Migraine

Hi,

I posted once or twice a year or two ago. At that time we suspected that my daughter, now 13, had migraines but she hadn't been diagnosed. She's had a lot of really complicated medical stuff going on since then, and the headache issue got lost in the shuffle. But, she's had a daily headache for years. Recently, those headaches have gotten much worse and began to seem even more clearly to be migraines. Her doctor just prescribed Imitrex 5 mg. NS for her after she had a migraine that has gone on for two weeks with only rare breaks in the pain. It worked like a charm, at least in terms of ending the pain! She is still light sensitive and has stomach pain. She's now sound asleep--usually she sleeps little or only fitfully because the headache pain is so bad. Is this likely a side effect of the Imitrex, or do you think it's from the migraine itself? Obviously, I'm ecstatic that she's not suffering, but this could be a problem in terms of school. I was hoping for a treatment that would relieve the pain and allow her to function. Oh well, I guess that's too much to hope for.

First off, hello and welcome! When you get a chance, please pop over to our Start Folder, where we've got hints and start up information to help make your forum experience the best it can be.

Okay. On to your question. Medications can render us especially sleepy sometimes, and we have had people report triptans making them sleepy. The handful of times I tried Imitrex, I didn't have any issues with it making me sleepy. Currently, though, I take Midrin for my abortive, and that has a sedative in it that will sometimes make me sleepy, but sometimes not.

Besides sleepiness as a medication side effect, it can also be part of someone's general migraine pattern. Some people get sleepy during prodrome. Others find themselves sleepy during the headache phase. Still others find they might be especially sleepy after the pain has passed and they're in postdrome. It could be just part of the pattern for her. Keep in mind that patterns can shift over time, and while migraines may have made her sleepless in the past, that doesn't mean it always will be that way. Some things come and go, or change. All changes should be reported to our doctors, especially if they're opposite of what you've been dealing with. Your doctor should be able to say whether they think in your daughter's case it is probably the meds or probably just a shift in pattern. Keeping a detailed migraine diary is an excellent way to note if things change after a med change or adjustment or a new med was introduced or discontinued, and can be great for helping sort out patterns and seeing connections.

Hi Flowergarden,

Here is a link to info on Imitrex NS. I take Imitrex orally and I do find I get a bit sleepy. It works wonderfully for me.

I hope your daughter gets relief and soon from her migraines. My son gets them and sleep is one of the best things for him. He does not have them chronically, but they do leave him very tired.

Good luck and stay in touch.

Cindy

Hello Flowergarden and welcome! I'm so glad the Imitrex NS worked for your daughter. I also use Imitrex NS for Migraines I wake up with but it doesn't make me sleepy.

How is your daughter feeling today? I hope her Migraine cycle has been broken completely!

Here's an article that will help get you started here:

Learning About Migraines - Where to Start

Welcome again! I look forward to seeing you around the forum and remember, if you have any questions, just ask!

Thanks for all your advice, everybody. She went to school today, and isn't home yet, so I hope that means she doesn't have a migraine. I wanted her to take some Imitrex to school with her in case she needed it, but she didn't want to. Unfortunately, there's nowhere to lie down at her school (even the nurse only has a chair) so I think she was afraid she'd fall asleep again. I've got my fingers crossed that she comes home pain free. If she gets through today without a headache, it will be the first time in weeks.

I used to take Imitrex oral as my triptan, and the first dozen times I used it, it would knock me out within half an hour. The sleepiness did eventually go away. So, like the others said, it could be the Imitrex or it could be the Migraine itself.

Well, by yesterday at dinner time (probably just about exactly 24 hours since she'd taken the Imitrex the previous day) she had a headache. So, I gave her the Imitrex again and it again worked like a charm plus this time she didn't fall asleep! She was actually kind of elated. Today no headache all day, and it's almost 10 p.m. here so she got past the 24 hour mark without a headache. When I asked her about it and she realized she was pain free for the first time in weeks she was ecstatic. So, it looks like we've broken the cycle finally. Meanwhile, a pediatric neurologist who does a lot of headache stuff agreed to squeeze her in next Friday. By then I figure it will be a little clearer whether she needs to be on something preventative or not. So, things are looking up. (Of course, a friend just called me to tell me that her high school daughter's best friend just died of meningitis after being ill for less than 6 hrs., so my friend's daughter has to take prophylactic antibiotics. Aargh!)

Again, thanks for all your help and advice.

I'm so happy to hear about your daughter's Migraine cycle being broken! That is such wonderful news! Please be sure to keep us updated on how her appointment goes next Friday, okay?

My heart goes out to the family who just lost their daughter to meningitis, that is heartbreaking to say the least. I'll keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

There is nothing at all like that feeling when it dawns on you the pain is completely gone. There's exhilaration along with that ecstatic. It's a rush. I am absolutely positively thrilled for her that she got to experience that.

quote:

Originally posted by Flowergarden:
When I asked her about it and she realized she was pain free for the first time in weeks she was ecstatic.

i take Imetrex injection and it works 100% of the time without side effects regardless of where i am in the migraine stage. It relieves upset stomache and sensetivities. I hope it never stops working.

Hello Roastys Mom and welcome to the forum family! It's great to have you here! When you have a moment, please check out the Start Here Folder for important information and guidelines about the forum.

You may also find this article helpful:

Learning About Migraines – Where to Start

I'm so glad you're having such great success with your Imitrex injections! That's fantastic news!

I hope you'll take a look around the site and share some more of your experiences with us. Welcome again

Hey - I know you posted a while ago, but I haven't been here for a while and was browsing. mY thirteen year old son uses nasal imitrex as an abortive medication and it has been very good for him - if he catchs the headache quickly, he generally has pretty quick relieve, although he does still sleep for 1.5-2 hours . We requested that he be allowed to carry his imitrex with him in school, as an asthma sufferer might - the school approved. Because of this he no longer has to leave school, rather sleeps in the nurses dark room untill the episode passes, allowing him not to miss full days, which is important. My son gets about 2 a week, but I think it is important that you consider making an arrangement like this for your girl. If a migraine gets away from her, it is just so hard! my thoughts are with you!

momofwillandgrace,

It's so nice to hear about a school that is willing to make accomodations for a child who suffers from Migraines. I'm so glad they let your son bring the Imitrex to school and then allow him to sleep in the nurses office. I know that helps avoid excessive absences, which is fantastic!

Take care,

The school allows my son to have his Maxalt at school with him too. He is in elementery school still so they keep it at the nurses station along with his asthma meds and his epi pen. If TJ commplaines of a migraine, they give him the Maxalt then they are to call me. He alway is sensitive to lights and often vomits, and Sometimes the maxalt will cause tightness in the chest and jaw. So they just call me when he gets a migraine but at least he has already had his meds and doessnt have to wait. Works great!