Recently my MD gave me a RX for Imetrex... WOW what a surprise to see that 7 tablets cost $129.50 !! Geez.....
And whats WORSE?? It did not help me a bit....
Doc also gave me a Rx for Inderal ( Have no HTN) but was told the vasodilating effect helps migraines. And also a RX for Prednisone.. the combination of the three is supposed to help Migraines.
Anyways, I am done fussing... just wanted to share that Imetrex is SOOO expensive and DOES NOT WORK !!!!
The trick to nearly all migraine meds is to take them as soon as you feel the migraine coming on. I've tried Imitrex subq (dang that hurts) it did work but it took forever last time and ends up being about a $200 headache. I've found that if I wait to take the migraine med it becomes MUCH less effective. Then again at the cost of the meds...it's easy to put it off and make "sure" it's a migraine before poppin a $25-$40 pill OR TWO.
Amerge, didn't do squat for me (I've heard it is most effective for hormone type/menstrual migraines). I'm tryin Relpax now. It worked great the first time, but the second time the migraine had hit full force and I didn't get the relief that I did the first time. The cost is just ludicrous however, for nearly all migraine meds. It's $120-180 for 6-8 pills.
I've heard that Toradol works wonders and not being a narcotic you can still function afterwards.
I'm open for any and all suggestions in dealing with migraines. I've dealt with them most of my life and now my oldest daughter gets them too. Poor thing.
Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.
I have had migraines since I was 17. Went thru all drugs everyone has listed. My miracle drug was reglan. Take one reglan at first sign of mirgaine and presto - no migraine.
Also so things to avoid. Tylenol and motrin are bad about causing "rebound" headaches. They work for a short time and then the pain returns with increased intensity. Also alcohol and processed meats should be avoided. Learn your triggers. My son had his first migraine at 5 years old.
If you developed migraines at a young age you should outgrow them by 20 or 21, howere, if you start them later you may not ever "outgrow" your migraines.
Oh one other thing - I went to neuro guy once and had to take 3 of my kids with me - he told me the kids were my cause - less that year later found out the increase in pain and intensity was due to 2 herniated discs in neck.
Sister has suffered from migraines for over 30 years. Has tried everything on the market, she says Excedrin for Migraine has helped her as much as some of these expensive meds. Ofcourse, she cannot move or do anythings for 24 hours or more when these things hit. But she said she will not waste her money on Imetrex and all of the others since they do not help. Dr ususally gives her a shot in the ER and sends her home with RX for 4 pills of po Demerol.
Recently my MD gave me a RX for Imetrex... WOW what a surprise to see that 7 tablets cost $129.50 !! Geez.....
And whats WORSE?? It did not help me a bit....
Doc also gave me a Rx for Inderal ( Have no HTN) but was told the vasodilating effect helps migraines. And also a RX for Prednisone.. the combination of the three is supposed to help Migraines.
Anyways, I am done fussing... just wanted to share that Imetrex is SOOO expensive and DOES NOT WORK !!!!
It is prety weird in that for those that it does work it works really well and for those it doesn't well it doesn't!
My mother both my sisters and my wife all have migraines, now my youngest daughter is starting to get them too. The Imitrex works very well for my mother and my oldest sister, my younger sister doesn't get any effect and my wife had an allergic reaction to it. Neurontin is also sometimes used as a vasodilator to effect change with migraines.
Re: migraine triggers, the thing that starts one on me is any aged cheese, anything fermented, any meats containing sulfates or sulfites, any artificial sweeteners.
Convenience foods are typically loaded with this stuff. I have also heard of people who were long-time migraine sufferers getting relief when they went on the Atkins diet.
In the meantime, I am thrilled with the Botox...it works where nothing else did.
I get horrible migraines that last for weeks sometimes even months 24/7. No regular migrain medications work and I will not do narcotics as they can cause these protracted migraines. I saw a neurologist and after 2 courses of prednisone I started Neurontin. That has worked like a miracle. The really nice thing too is very little side effects if any, and it's cheap. I just pay my co-pay for $10.00 and that's it. I only take it when I start getting the headaches and I take 600mg t.i.d.
i also suffer from chronic daily headaches and migraines. i have seen a neurologist and a neuropthamologist (sp) at the mayo clinic. amerge didn't work...midrin did for a while then I started to get rebound headaches b/c i took it too often. at one point i was self medicating with excedrin everyday. i have taken topomax in an effort to prevent daily headaches. i am currently taking avapro preventatively. i now take maxalt when i wake up in the middle of the night with a migraine. i should add that i have absolutely cut ALL caffeine out of my diet and rarely take over the counter medication. i still get headaches but i can say with certainty that they are not caused by me taking too much medication or intaking too much caffeine. maxalt is expensive but works.............. eventually.
I am REALLY SUPPRISED that you HAVE TO PAY YOUR TRIPTANER by yourself!!!
Our health care system give everybody suffering from migraine and otther cronic desceases the wright to get all the medisine free,- everything untill you reach totally 150$. After that everytnig is free.
I wisited my neurologist last mand. And I hav 3 different and seriouslly ill migraine: 1) migraine w.o. cassic aura and nausia but hemiplemic.
2) cervicogen headache after 4 inuries in my nursing job
3) and the last and probably the worst: Cluster or Hortons headache: semi-hemicranic and allways the same side with INTENs pain; I have to use oxygen and get som iv med at the hospital.
Last time the Md said; but you may have a lap top without flimmering and an oxygen -app at home; and this is FREE for you since you have those diagnoses. - And many other things to support eoconomically!
Jrnalist2RNinOR
139 Posts
I use Axert and Maxalt - depends what I get...they both have worked wonderfully...
I just started getting them about a year and a half ago...always predictable - same time of the month as usual....
go figure - I get so lucky