I know, the question makes me flinch too, it all seems so seedy. but if it aborts an evening of writhing, its worth it.
I usually inject, but am traveling and have only been able to get the pills. not even the nasal spray. So. the pills are 50mg plus a bit of inert filler; i usually inject 6mg, given some loss for the means of administration, i reckon a little less than a quarter of a pill, up the one nostril that stays perfectly open.
But I also wanted to see if anybody had any other thoughts... The only thing that comes to mind is grinding it up and holding it in my mouth like maxalt, to see if it enters the blood stream faster.
so?

Try snortin oxygen.  It works.

The reason there's more in a pill is the method of delivery - through the digestive membranes vs. sub-cutaneous injection. Obviously somebody figured out that you have to have x amount more via the gut than under the skin.

That said, I don't know about taking meds via a different method than what is intended. Why not stick one up yer pooper? That's a pretty fast avenue. It's also 8 times as much imitrex as one would inject, so I guess I'd be a little careful.

Bottom line, I wouldn't take it any way other than what is directed. I'm not a health care professional and have no clue as to the hazards of doing so.

Potter wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 12:04pm:

Try snortin oxygen.  It works.

Try eating seeds and eliminate pharmaceutical drugs and oxygen all together.  ;) ....all for only $12/year  :)

The OP's question had been on my mind for long time too. I am looking forward to hearing some insightful replies from someone who tried it, or someone who is a specialist or something.

RareBird wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 12:43pm:

The OP's question had been on my mind for long time too. I am looking forward to hearing some insightful replies from someone who tried it, or someone who is a specialist or something.

I doubt a specialist would try this.  It sounds like a guinea pig experiment to me.

RareBird wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 12:43pm:

The OP's question had been on my mind for long time too. I am looking forward to hearing some insightful replies from someone who tried it, or someone who is a specialist or something.

The OP is talking about taking a powerful vasoconstrictor via a method of delivery that wasn't intended by its developers. If you're looking for insightful replies, perhaps you should ask your doctor.

My insight tells me that it would be playing with fire.

Chad wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 12:32pm:

Potter wrote on Sep 2nd, 2009 at 12:04pm: Try snortin oxygen.  It works. Try eating seeds and eliminate pharmaceutical drugs and oxygen all together.  ;) ....all for only $12/year  :)

Neither seeds nor shrooms or any other recreational drug works for me.  Oxygen rocks.

               Potter

Chad wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 12:32pm:

Potter wrote on Sep 2nd, 2009 at 12:04pm: Try snortin oxygen.  It works. Try eating seeds and eliminate pharmaceutical drugs and oxygen all together.  ;) ....all for only $12/year  :)

seeds are my next step :P

Tried seeds and shrooms and the stupid doc took away my oxygen which did help so I hope the seeds work for you. If you decide to snort Imitrex then I would do it a little at a time. Like one quarter tablet. Oxygen is such a pain to carry when you travel. A pain in the back is just what you need when you have a pain in the head. Good luck. Sophia

Yes, I have. I took a trip to mexico a few years back. I could take my o2 tank on the plane but it had to be empty. Took me 4 days to get tank filled. In the mean time I went to the pharmacia and bought Imigran-latin name for imitrex. I crushed the tabs and snorted about a quarter of one at a time. I think the tabs were 50-60mg. It was absolutley disgusting. Did it work? Yes! Would I do it again? Yes. As we all know a ch sufferer would eat his own s**T if he thought it would make it stop!!!

Sophia wrote on Sep 14^th, 2009 at 3:45pm:

Tried seeds and shrooms and the stupid doc took away my oxygen which did help so I hope the seeds work for you. If you decide to snort Imitrex then I would do it a little at a time. Like one quarter tablet. Oxygen is such a pain to carry when you travel. A pain in the back is just what you need when you have a pain in the head. Good luck. Sophia

       Poor advice.

      Potter

greatramundo wrote on Sep 14^th, 2009 at 8:15pm:

Yes, I have. I took a trip to mexico a few years back. I could take my o2 tank on the plane but it had to be empty. Took me 4 days to get tank filled. In the mean time I went to the pharmacia and bought Imigran-latin name for imitrex. I crushed the tabs and snorted about a quarter of one at a time. I think the tabs were 50-60mg. It was absolutley disgusting. Did it work? Yes! Would I do it again? Yes. As we all know a ch sufferer would eat his own s**T if he thought it would make it stop!!!

       More poor advice.

              Potter

You could also be running the risk of destroying the membranes in your nose.

Obviously, Imitrex is more than just the sumatriptan itself.  There are other components that make up the tablets.

Each IMITREX Tablet for oral administration contains 35, 70, or 140 mg of sumatriptan succinate equivalent to 25, 50, or 100 mg of sumatriptan, respectively. Each tablet also contains the inactive ingredients croscarmellose sodium, dibasic calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium bicarbonate. Each 100-mg tablet also contains hypromellose, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.

