Imitrex and headache

I am 39 and have had true migraine attacks since I was a child. I say true migraine attacks because they are different then just a bad headache! The pain, throwing up, dry heaves and weird aura are "hell on earth!" I have noticed that if my headache isn't a true migraine and I take the Imitrex, the side affect are ten times worse! Reading a lot of the messages on this site makes me wonder if doctors are prescribing it for the common bad headaches! There are side effects either way but much worse if the headache is not a true migraine. My side effects have been neck pressure,sleepiness, queasiness, and very sore arm pain. But it is not worse than the migraine so I take it when needed. I do not recommend cutting this pill in half! God Bless the migraine sufferers! I know how the torture feels!

I have had migraines since I was in my early 20's, I am now 56; however, I was never diagnosed and just endured them. About 6 years ago a neighbor gave me an Imitrex when I complained of a headache that would not go away. In 20 minutes it was gone! Got my doctor to give me a prescription. Originally, after taking Imitrex I would get a bit sleepy, but I don't get that side effect anymore. What I do experience about 90% of the time is joint pain when I move. It does not last but a day or less and is a side effect I can live with since it gets rid of the migraines. Like a lot of medicines, Imitrex is not for everyone and side effects vary.

I have had migraines since I was very young -- I'm 28 now. I currently take Topamax daily as preventative and the Imitrex is only used when I have a headache at night to help me sleep. I'm surprised to hear people taking this drug daily..my doc has me under the impression it is only for when you have a migraine, not as preventative. Anyway, I have NO SIDE EFFECTS at all from the Imitrex. It not only gets rid of my pain and allows me to sleep, but it actually helps me sleep throughout the whole night without waking up -- deep sleep. I love it, but it's so expensive, so I use it sparingly.

I have chronic migraine headaches and I was first prescribed Imitrex. All 4 times I gave it a chance it did not work. Since then, I have been prescribed 1 other migraine medicine which didn't work, a barbiturate to be taken just for headaches, which didn't work for the headache but made me very loopy then depressed, then a strong pain pill that did nothing for my headache but made me very relaxed, so I just layed on the bed for 4 hours. My doctor wanted me to get an MRI then go to a specialist who wanted to prescribe a medication that I would have to take 5 days a week. Now, I get kelation therapy once a month, which gets rid of high levels of metals and toxins in your body, and I have not had a bad migraine since, only a slight headache every once in a while.

I was just prescribed the Imitrex nasal spray. I took it for the first time today. The first thing that happened was my nose felt like it was on fire then i had a horrible bitter taste in my mouth and the back of my throat. About 10mins after i took it i throw up and my stomach started to hurt. Plus the bitter taste was still there and nothing but time made it go away. My headache went away true enough but I would rather suffer a migraine then go through that again. And my headache came back not too long afterwards.

I am so glad I stumbled upon this site. I was prescribed Imitrex for my migraines. I got a migraine at work one day and took Imitrex, it made me so sick, I couldnt move, I broke out in a cold sweat, my body started burning, the nasty taste in my mouth and the nausea was worse than the headache. I was so weak, I couldnt find my way to tell anyone I was sick so I could go home and I felt so bad I probably wouldn't have been able to drive anyway. After about 1 1/2 hours, the sick feelings subsided somewhat, and I decided I will never again take another Imitrex. I would rather suffer, and I don't want to ask my doctor for something else, because I don't think I could stomach any more horrific side effects from a new med.

I had a shot of Imitrex in the hospital for a migraine and it made me feel like my head was on fire!!! I hated it so much. They gave it to me as a perscription in pill from the next day so I thought maybe since the other one was a shot this wouldn't be so bad. I took it with my husband home because I was afraid to take it alone. I felt fine for the first 10 min then my head started to burn and my whole body started to ache and I could not fall asleep it was horrible!! It got rid of my headache but I rather have the head ache than having my body feel like its dying!!

The first time I took imitrx it was through a shot at the octors office and it was horrible, I felt the liquid go through my body and it felt like fire through my blood all over my body, It was very unpleasant...after a while the headache went away...the second time I took it, it was in a pill form and it was horrible as well, the burning sensation came again and it made my headache worse, after that i threw away the rest of the imitrex I had..I would not recommend it

I have been taking imitrex for a few weeks now and it is great. The only side effect is the nasty taste in my throat about 5 minutes after taking it but than my headache is gone and I feel great!

Imitrex will stop my migraines in a short amount of time. It is a godsend. Stops the pain and also stops the nausea.

I do, however, have aftereffects: usually back pain later that day. Also, grogginess and fatigue. It is still worth taking Imitrex, though.
For me, it is best to take it as early as I realize the headache is a migraine, instead of waiting too long til the headache is going strong; harder to stop the pain once it has reached that point.

I personally take the imitrex nasal spray. The only side effect that I had was the nasty taste in my mouth about 5 minutes of taking Imitrex. It lasts for about 5 minutes and then the headache and the nasty taste is gone. I really like Imitrex and I plan to keep taking it as needed.

My head aches never result from stress. They always hit when I am most relaxed and content. They often begin with a few yawns.

I have been taking Imitrex for several years for migraine headaches. Overall, it is the best medication I have found. Frequent use does raise my blood pressure. On a few occasions, I have been very sick with the head ache. By sick I mean nauseated, lethargic, sleepy, depressed, extremely weak and highly sensitive to light and sound. On these occasions, as soon as the head ache is gone, the other symptoms are also gone. Occasionally I have found that with the more severe head aches, once I get relief, I am completely unable to go to sleep for about 12 hours regardless what hour of the day or night I got relief of the head ache, and that is after taking more than one sleep medication. Have any more of you experienced similar insomnia?

I am a nurse. I have taken Imitrex by mouth, nasal spray and injection. The injection works much faster and much better for me. I am 58 years old and have had these head aches since my earliest childhood memories.

Good luck with your migraines. They certainly destroy quality of life.

Chippentuff

I took Imitrex the first time and I thought I was going to freak out. WOW! My throat was tight and I was burning all over. Then my arms and legs hurt so bad I could not move. The headache went away after all of that. I did not try it again for a month and then I got another bad headache and I thought that I would try it again. It did the same thing to me. I thought that I was going to die. I promised the Lord if He let me live, I would never take another one. And, I am keeping my promise just as He did. There are better alternatives to headaches.

I took 100 mg Imitrex and it didn't touch the headache - 3 hours later took another and a phenegrin (sp?) and within a very short time could barely move - every muscle in my body and every joint hurt - I could barely walk - could barely even turn in the bed - I'm 53 and you would have thought I was 103. This lasted about 12 hours. This has happened to me the last two times I have had a migraine and took the Imitrex.