I just started on imitrex and am blown away by the price.. anyone else have any advice?

__________________
Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

I used to have migraines, but only get one once every couple of years now. My mom has suffered with migraines for years and years. I finally convinced her to try my chiropractor just to see if some adjustments would help her. She decided that it definitely couldn't hurt, since she was just used to living with headaches, migraines, tension, cluster, sinus, etc., for a majority of the time. After going to the chiropractor for a couple of weeks for several adjustments, she is now headache free, except for the occasional sinus headache. She just goes in every now and then, when she feels she needs to, for an occasional adjustment.

It may be worth it for you to check it out. I have never seen a chiropractor for headaches, and I never thought about going to see a chiropractor until I was pregnant and both of my OB's recommended it for my severe back pain. It was truly amazing how much it helped me. I wish someone would have recommended it a long time ago since I have had back pain off and on since I was rear ended in my car about 10 years ago. My chiropractor helped me so much more than any massage therapist ever has. After my chiropractor became a chiropractor, he went back to school to get his MD, simply because he wanted to have more knowledge of the human body. He actually served his residency with both of my OB/GYN's.

ME!! Though I haven't had one in a very long time. I realized some of my triggers and avoid them. (years) Some of the worst migranes where when I was on Birth Contril pills.......I stopped using them and that helped alot...Also some additives in food triggers them for me. The last hew I had I didn't really get the head ache part bad, but the visual aura disturbances that I get before one... the last few I had weren't so bad, and I just took a couple excedrin and a diet pepsi and that helped (caffeine from the soda)

My friend just emailed me a list of household hints. Most of them I have never heard of before.

One hint was for migraine headaches. Cut a lime in half and rub it over your forehead.

Don't know why it works, but worth a try.

My aunt used to get these for years. She used to put a tiny bit of Ben Gay on her temples. Swore it worked.

Susan

__________________
Susan

ME! But not too often thank goodness! I will usually get the aura or in my case tunnel vision about 1/2 hour before. The only thing that works for me is Imitrex and a dark room!

__________________
This space for rent

I've had migraines for over 17 years now, been using the same medicine for all of it and it works really well for me. The likely reason you were not prescribed it is a. its old, b. its now considered a "tension headache" medicine, and c. its cheap as dirt. Its so cheap that back when I had health insurance they stopped covering it because it cost less then the prescription co-pay. Expect to pay anywhere from $5 - $8 for 30 tablets. Its called Midrin - red capsuls. Its a combination of tylenol (which I do not take in any other product for any reason because it doesn't do much for pain for me EXCEPT in this..), a sedative of some kind and a drug that acts on blood vessals (whatever migraines do, it undoes).

Side effects - might get wired, might fall asleep. My doctor keeps trying to get me to switch to the more expensive ones because they don't make you as tired. I say I'm a housewife, I can well afford to go take a nap when I have a migraine and as far as I'm concerned being put to sleep by my migraine meds and then waking up feeling fine - is a benefit not a side effect. Also, you might get a funny taste in your mouth (dryness...) it goes away, its not major.

Generally I take 1-2 of these at the onset of a migraine and drink something caffinated to help it along, sometimes if it feels a bit sinusy I'll also take some psuedoephadrine or other decongestant as well. Perhaps a bite or two of chocolate.... within an hour (95-98% of the time...) I'm either asleep and fine, or awake and fine.

__________________
Meddle ye not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crispy, and taste good with Ketchup!

I used to get them. They started when I was 10(same time as my period). Almost 3 years ago I was asking my Dr. about a new drug my sister had heard about and he told me that the blood pressure meds he was going to put me on(because I had just found out I had high BP)should help with migraines. Evidentally sometimes they use BP meds in low doses to combat migraines. Knock on wood but I haven't had 1 since I started the BP meds. Definately worth asking about. Mine only run me about $6 for 3 month supply(I imagine it depends on your insurance). Good Luck, I know how bad it is to suffer and try to live through them. I remember losing days of my life while I was sleeping one off. missed out on lots of fun family activities and events.

I too get the migraines with the aura usually in my right eye only. If I take 4 Tylenol immediately, before the headache starts, it lessens the severity considerably. I also get sinus headaches that are as bad if not worse than the migraines. I read in the helpful hints section at Start Sampling when you feel a sinus headache starting, drink 2 glasses of water. Something about thinning the secretions. I have tried this and it actually works. With the exception of one time when I'd eat within the hour and that much water made me nauseated.

Lucikly I only get them maybe once a year. What really stinks is that I have no idea what brings them on and when I'm going to get them. I get the headache, chills (even on a hot day) and the shakes. When I get the shakes I know I'm in big trouble and wind up in the bathroom throwing up. Once that's over and I rest for a few hours I'm fine. Just wish I knew what triggered it.

The DH is a different story. He's had them for YEARS. Lot of it is food allergies so I have to watch what I buy which is such a pain. Sometimes it's from different smells (chemicals, tarring etc.) He got hurt at work one day and went to the ER and the Dr. noticed that his BP was really high and he went on BP medicine and that seemed to do the trick. He might get the occassional headache but the migraines aren't as bad anymore (unless he eats something he shouldn't). I honestly don't know how he puts up with them. I can take a lot of pain, but that's one pain that turns me into such a big baby.

I have had migraines for about 15 years. For years we thought they were sinus headaches (I have nasal bone spurs). I am still not 100% convinced that the spurs aren't part of the problem. I take Relpax when I feel a migraine coming on. Relpax has been the only medicine so far that helps in anyway. They are very expensive, about $172 for 8 pills. One of the drawbacks to this medicine besides the price is that they recommend you don't take it very often. Sometimes I get several headaches a week. I know someone mentioned earlier about the hormone factor being involved. As I get nearer to menopause, I have noticed that my migraines get more severe. I dread each time I feel a migraine coming on because it has such an impact on my daily life. But, at least I get some relief from the meds now. I went at least 10 years with no help. They just kept giving me sinus medication that did NO good at all!

I used to get them really bad, but I started a preventitive drug about a year and a half ago called Topamax. It has done wonders for me. I used to get about 8 debilitating migraines a month, but I've only had 2 in the last year and half. Anyone with chronic migraines should definitely check in to this drug! Oh, I also take a B50 vitamin every day. I've read that B deficiencies can cause migraines, as well.

Kim

I used to pay cash for my Imetrex too, so I know it is expensive. Some things that worked for me.. Ask your Dr. for some samples. My doc would give me 100mg. samples and suggest that I split them so I'd get 2 for 1. My pharmacist at Costco would sell me 2-3 at a time, I would stock up when I had some extra money. Recently, my new Dr. suggested that I take Magnesium, Folic acid and 1 baby asprin daily. This has actually helped in the severity of my migraines. I still get about 2 a month, but they aren't as bad. Hope this helps.

Must be because when the lime juice drips into your eyes, the stinging makes you forget all about your headache! lol

Anyway, I have suffered for years from massive headache pain. I suffer from severe tension headaches (result of my severe tmj and abnormal jaw development) For several years it was debilitating. I was on soma (muscle relaxer) and dilaudid (opiate) and did nothing for it, other than dope me up. The breakthrough for me was Botox injections. Since the muscles in my head, neck and face were constantly contracted, the Botox paralyzes the muscles which then relax and thus no headaches for 3 months at a time. Unfortunately some insurances won't pay for it, but the manufacturer has patient assistance program for those who can't afford it. 5 years ago when I was getting it, it was between $300-500 per treatment (every three months) but depends on how much you actually need. I've also heard that it helps with some migraines

Contact a Pain Management Doctor as this will be your best bet at finding a Dr who does Botox and is willing and experienced at the injections in the head /facial areas. Don't go to a Plastic Surgeon or Cosmetic Doctor, as they charge way too much for Botox, roughly 3 times the actual cost of the medication.

After about 2 years of using Botox, it gradually stopped paralyzing the muscles as effectively. Apparently after extensive use at high doses, some patients will develop antibodies to the toxin, and your immune system fights it off, so you no longer get the desired effect. Once that happened, they switched me to Myobloc (same as Botox, made from same botulinium bacteria, but it is the purified form of the second (of 6+) neurotoxin that the bacteria makes). Myobloc does last about 4 months, but the cost is 2-3 times that of Botox (mine for 10,000 units is nearly $1,300 just for the med) But the company that makes it does have a patient assistance program as well.



Migraines--- over the past 1 1/2 years, I have been getting what my doctor and I thought were migraines. I took imitrex and it helped some, but gave me a g*dawful sensation in my arms in legs (like restless leg syndrome) I stopped taking it because the side effect was terrible.

However recently we discovered my migraines were being caused by a whiplash injury 2 1/2 years ago. I underwent a Rhizotomy where they burned/severed some nerves in my neck (their only purpose is pain/sensory) and my headaches are gone! Turns out the cervical facet joints were severely arthritic (I'm only 31) and since the facet joints don't have nerves running through the discs between them like your cervical vertebrae do, you only begin to get symptoms after the facet bones begin to degenerate. The surgeon said these don't appear until about a year or so AFTER the original whiplash injury! Due to this new info, my mom is going to get hers checked out, because she would get the same type of headaches (starts at the back of the head where it meets the neck) and she's had several whiplash injuries. Because we both had the same type of headaches, it was fitting since sometimes migraines run in families, but maybe not in this case.

Oh and the rhizotomy (very minor procedure takes less than 10 min total) needs to be repeated every 6-18 months, depending on how fast your nerves regenerate.


Anyhow, I hope this may help someone, it would have saved me from 1 1/2 years of agony, missed work days,etc. had I known about the facet joints sooner.

I suffer from severe chronic migraines. I am currently on 200 mg. Topamax, 20 mg. Lexapro and Midrin. This seems to be working. (knock on wood) I have tried everything from Imitrex, Axert, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Depakote, Feverfew, Magnesium, Frova, Migranal, Relpax, Maxalt, Seraquel, Zomig and I'm sure there is more. Nothing works when I have a migraine except going in for an injection of Toradol. If it continues, I have to go to the ER to get an IV treatment of DHE. I also get Reglan, Depacon and Phenergan, I think thats all. I watch everything I eat. No MSG, sodium nitrates, aspartame, cheese, tomatoes, wheat, alcohol, citrus, dairy. My list is too long. I also stay away from strong odors and smoking areas. I always wear dark sunglasses. Migraines are a horrible disease. They interfere with everything and people don't understand.

MAGNUM: Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs, was created to bring public awareness utilizing the electronic, print and artistic mediums, to the fact that Migraine is a true biologic neurological disease, to assist Migraine sufferers, their families, and coworkers, and to help improve the quality of life of Migraine sufferers worldwide.


http://www.migraines.org/

I have rubbed BioFreeze topical gel on my forehead to get some relief from my headaches. It's similar to BenGay, etc but much more effective. I buy it at the chiropractors office. I looked at all the OTC pain relieving ointments and couldn't find one that had the same concentration of ingredients. I sometimes have to use it 5-6 times before I obtain any relief.

Oddly enough, after never having a migraine in my entire life nor had anyone in my family, I got one 2 weeks after my total hysterectomy. The doctor said it was odd but not unheard of, most of the time women stop having migraines after a hysterectomy, I was opposite. They lasted several years, but thankfully I haven't had one in over a year. The last one I had, was triggered by candles. I went to bunco, and the hostess had candles lit everywhere. I struggled all night and finally Matt took me to the doctor the next morning and I got a shot. They are horrible, there's no mistaking it.

__________________
Catt
~ Mirror Mirror on the wall, I am my mother - after all! ~