IMITREX Reviews (SUMATRIPTAN SUCCINATE)Average Rating: 3.6 (599 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare IMITREX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
Results are sorted by Gender males first. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 |
More on IMITREX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR IMITREX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Cluster Headaches | The first few times experienced a tingling feeling all over my body, and felt as if I was being grabbed by the throat. However, I now only feel a brief tingling feeling and most times are able to return to normal activities within a few minutes. | As a cluster headache patient--misdiagnosed for over 12 years--I say God Bless sumatriptan injections. I've been getting cluster headaches since I was 19 or 20 years old serving in the US Army. Each cluster headache cycle comes back every 1.5 to 2 years like clockwork and they last from 3 to 6 weeks. I used to scream, cry, be in a total state of desperation, rolled on floor holding my head and back of my neck, take a fetal position in a hot shower while kicking and humming, jump to a cool pool after the hot shower and then go back to the shower...its not called suicide headaches for anything. I get 3 to 4 episodes a day during a cycle. My neurologist allows me to take up to 3 a day. I start counting in my mind as soon as I take the shot and sometimes I have not reached 60 and feel the cluster going away...sometimes I make it to 200 or 300...but I feel almost immediate relief. Against my neurologist indications I have frequently taken that extra shot when I have had 4-episodes days. The pain is just unbearable so I take my chances. In short, Imitrex and now the generic sumatriptan 6mg Statdose, have given my life back to me when I am in a cluster headache cycle. (only wish we could finally have a law to prohibit insurance companies to cover what they want to cover. Each 2-injection kit goes for around $200, and my insurance company only covers 4 a month (8 injections). The rest I have to pay from my pocket. The system is messed up when a doctor believes a patient needs X amoun | M | 36 | 5 years 6mg inject 3X day | 3/6/2010 | 5 | migraines | increased urination, metallic taste in mouth | Migraines began 4 months before (generic) Imitrex was prescribed and had progressed until nearly continuous. First dose was like pushing a reset button - I went from fetal tuck to dinner with the family in half an hour. After that initial migraine pattern, I've fallen into a more classic "couple times a month" pattern, and my response to the medication is always rapid and rejuvenating. I use all medicine including this one sparingly and only when I can't first fend off a migraine with bed rest and isolation. I had one migraine recently that three doses didn't fix (I ended up just riding that one out), and am hoping that's an anomaly. Because of a provider change I'll be trying Maxalt soon, but would consider switching back if Imitrex turns out to be more effective for me. | M | 47 | 18 months 25 2X M | 3/6/2010 | 5 | Cluster Headache | Some drowsiness. Not a negative as the primary use is to have some pain free time to sleep. | The only consistantly effective treatment that I have had for Cluster Headache. As with some of the others here I do have some concern over the impact of long term use. Without this medicine I lived with no sleep, in extreme pain completely dependant on others. Even if it ends up having a signficant long term health impact, I would take it all over again. | M | 27 | 18 months 1X day | 5/25/2010 | 5 | migraine headaches | The bridge of my nose and the back of my jaw gets numb. I get a bit of a "high" feeling and am very tired for about an hour after taking it. The great thing is that it works like a charm and cures the headache. | Wonderful drug. I had only had about 3 migraine headaches in my life up until about a year ago. Then, I started getting them regularly- about 2 or 3 times a week. The MRI came back normal. I was given medication to help prevent the headaches. Initially, it was nadolol, now it's gabapentin. I am down to about 1 | M | 43 | 6 months 50 mg 1X day | 7/16/2010 | 5 | Cluster Headache | Drowsiness, tingling sensation in hands and feet. | This medication literally saved my life. I get 1-2 clusters a year that last for about 2-2 1/2 months. I've tried many other medications and found it to work far better than any of the other triptans. Even the Imitrex pill forms. I can be in the throws of the worst migrane and inside of 5 minutes it is gone. Recently I have been using the generic and it seems to work just as well for me as the name brand. I STRONGLY recommend the injection to anyone that has the means or GOOD INSURANCE that will cover the expense. The stuff ain't cheap if you have to pay for it out of pocket. Don't suffer....look into these medications. | M | 45 | 10 years 6 mg Injec 2X day | 7/24/2010 | 5 | Migraines | Got a few white hair over the past year. Feels like head is burning while the reaction is in process(not that bad tho). The day after migraine, my skin feels kinda oily. | This medication is a gift from God. I have been having migraines since I was 8 years old, and no other medication worked on me. I went through Ibuprofen, I went through flexeril, and I went through naproxen, and many other medications. I didn't kno they were even Migraines until the past year or so. This medicine has changed my life. I can study, go to work, and do everything I wanted to do. Before this, when I got a headache, I used to lock myself in a dark, quiet room, and just stay there till I fell asleep, and the headache was gone. Any side-effect to this is 10000 times better than a migraine itself. | M | 19 | 1 years 50 mg 1X day | 8/20/2010 | 5 | common migraine | felt a little dizzy and sleepy only the first time I took it. | I had been having headaches that had been slowly intensifying over a 3 or 4 year period. At some point about a year ago I decided that I just didn't want to deal with it anymore. I never got aura, just twinging pain on one side of head turning into fairly intense kind of pressure and pain everywhere in head. Also got nausea, although no throwing up. Over the counter pills were useless, finally tried imitrex and bingo! Headache gone in an hour or two. What a relief. Lately it seems like I get the headaches a little more often, hope I'm not getting rebound headache, now I try to just take them when I'm feeling one coming on, probably about two pills in 2-3 days. | M | 32 | 1 years 50 mg 1X day | 2/14/2011 | 5 | migraine type headaches | Half or so of time pain increases for 30 mins+ significantly before I get complete relief, usually. While in this pain I walk like I am drunk. Chest a little queezy after taking. | Shower over my head with water hot as can stand to control major pain. I can play improvization piano much better than usual when pain is relieved. Don't feel high but am euphoric that pain has been relieved. I know! I know! But 12+ years has convinced me. Concerned about effects on heart. Sometimes arm/hand is numb down to center and index finger:suspect due to my damaged neck(related?) or maybe carpal tunnel? | M | 59 | 12 years 100MG 1X day | 3/10/2011 | 5 | cluster migraines | Sometime I get dizzy when I get the whoosh feeling when the drug starts to work. Sometimes a little nausea. | This is the only drug that can completely stop these headaches. I get cluster migraines so severe, that they will come every 4 to 5 hours. I am 47 and spent the first 20 yrs of my life having to just endure these headaches until they went away. This drug saved my life because I could not take the pain anymore. | M | 47 | 20 years 100 4X day | 5/16/2011 | 5 | Migrane. | No side effects at all. | I have suffered from Migraines since the age of 18 & am currently 65 yrs. Typically I get attacks 2 - 4 times per week. Untreated they last 12 to 14 hrs. with violent vomiting & then dry heaves. Pounding spike in the left temple & extreme sensitivity to all stimuli. I tried Inderal (Propranolol) for over a year, hypnosis & chiropractor treatment with no effect on the rate or intensity of attacks. I used Ergotamine for 30 years to abort the attacks. If taken early, at the very first symptoms, it worked most of the time. I would be nauseous with head pain for a few hours, but the full attack would usually be aborted. I took Imitrex for the first time about 15 years ago. It worked the first time & every time since. I've only used the tablets - never the injection. No side effects whatsoever. Partial reduction of pain & other symptoms within 15 minutes & complete relief within 45 to 60 minutes. I've only had 2 full Migraine attacks in the past 15 years. Both times when I was exhausted & slept through the symptoms. Woke with the Migraine in full bloom & could not keep down the tablets. Imitrex has been the answer for me. | M | 65 | 15 years 100mg 4X W | 8/2/2011 | 5 | Severe Migraine | Extreme drowsiness and "foggy" thinking. Medicine works well, and if taken before the migraine becomes too severe, a smaller dose will work as well without as much drowsiness. In a few cases I have had irregular heatbeat after having to take two doses. This med is a life saver, as I have had migraines since age 5. As with all drugs, this may work for some people, and in other people not at all. If you are desperate for relief, at least try it and see if it works for you. The trick is to hit the migraine with meds before it gets too severe. But I have woke with severe migraines and still got relief fairly quickly. I have had a few times that nothing worked, but those were the few times that I should have been in an emergency room. | M | 39 | 8 years 50 mg 1X AN | 8/26/2011 | 5 | Migraines | Seems to take away most migraines. Shot is better for existing migraine. I have suspected my aching hip joints at times are related to my injections of imitrex. Lately my eyes seem overly sensitive to light and my eyes also seem to be feeling kind of strange. Hard to explain. I have wondered if it has something to do with the long term use of Imitrex? | I have to admit that Imitrex has been great for taking away my migraines. I just worry about long term use since it probably has unintentional side effects. Not unlike most drugs. | M | 44 | 20 years 50mg 1X W | 10/4/2011 | 5 | Migraine | None, just the migraine downside symptoms(sleepiness, euphoria, sweating, ect). | For some, Maxalt works better. This is my most responsive triptan. 80% reduction in 1 hour, may need to repeat in 2 hours for bad days, but no big deal. @ $2/pill now without insurance, life is good! | M | 31 | 5 years 100 mg 1X day | 2/22/2012 | 5 | Chronic Migraine | I've been taking Imitrex for 10 years. the shots used to make my chest feel tight. I don't have this effect with the pills. My ability to focus, think and multitask seem to be greatly improved especially 24 hours after treatment. My right arm tends to tingle a bit when I wake up in the AM if I have been sleeping on my right side. Sex takes a bit longer. | I usually take Imitrex with a Fiorinal & Codine tabet. This knocks the migrane dead and aids in sleep. Without this medication my Migrane would increase to the point where I would become extreemly sensitive to light and noise and often vomit. In the past I had no choice but to go home and lock myself in a dark room Elimating of Pepsi and chocolate from my diet has reduce my number of migranes from about 12 per month to about 3-4 per month. I am active and in good physical shape. I am concerned about the long-term effects. | M | 42 | 10 years | 8/17/2006 | 5 | cluster headaches | A slight "flushed" feeling shortly after injection; usually dissipates within a few minutes. | This drug has been a miracle for me. Anyone who understands the pain of cluster headaches knows how desperate you get for relief. After trying various other meds prescribed by my neurologist, and several trips to an ER for injections of Demerol to help me "sleep it off", an ER physician said "Demerol is an addictive narcotic; I'd like to try something else, and if it works, I can write you a prescription and you can inject yourself at home." With these shots, my cluster headaches completely disappear within 10 minutes. The only problem is that on RARE occasions, I have more than 2 headaches within a 24-hour period. (You are only supposed to take 2 doses in a 24-hour period.) This medicine has been a God-send for me. | M | 46 | 4 years | 2/7/2006 | 5 | migraines | A slight 'medicine head' feeling. Migraine would resurface the following day after taking the drug if not taken with something else. | Works very well when taken in conjunction with Ibuprofen. I take approximately 50 mg in pill form along with anywhere from 200-400 mg (1-2 pills) of Ibuprofen at the outset of the headache. This cuts down tremendously on the reccurence of a headache the next day. My neurologist recommended this and it has been great. | M | 36 | 4 years | 4/5/2006 | 5 | Migranes | I took this 4 days after I have surgery for a broken leg. It cured my headache but made my leg feel like somebody just parked a car on it. The pain was WAY worse than the initial injury which require a plate and seven screws. | Works great | M | 43 | 10 years | 8/17/2006 | 5 | M | 55 | 12 years | 8/29/2006 | 5 | Migraine | flushing, fluttery heart, diuresis, some muscular discomfort | This drug has changed my life. I have been taking it since 1992 or so (I was tracking when it would go to market. I thought it was around 1992. I am an early adopter by any measure). I suffer from a cluster/common migraine and can get them 2-8 times a month. My twenties were filled with days with a cold cloth, darkened windows and useless OTC drugs. I looked into all other medicines/remedies that never worked. I tried the first 'gun' style injector and then the epi-pen style and now am on tablets (50 mg). The injections are quicker but less mobile. I keep a tablet in my wallet for security. Tablets are slower but still do the trick. My mother gets little relief from imitrex but it has been an unbelievable godsend for me. Most or all of the symptoms I had I no longer have except for needing to urinate or move my bowels some time after taking it (10-50 mins). no big deal at all. | M | 42 | 14 years | 4/17/2006 | 5 | Migraines / Cluster Headaches | None so far. | Have had migraines since I was about 6 years old. My grandmother has them as well. Once one started, my day was over - spent in bed with someone vigoursly massaging my neck and shoulders and me rubbing my temples, eye lids and wanting to bang my head into the wall over and over. Had heard about Imitrex but not enough "good" insurance to cover it. Once I changed jobs I immediately went to the doctor and they prescribed the 100MG tablet. One table - no more than 30 minutes, 100% gone. Truly amazing. Thankful to God everyday for this relief! | M | 26 | 5 days | 4/19/2006 |
IMITREX (SUMATRIPTAN SUCCINATE): Sumatriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headache, pain, and other migraine symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light/sound). Prompt treatment helps you return to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Sumatriptan belongs to a class of drugs known as triptans. It affects a certain natural substance (serotonin) that causes narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. It may also relieve pain by affecting certain nerves in the brain. Sumatriptan does not prevent future migraines or lessen how often you get migraine attacks. FDA Approval Date: 1996-12-23 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)