At the risk of being a Triptan bore .....

I just wondered how you take them?
I am on Frova. I seem to be taking them one day, not the next, another, not the next, and sometimes then another.
Other times it is two on consecutive days.
Between this I can have anything between 4 and 8 days with none.

Is this typical please?
Is there a typical??? We are all so different.

I also wondered which are the most used and how many a month
So I put a little one of my famous polls.

Forum has been a bit quiet, so please spare a moment to vote.
Just put how many in the line next to the one (or ones ) you take, per month.
If it varies, maybe an average??? Or if you prefer a maximum.

Sorry poll is so basic, cant make it record how many.
Will have to ask for that on a quick post....sorry.
I am sure I took less Imigran than I do Frova, but was 10 years ago...

Thanks.
Pen
PS: For the first time ever I cant go back and edit the poll.....I dont know if it is a glitch or Ronda changed something.
So, it is what it is....sorry if I missed any...

Not sure how you wanted this poll done. hey, how does the frova work for ya, I will be getting that med soon. I think you are right, we are all different and therefore take meds at different times and with different meds. I have tried then all. Some work at times and other times it like taking candy. Treximet has been the best for me but recently its starting to not work as well. Guess i am getting used to it.

Hi,
Thanks for participating.
What I wanted to do was have us put how many a month (roughly) beside what we take.
But the damn stupid poll wont let you do that.
You can only tick which kind. I missed Treximet, dont know that one.
I need to check if we have it under a different name.
Oh its the one with NSAID added isnt it....
So it is Imitrex and naproxen, right.

Frova work pretty well for me Chrissy.
I take up to 12 a month, but can be as few as 9.
They usually start working in about 2 hours, but it can take 4 to reach the most relief.
I have the least side effects with these than with all the others.
AND it lasts longer,maybe up to a whole 24 hours, but at least until I go to sleep...

Hope they work for you.

P

I have been averaging 9 a month for the last few months. This month it will be higher. Lot of stress and it's taken it's toll. I have access to 18 a month so I figure only needing 9 isn't too bad.

I would say that is pretty good too, given what you have been going through.....
Same for me 13 last month for only the second time ever....first time was December last year....and a bug to push it.

I am allowed 18 as well, but told not to take more than 12.....

I wish I could figure out the pattern and shut the MOH ideas out.
I do seem to be taking up to 3 to shift it, but that is over 72 hours and they say that one migraine can last 72 hours.
So more likely migraine coming back than medication wouldnt you say??

Thanks.

Imitrex - about 20 - 30/month

Thanks Angela. Succinct....

Rarely take them (Axert)-- only once for an abortive because I ran out of my Migranol. I have used them as a preventative on occasion and they have worked 100% for that.

I had forgotten that Linda,. I will have to try that.
I seem to sleep them off so if I take one after about 8pm it is gone in the morning.
I dont know why this, but must be something to do with the fact that I get the migraines when I sleep at night.
I will try though.

Looking as if Imitrex and Maxalt are the most used....

I take imitrex and maxalt....between the two I get 27 a month. The imitrex I get the 100mg, but only take the 50mg dose so I cut them in half...so it's like getting twice the amount of pills. I have more than I need to make the month. My doctors don't care how many I take...as long as I stay out of their hair.

I think we are limited here because of the NHS. I can have 18, but as I said told not to take more than 12 because of.....drum roll......rebound.....

It seems more in the States that if they can be paid for you can have them.
And yes, it keeps you out of their hair.

I cant work out whether rebound is overblown here, or underplayed there...

I havent yet encountered anyone who admits to Triptan rebound.
But with the level of head pains we all get and the conflicting qualifications for rebound.
It is really hard to say either way.

I used to cut the Imigran as well. 50mg was plenty. 100 mg left me feeling like a plump dwarf was sitting on my chest.
Doesnt seem as if anyone ever maxes out with their Triptans.
Also seems they work on the whole.

Varies between 4-12, average 8. Maxalt-Mlt.

Chris

I am in the same boat as ShelliB as far as getting triptans. I can get all I want. In fact, for awhile they were automatically filling them at the
pharmacy every month without me even going in. I picked them up anyway for a stash but then quit. I have more than I need and it isn't my first choice for abortives. They must be relatively safe to have an unlimited supply. I don't know why some people only get so many a month. I think it is all about money.

Zero to two maxalts a month. I just got a prescription for cafergot suppositories so I'll be giving that a go, I think today because I woke up with a migraine.

lentils wrote:Zero to two maxalts a month. I just got a prescription for cafergot suppositories so I'll be giving that a go, I think today because I woke up with a migraine.