I've tried, but they just get stuck up there and turn into big, honkin' boogers.

If I was in Mexico needing an abortive I think I'd pop into a farmacia and bash the credit card for some imigran injections, rather than risk the unknown of pill snorts. What a brutal credit card bashing that would probably be though.  :(

Trust me, injections were what I wanted....but again, we are talking mexico here. I tried 6 different farmacias and only 2 could order it for me and it would take a month.

...and potter, The advice was not poor because I wasn't giving advice, just merely answering the question and telling of my experience with it....but if you have a better answer for what I should have done in the situation...like maybe made love to a coconut I'd sure like to hear it

Brew wrote on Sep 15^th, 2009 at 10:32am:

I've tried, but they just get stuck up there and turn into big, honkin' boogers.

[smiley=crackup.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif]


greatramundo wrote on Sep 14^th, 2009 at 8:15pm:

Yes, I have. I took a trip to mexico a few years back. I could take my o2 tank on the plane but it had to be empty. Took me 4 days to get tank filled. In the mean time I went to the pharmacia and bought Imigran-latin name for imitrex. I crushed the tabs and snorted about a quarter of one at a time. I think the tabs were 50-60mg. It was absolutley disgusting. Did it work? Yes! Would I do it again? Yes. As we all know a ch sufferer would eat his own s**T if he thought it would make it stop!!!

True but, we all have our limits as to what we would do or not do to kill a hit. 

S&^t eating...not on my menu for an abort

Snorting an Imitrex tab...don't think so I have enough sinus trouble as it is, F-ing wth them could worsen my hit or create a rebound hit.

Nor would I murder someone to kill a CH hit, not that, that would kill a hit anyway, but hey it could release some frustration with the beast.   ;D

Anyway you get my drift.

Only Do what is comfortable to you and PREFERABLY only things that are Safe to do to kill a hit.

I am surprise that not more people are doing this, I always snort sumatriptan for my migraines, it's faster acting and much cheaper. As a comparison it might enter your bloodstream in 10-15 minutes compared to 45-60 minute orally, and in my experience you need maybe 1/3 of what you might take orally. I have never tried intravenously.

If you want to try it, crush the pill to a fine powder and make sure you also crush the skin, or remove it if you can. Once you are done, do NOT do like you saw in the movies and roll a dollar bill unless you like the idea of thousand of people's germs inside your nose, roll a clean piece of paper or use a straw if you want to do it this way. Snort the desired amount all in one shot. It will probably make you cough for a few seconds just after. It seems to be a particularity of sumatriptan pills that a fraction of it end up in your lungs when snorted, I don't know if there is a way around it since it has never bothered me, but you are warned. Also if you have never snorted in your life time, there is the side effect that some of the product eventually end up dripping on the back of your throat, and sumatriptan doesn't taste good if it's your first time tasting it, but thats nothing compared to a migraine.

Let me know how it goes.

New to the site... Uh seeds?

kealy wrote on Oct 28^th, 2012 at 10:26am:

I am surprise that not more people are doing this, I always snort sumatriptan for my migraines, it's faster acting and much cheaper. As a comparison it might enter your bloodstream in 10-15 minutes compared to 45-60 minute orally, and in my experience you need maybe 1/3 of what you might take orally. I have never tried intravenously. If you want to try it, crush the pill to a fine powder and make sure you also crush the skin, or remove it if you can. Once you are done, do NOT do like you saw in the movies and roll a dollar bill unless you like the idea of thousand of people's germs inside your nose, roll a clean piece of paper or use a straw if you want to do it this way. Snort the desired amount all in one shot. It will probably make you cough for a few seconds just after. It seems to be a particularity of sumatriptan pills that a fraction of it end up in your lungs when snorted, I don't know if there is a way around it since it has never bothered me, but you are warned. Also if you have never snorted in your life time, there is the side effect that some of the product eventually end up dripping on the back of your throat, and sumatriptan doesn't taste good if it's your first time tasting it, but thats nothing compared to a migraine. Let me know how it goes.

    More piss poor advice.

     Potter

"Pat's Theorem" has YET to be disproved......

Snorting triptan pills is a) bad for your nose b) not very effective.

There's imitrex in nasal drop form, which is SUPPOSED to go into your nose, and even this is less effective (for most people) than other forms.

If one is in a desperate need of a triptan and already mashed a triptan pill, it would probably be make more sence to swallow it with some water. Technically, that's what you do (more or less) when using triptan in a dissolving wafer form (not as good as shots, but next best).

Brownriver and other newbies here trying to learn how to battle the beast....Please do NOT crush pills and snort them!  This is a drop dead of a heart attack in the making! [smiley=nono.gif]

And to those who even suggested doing such, you are not helping others with rational advice. 
Common sense people!  [smiley=bulb2.gif]

Always use meds as directed by manufacturer to avoid health risks and/or DEATH! 

