Migraine

I am sick of going to the ER once or twice a month for shots when I can't keep meds down. I know that you can give yourself Imitrex injections, but why cant migraineurs give themselves shots of other meds at home? Is there something out there I am unaware of? I am headed to a head pain clinic soon .I just recieved my first call from them today!!! I want one of those little tickers!!! Where do I get one?

Although I don't have any injectable meds anymore I know there are members of the forum who have meds they can inject at home. I think it depends on your treatment plan with your doctor. I used to use Imitrex injections but I wasn't happy with it so my doctor has me use Zomig Nasal Spray and that normally works for me.

As for the ticker, just go to my signature and click on the link to Ticker Factory. Copy the code for "BB" and paste it into your signature block in the Personal Zone. A quick way to get to the Personal Zone is by using the "Go" tab at the top of the discussion.

I hope that helped

I should also mention that I have not had luck with triptans.......

Check the thread on "IM Injections at home". There are some of us who do injections at home. It depends on whether your doctor is willing to let you do it, whether the drugs that you're getting IV in the ER are available in intramuscular form, and whether you're capable of giving yourself the shots. There are quite a few that you can get in vials, though.

If you're headed off to a head pain clinic, make sure you ask about this possibility. Where are you going? I just started at Diamond and I love my doctor there!

Lynne

Have you tried all seven triptans?

quote:

Originally posted by kduch:
I should also mention that I have not had luck with triptans.......

I have tried 3. I swore that imitrex made my migraine WORSE (TWO TIMES), but the neurologist told me it was impossible and that it does not have that effect, so I must of just had a bad one (TWICE). Anyway, my GP and I decided to drop him because he had prescribed things that I was allergic to and things that were a major drug interaction, so he was not very trustworthy. My GP also did not agree with him putting me on triptans, when my blood pressure during a migraine is usually very high.....160/100 is typical. Was just at the ER yesterday :-(.....only 10 days from my last visit. So frustrating. I have that drug/migraine/hangover thing going on tonight, of course. Any other advice for rescue meds that are not triptans?

I hope the following link works, if not, look at "best abortive for hemiplegic migraine" in this forum. I posted there about the alternatives to triptans that I've used.

forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums/a/tpc/f/6721031/m/41610282

Although I say this in my post, I will repeat it here: I am only telling you what I have or am taking in my own regimen, which is tailored for me by my doctor. I'm sharing it because it might give you something to discuss with your doctor, and also to let you know that it's possible to manage rescue at home without triptans. I have no idea what your drug allergies or reactions are, and I'm not recommending these meds. If I were you, I'd read more about migraine rescue and abortive meds, maybe read about some of the medication classes that I posted about, and HAVE A CHAT WITH YOUR DOCTOR!

I am sorry that the triptans aren't working out for you. When I was allowed to take them, they were so nice and neat and fast (well, at least Amerge was for me). But, we're not all that lucky!

You have plenty of alternatives, though. You and your doctor will just have to be creative.

Good luck!

Lynne

P.S. Just a note about Zofran - I don't know if nausea is a big issue for you or not. It's a huge part of my migraines, and I happen to have major drug reactions to compazine, reglan, and phenergan, so it was just about my only alternative. It's expensive and some doctors balk at prescribing it, or don't know that it's getting a lot more common to give it to migraineurs, so that one is really worth bringing up. One of my friends who is a migraineur finally got around to taking her nausea seriously, tried it, and is getting really good results. Doctors still think of it as a chemo nausea drug, though. Just so you know.

Also regarding Zofran--

The only oral form that works for me is the ODT (the dissolving kind) which my insurance will only give me #15/month. But I do a lot of home injection and found out that the IM form in generic is very inexpensive and my insurance does not limit it's monthly usuage, so between the two I can have enough Zofran to handle the gastroparesis I suffer from. Thought that might be a help to somebody else.

Tracie,

Whoa! I have a question about the IM Zofran. When I asked about it, I was told that nobody uses it because you have to inject about 9 ml and it's not worth it. Do you do a 8 mg dose, and how many ml is it? 'Cause I would LOVE to have it in IM form and now I'm not sure that the nurse knew as much as she said she did.

Lynne

P.S. I tried the dissolvable for the first time and didn't notice much of a difference except quicker onset, but it didn't seem to have more or less of a punch. Interesting how we all metabolize stuff differently ...

I was given zofran once in the ER and it worked just fine. I will mention that one to the dr. This appointment cannot come soon enough. My hubby and my 10 yr anniversary is tomorrow. Please God, no Migraine!

Though it's not the most common thing, I think pain medications can also still be compounded into suppository form for those who have trouble keeping oral meds down. That might be an option that is more acceptable to your doctor than home injections. Just a thought.

Luckily I can get by with a smaller dose. If I take it quick and lie down I take either 2mg or 4mg IM (it's 2mg/ml). I do have to use at least 8 mg if I take it orally. Dr.W. said that if I did ever need to go up to 8mg to just use 2 ml IM injections, but if I could catch it before I actually start vomiting I might not ever need that much. So far that's been true.

And Lynne-- I go from nausea to vomiting usually within 15 minutes so that's why the odt works and the tablets don't. I can't keep them down long enough.

quote:

Originally posted by kduch:
I am sick of going to the ER once or twice a month for shots when I can't keep meds down. I know that you can give yourself Imitrex injections, but why cant migraineurs give themselves shots of other meds at home? Is there something out there I am unaware of?

When you can't keep meds down, your neuro may infuse you with a combination of drugs (including anti-nausea) in the outpatient area of your hospital or their office. The outpatient infusions are arranged, no waiting, and you're in a more comfortable setting.

Tracie,

My problem with the Zofran (with the really really bad attacks) is that I go to (hope this doesn't gross anyone out) severe diarrhea, which means that anything that I take by mouth doesn't get absorbed. That's when I end up vomiting, and why I'm curious about the shot. It does sound like 8 mg would be a lot to put in a syringe, though! That's also why suppositories wouldn't really be on the list of options. Guess I'll have to stick with the dissolving kind.

Lynne