Posted by Doc Greg on October 08, 1998 at 19:31:01:
In Reply to: Imitrex posted by Mike on October 08, 1998 at 15:49:12:
Mike,
That is not why you are limited to six injections per month...it is the fact that the injections are very expensive, and insurance companies are affraid that you may be selling the stuff. Some insurance companies can lift this restriction if your physician calls and tells them why you need more. Caution, though, many insurance companies also have a total cap on how much they will pay in perscriptions (usually around 3000). This won't be any problem with a episodic cluster, but causes a lot of difficulty (and expense) with people with chronic.
Imitrex can cause rebound headaches, but they usually occur within about 3 hours of the injection. Nasal spray would have the same problem. Long term use does not, in my opinion, cause as much rebound headaches as some of the other pain relief medications available. If you are getting rebound headaches after an injection, often a second injection will remove the rebound headache and rarely causes another rebound (why? I have no idea).
Steroids, unfortunately, are not 100% effective. I'm sorry they didn't work for you again. Talk with your doctor about trying something else to help prevent them.
Good luck
Greg