If you want to inhale something, hyperventilate 100% oxygen for very fast abort...with NO harmful side effects and the lowest cost per any abort method.


Chad wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 12:32pm:

Potter wrote on Sep 2nd, 2009 at 12:04pm: Try snortin oxygen.  It works. Try eating seeds and eliminate pharmaceutical drugs and oxygen all together.  ;) ....all for only $12/year  :)

I was at the CB conference last month and this is NOT accurate, per AT LEAST 50 CH'ers that I personally spoke with inquiring about seeds.  It is not a cure, however for some it has proven helpful.  By no means are seeds breaking cycles for everybody who tries them, resulting in no need for o2 because attacks still occur.

Lastly...Potter, Brew and Bejeeber each gave the best advice, might consider re-reading their posts above. ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

kealy wrote on Oct 28^th, 2012 at 10:26am:

I am surprise that not more people are doing this, I always snort sumatriptan for my migraines, it's faster acting and much cheaper. As a comparison it might enter your bloodstream in 10-15 minutes compared to 45-60 minute orally, and in my experience you need maybe 1/3 of what you might take orally. I have never tried intravenously. If you want to try it, crush the pill to a fine powder and make sure you also crush the skin, or remove it if you can. Once you are done, do NOT do like you saw in the movies and roll a dollar bill unless you like the idea of thousand of people's germs inside your nose, roll a clean piece of paper or use a straw if you want to do it this way. Snort the desired amount all in one shot. It will probably make you cough for a few seconds just after. It seems to be a particularity of sumatriptan pills that a fraction of it end up in your lungs when snorted, I don't know if there is a way around it since it has never bothered me, but you are warned. Also if you have never snorted in your life time, there is the side effect that some of the product eventually end up dripping on the back of your throat, and sumatriptan doesn't taste good if it's your first time tasting it, but thats nothing compared to a migraine. Let me know how it goes.

1)...Very interesting first post...esp. one that is 3 years  plus  ;) ;) ;)

2)...you mention migraine 2-separate time's...no mention of C.H.....do we still have to be nice   ::) ::) ::)

3)...can you imagine some poor soul coming here looking for help and tries this...imagine what might happen...cant we delete shit like this

I think there ought to be a "Bad Advice" stamp for such posts, to alert newbies.

Right now I live by snorting Imigran (Imitrex) tablets after crushing them. Egypt stopped importing the injection, oxygen doesn't work anymore, and I have no other means to abort the bloody devil but snorting sumatriptan at the onset. No other choice! I am hoping the cycle will end in four more weeks. Mine is the rarest; once it finishes on the left side, taking a whole month, it switches to the right side for another whole month. each cycle "I still think of them as 2 joint cycles" includes approximately 4 bouts / day.

RareBird wrote on Nov 8^th, 2012 at 6:57pm:

Right now I live by snorting Imigran (Imitrex) tablets after crushing them. Egypt stopped importing the injection, oxygen doesn't work anymore, and I have no other means to abort the bloody devil but snorting sumatriptan at the onset. No other choice! I am hoping the cycle will end in four more weeks. Mine is the rarest; once it finishes on the left side, taking a whole month, it switches to the right side for another whole month. each cycle "I still think of them as 2 joint cycles" includes approximately 4 bouts / day.

My guess is you will be dead from doing this.  Might reconsider o2 therapy.  Good luck!

hi, I am a new username here but I have been registered here under this username for more than 12 years. I have had wonderful remissions, and terrible relapses in the swarms of cluster storms. I have had a history and am not some newb here, in spite of a newish site asking for new credentials.

My normal stance on imitrex / abortives is to avoid them, because I think they lead to the death spiral of percussion or headaches that are caused by the very treatment used to treat them. I guess the word is "rebound" headache.

In my experience, if you can break the cycle without imitrex you are better off. I have used nasal injected 20mg imitrex extensively for years off and on during attacks phases. The rocket packs are ridiculously expensive, insurance limits the number of doses you get, and they are big and goofy to carry around. For me, a pill has no effect since my headache will be GONE before I can digest the pill. As an abortive after the fact, it might prevent any more headaches that night, but it does not abort the headache that is currently making me crawl out of my skin screaming.

That being said, I am on another swarm and my small town pharma has no imitrex nasal injectors, they gave me some imitrex generic pills. When push came to shit, I snorted a half of a 100mg pill and it was quite effective.

I don't even bother trying to get the nasal anymore. I can take $1 pill, chop it up and kill about 4 headaches with it just snorting it. The taste, for those of you that have done the nasal, is the same, the effectiveness, is the same. You can do more if it's really bad - all of this at your own risk, but you can load up if you are really getting killed.

