about 20 minutes to take effect, which is too long for a CH, using the injectable form is superior as it takes only about 6 minutes or so.

Don't get too scared by looking up potential side effects from medication if there is no data about how common the side effects are. Just about everyone here will have used imitrex.

Did the neuro prescribe oxygen? This is very effective and side effect free.

And with a good preventive / abortive combination she should be able to handle school.

Veronica,

Has she been diagnosed with Cluster headaches, or just migranes?  If Cluster headaches I would very much reccomend getting Imetrix injections.  The side effects are pretty quick and (at least for me) tend to go away fast - as does the headache.  I do not go anywhere without a double dose of Imetrix in my pocket - it is magic, and the only reliable abortive for me.

I am sure you will get advice from others on using O2 - and I would follow that advice (assuming it is Cluster headaches) - but depending upon the severity of her attacks, the side effects of Imetrix will pale compared to the results while you wait to get set up for O2 (which can take a long time and several attempts - I still have not been able to get it right yet).

Final thought is - the pill form does not work fast enough on a Cluster - takes too long to get into the blood stream at the proper level.  As for long term or serious side effects my research has led me to the conclusion that, unless you have serious heart issues, they are not really that bad (I find the effects of the verapmil worse - and they are not that bad).  Others will tell you the triptans cause rebounds - I have done several very painful experiments and convinced myself that (for me at least) imetrix does not cause a rebound.

Good luck - and read as much as you can from this site.  I wish I had found it a couple of years ago - would have saved me a lot of google time and money buying research reports, though I am still glad I did the research - because it makes me feel more confident of what is reccomended by people on this board.  There is a lot of information here.

Good luck

The ones who die are the ones who have undiagnosed congestive heart failure. Chances are pretty good that, at 19, she doesn't have that. If you're unsure at all, have her doc give her a cardiovascular work-up.

I agree with what's been said so far. Imitrex pills are about useless.. Injections work much faster and better. There's also a nasal spray that's been pretty effective (doesn't have that many side effects that I've seen ).

But O2 is the thing.. GET IT!! It works for about 70% of us here and has been wonderful if used properly. (Right flow 15-25 liters per minute with a NON rebreather mask) REad the info on the left as to proper usage.

Also (and this works for me and a lot of others) a can of Red Bull (or another energy drink with at least 1000mg of taurine) at the first sign of the CH, chugged will sometimes abort the headache.

With the Red Bull (and I keep it in the house and a can in my truck)and the O2,  I very seldom take any other meds. I keep them with me, but don't use them unless the headache gets out of control.

But one thing I will say - each of us is "different" and each of us has to find our way to deal with this. What works for me might not work for your daughter. It's trial and error until you find the "right" combination and your neuro better understand this or you need to find one that does (and most of us have been thru several neuros).

My best advice is to READ READ READ on this site. Find out what has worked for others and take this to your neuro, but go armed with information when you see him/her.

:) :)And if you read the "warnings" on aspirin it'll scare you to death... That's why I quit reading them..  ;)  (But I'm a mother - and a grandmother so I know how you worry... just don't let it get to you too much.. if you have questions call your doc and discuss it with him/her).

Keep us informed.. We're here to help and we do CARE.  :-*