Migraine

I have some questions about side effects with triptan drugs.

I've only tries two of them, Imitrex and Relpax, and I'm not really sure that I've benefited at all from them. I try not to take them at all because I end up feeling so "yucky" from them. I actually ended up taking a Relpax today, and I feel so bad from it, I had to post about it to get some information.

I migraine almost daily, ranging on the pain scale from 4 to 7 usually. I mastly try to sleep my migraines off, whether I medicate or not. When I take a triptan, I feel like they "amplify" my symptoms, at least for a little while, rather than help with the migraine. I usually feel worse. I could never take these meds and expect to be functional. I absolutely have to lay down and sleep them off. Is this a normal response?

Today I ttok a Relpax at abot 1:30, and I still feel spacey at 6:30. I've had to stop and make abot 10 or 12 typo corrections in this post. I feel kind of "flu-ish" and out of it. This is normal for when I take these meds. It's worse with Imitrex. I'll feel better if I can sleep, but right now I can't.

I am going to discuss this with my neurologist on the first. I do have borderline high cholesterol, but no heart disease. I just wanted to know if this was a common side effect for the triptans.

Thanks!

I would ask your doc about a lower dose. half a relpax does it for me and that keeps the spaciness away. Also, maybe adding a 2nd abortive with the first would help. Imitrex never works alone but does work with fiorinal.

My triptans are Axert, and Amerge. I mainly use the Amerge preventively for hormonally-triggered migraines. The Axert makes me drowsy, but as I've (regretably) had to take it more often, my body has adjusted to it, and it doesn't knock me out as badly as it did at first. The Amerge causes me almost no side effects.

I tried Zomig, but I didn't like the way it made me feel at all.

As with other meds, side effects with triptans are very individual. And just because you have intolerable side effects with one doesn't mean you won't be able to tolerate one of the others.

All three triptans I've tried have worked to abort my migraines.

Hi

FYI - I too do get "spacey" from Relpax compared to just a bit tired wtih Axert.

I had the spacey effect with Zomig. Totally knocked me out, had to lay down. I was done for the day if I had to take it.

I would look into checking out other triptans. You may find one that does not give you as many side effects. Axert has a quick action time, Maxalt comes dissolvable, Frova is my personal fav....so talke to your doctor and see if you can try a different one.

I've tried 4 of the 8 and so far, Frova has the least side effects for me....and only 3 of the 4 I tried worked....well, maybe 2 of the 4 since I think sleep worked better then Imitrex did for me.

Now, this might sound like a stupid question (I know, there are no stupid questions here) but should I be expecting complete relief from the triptans? Imitrex and Replax will usually at least temporarily quiet my symptoms, but my migraines always come back.

I'm prbably not using them properly. I'm almost a daily migraine sufferer, and I'm so afraid of MOH that I only use them If I have a migraine that's a 7+ on the pain scale. By the time they get that bad, the triptans aren't going to be effective. I'm just frustrated that I'm not getting relief.

I am counting down to my appointment with my migraine specialist at the end of July!

Most doctors recommend taking your triptan early in the attack. I suspect that is one of the least-followed physician orders on the planet. Most of us seem to take a long time to "learn" to do that. And if our migraines are very frequent, it's not really an option due to MOH concerns, as you said. But if you wait for the pain to get really bad before you take your triptan, it may not work at all.

I think it is not unusual, however, for the migraine to come back after a while, even if it seemd to be completely aborted. The trigger, such as weather or hormones, may still be hanging around, and affect you again after some of the triptan has left your system. That's why many triptans allow you to take a second dose (but no more) within 24 hours. As always, follow your doctor's orders, and don't hesitate to ask any questions of your pharmacist.

quote:

Originally posted by Melissa Z:
Now, this might sound like a stupid question (I know, there are no stupid questions here) but should I be expecting complete relief from the triptans? Imitrex and Replax will usually at least temporarily quiet my symptoms, but my migraines always come back.

I'm prbably not using them properly. I'm almost a daily migraine sufferer, and I'm so afraid of MOH that I only use them If I have a migraine that's a 7+ on the pain scale. By the time they get that bad, the triptans aren't going to be effective. I'm just frustrated that I'm not getting relief.

I am counting down to my appointment with my migraine specialist at the end of July!

Melissa, I do the same thing for the same reason. I don't get complete relief from my triptans. (I've had this same migraine since November.) I expect that once I break this migraine and start getting some breaks in pain that the triptans will work better because I'll be more willing to treat early.

quote:

Originally posted by Melissa Z:
Now, this might sound like a stupid question (I know, there are no stupid questions here) but should I be expecting complete relief from the triptans? Imitrex and Replax will usually at least temporarily quiet my symptoms, but my migraines always come back.

I'm prbably not using them properly. I'm almost a daily migraine sufferer, and I'm so afraid of MOH that I only use them If I have a migraine that's a 7+ on the pain scale. By the time they get that bad, the triptans aren't going to be effective. I'm just frustrated that I'm not getting relief.

I am counting down to my appointment with my migraine specialist at the end of July!

Well, I can say that I take Relpax, and it never gets rid of my migraines totally. I don't know if there is a triptan out there for me that will ever fully abort.

If I take it really early in the attack, it keeps it from getting above a 4 , and usually takes it down to a 2. Like today I took my relpax at the first sign of my visual aura, and it is only a low grade migriane, but it is definately still there....

If I take it too late, it will take a 6 or 7 down to a 4. That is when I break out the Vicodin

I know its hard to take it at the first sign. I do the same thing, b/c I don't like "wasting" a triptan day unless I'm sure.