I have been snorting them through this last swarm and it works fine, is actually more portable, is way cheaper, and the insurance company can't limit your doses.

So snort em up. It works as well as any other crap solution. The real problem is how to kill the cycle.

I am not having much luck with my normal prednisone route.

Was in DFW bathroom stall tonight bumping imitrex off my hand. It works

I would never do this. Sumatriptan is already made three different ways, which allows for three different ways to administer. There is already a nasal spray for your nose, tablets for your stomach, and injections for your skin. They are not meant for "mix and match" and could be highly dangerous if taken the wrong way. Would you drink from the syringe ?

I am not surprised to find people doing this.  I also think deleting the comments will obscure the discussion about it.  Someone chose to try this first with no discussion likely out of despiraton.  At least now if someone has the idea they can read this and A. Be warned that. It is like playing with fire. And B. At least have some sort of idea as to how others are doing it.  I.e. 1/4 pill crushed etc. 

If it were deleted some poor folk might try and snort the whole damn thing and end up dead even faster. 

Just my two cents.  Censorship doesn't help any discussion regardless of how controversial it may be. 

Thanks.

E

Eroc wrote on Jul 4^th, 2014 at 9:47am:

If it were deleted some poor folk might try and snort the whole damn thing and end up dead even faster.

And we won't know that they died.  They'd just stop posting...

I asked this same question a couple of months ago and got no response.
I've never tried to snort one, but I see that I'm not the only one who has thought about a different way to battle the beast.
I did "parachute " one once but can't say it had any effect on the speed of relief.
All this was prior to my first visit with my neuro.
Thanks to him and Batch I now have much more effective ways to battle the beast.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
These highlights do not include a
ll the information needed to use
IMITREX safely and effectively. S
ee full prescribing information for
IMITREX.
IMITREX (sumatriptan) Nasal Spray
Initial U.S. Approval: 1992
----------------------------INDICATIONS AND USAGE ---------------------
IMITREX is a serotonin (5-HT
1B/1D
) receptor agonist (triptan) indicated for
acute treatment of migraine with
or without aura in adults. (1)
Limitations of Use:
•
Use only if a clear diagnosis of migraine headache has been established.
(1)
•
Not indicated for the prophylactic th
erapy of migraine attacks. (1)
•
Not indicated for the treatment of cluster headache. (1)
----------------------- DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ----------------
•
Single dose of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg of nasal spray. (2)
•
A second dose should only be considered if some response to the first
dose was observed. Separate doses by at least 2 hours. (2)
•
Maximum dose in a 24-hour period: 40 mg. (2)
--------------------- DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS --------------
Nasal spray: 5 mg and 20 mg (3, 16)
-------------------------------
CONTRAINDICATIONS ------------------------
•
History of coronary artery disease
or coronary artery vasospasm (4)
•
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other cardiac accessory conduction
pathway disorders (4)
•
History of stroke, transient ischemic
attack, or hemiplegic or basilar
migraine (4)
•
Peripheral vascular disease (4)
•
Ischemic bowel disease (4)
•
Uncontrolled hypertension (4)
•
Recent (within 24 hours) use of another 5-HT
1
agonist (e.g., another
triptan) or of an ergotamin
e-containing medication. (4)
•
Concurrent or recent (past 2 weeks) use of monoamine oxidase-A
inhibitor. (4)
•
Hypersensitivity to IMITREX (angioe
dema and anaphylaxis seen). (4)
•
Severe hepatic impairment (4)
----------------------- WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ----------------
•
Myocardial ischemia/infarction and Pr
inzmetal’s angina: Perform cardiac
evaluation in patients with multiple ca
rdiovascular risk factors. (5.1)
•
Arrhythmias: Discontinue IMITREX if occurs. (5.2)
•
Chest/throat/neck/jaw pain, tightness, pr
essure, or heaviness: Generally
not associated with myocardial ischemia; evaluate for coronary artery
disease in patients at high risk. (5.3)
•
Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid he
morrhage, and stroke: Discontinue
IMITREX if occurs. (5.4)
•
Gastrointestinal ischemic reactions
and peripheral vasospastic reactions:
Discontinue IMITREX if occurs. (5.5)
•
Medication overuse headache: Detoxi
fication may be necessary. (5.6)
•
Serotonin syndrome:
Discontinue IMITREX if occurs. (5.7)
•
Seizures: Use with caution in patients
with epilepsy or a lowered seizure
threshold. (5.11)
------------------------------ ADVERSE REACTIONS -----------------------
Most common adverse reactions (
≥
1% and >placebo) were burning sensation,
disorder/discomfort of nasal cavity/sinus
es, throat discomfort, nausea and/or
vomiting, bad/unusual taste, a
nd dizziness/vertigo. (6.1)
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact
GlaxoSmithKline at 1-888-825-5249 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE.