Posted by Cathy (24.92.249.31) on July 11, 1999 at 10:04:36:
In Reply to: Imitrex Frequency posted by ChrisNJ on July 10, 1999 at 17:19:15:
I, too, am a 42 yr. old woman. I, too, had a 3 year lapse in CH until my last ch cycle, which started in Feb. of '99. I, too, started my cycle by aborting each ch with Imitrex shots. I found them to work incredibly well, getting rid of the ch within 4 to 5 minutes. No side effects, except slight racing of heart for a short while. The cost is great, as you stated, and if you have to take 1 to 2 every day...well, can be too much on the wallet. That was one reason I stopped and opted for something else, as we had to dish out the $ ahead of time and then wait weeks for the insurance company to reimburse us. Another reason I stopped was when I got a ch in school (I'm a teacher) and started bawling in front of the kids. I got quick help from another teacher and grabbed my Imitrex shot kit. She escorted me tothe nurse's office and I proceeded to take the shot. All was better, but I still was driven home by another teacher, as a precaution. I then went on lithium and was ch free from mid-March until May, when I weaned myself off of it. I did have some minor side-effects of the lithium, but would rather live with them than pay $165 for each 2 shot regime of Imitrex or worry about getting more chs or when I would get them. My work was beginning to suffer, and that no longer was a problem. Also, the day after my school experience, I had several CHs in a row. My neuro would not let me take more than 3 shots and I ended up in the hospital. That was the same day I started my lithium. I was fine the next day, however, and everyday since then. I know every drug does not work the same for every person. But if you can find something that works for you, go for it. Why didn't you like lithium? Side-effects or didn't work?
Good luck to you.