Wow less than 2. That is amazing. I wish I could do that. These days I need 2 to get rid of a migraine.
I envy you.

P

I have a script for 8 Frova/month. I use them all.

I have taken all the triptans. Axert works sometimes but I no longer have an active script.

Maxalt and Zomig are evil. They make me think I am dieing.

Ah, another Frova user. Do you find they are slow to work, but last longer as I do?
I almost always need 2 for a migraine these days, and sometimes it seems 3.
But they are still the best I have had. Next to that would be Maxalt.

Just wondering if the few people that have kindly responded are our only Triptan users...
I know they dont suit a lot of people, but thought it would be more of us.
I seem to be left with nothing else....

P

I do wonder Pen if you could have more, if they would take care of your migraines. I know some people take them everyday. If you took them everyday, it would take the MOH out of the equation.

I guess it would in theory Linda. My problem with them is I seem to sleep off the benefits.
They can last 24 hours. If I hold out and take one later in the day. It will see me through until I sleep at night.,
Then It just goes away (the effect)

If I take one early in the morning it makes it take an extra hour or two to work and worse S/E
If I doze off. No one else see to get this.

They will give me 18, but WARN me not to take more than 12....
They are a mixed blessing because of the side effects and slow to work.
But they are all I have. At my age as I say, quality is outweighing Quantity.

P

That is what I figure. What good is living if you feel horrible--just to live longer filling horrible. I am so lucky I have something that works, but if I didn't I would resort to whatever it took even if it was painkillers and I became a zombie. I have a high tolerance for just about any pain but not migraine.

Pen,

I'm not sure I follow (I know you aren't feeling real good). So you wait to take them until later in the day because then you sleep off the s/e, right? If you take them during the day, you have to deal with the s/e. If that's what you meant - I know what you mean. Granted I don't have horrid s/e, just make me tired. So taking one at night isn't a bad thing.

Do all have the same s/e for you? I know there are only a few that work. Might be stupid question, but have you tried the other variety of abortives?

Sorry, try again. Yes we are having this great bug so probably making even less sense than usual.

Almost all of my migs. start in the night and I wake with them.
Sometimes I am not sure what it is (as I have myofascial pain as well), so I take OTC.
These can help a little sometimes. But if after 2 hours (they are slow for me) things are no better or worse.
Then I hit the Triptan. Because I get up late (Fibro). It can be almost noon by then.
So by the time the Frova has kicked in it can be 2 or as much as 5pm.
They will last me up to 24 hours, but I will go to bed and the good effect is lost when I go to sleep.

A lot of people get relief if they sleep I know. I have to NOT sleep....
Not because of sleeping off the s/e, but because i sleep off the good effects, or sleep on more pain...not sure.
On the odd occasion, like today when with this bug it has hit my head. If I take a triptan now 6pm.
By the time it kicks in, I will get maybe 3 hours relief, then sleep and tomorrow it will be all gone and I will need another.
This means taking even more, and possibly not having enough....

Maxalt used to make me so sleepy I tried to only take them later in the day.
Frova dont do that and the s/e are the most minimal.
I have had all the Triptans, and not been offered any other "abortives" I think.

Does that make any more sense....probably not

Made more sense. I had it backwards. Go figure.

If you have 18 a month, then why not vary the program a little. Why not take one right off the bat in the morning? If it does nothing, then take some OTC.

I know you track your usage. Do you have more than 18 M days a month? If you do, I can understand why you do the things you do. Otherwise, maybe it would help the quality of life.

Just a thought.

It's a good thought. My husband would agree with you. It is just the more and more thing that bothers me.
I see people on here take more than me. But it seems to be more acceptable in America than in the UK.

To be honest, if they worked faster and even less side effects I would just go for it.
But on some days, and they are erratic...they are slow and the S/E are long lasting.
So that is my day over.....

Do I get more than 18 migraine days a month.....probably yes.
I get more since I was told to knock back the OTC....

I0 years ago I was taking 6 Imigran and up to 120 OTC a month.
I have the OTC down to about 25 a month, but I have more pain.
So with the myofascial, which can run into migraine, or even linger, after I am never sure what I am dealing with.
I dont have any other real indicators. Almost never any nausea, just a bucket load of pain.
No aura, so not idea really sure which is which. If I took a Frova every time the pain hits I could easily take one most days....
They are not going to agree to that....

Thanks for trying to make sense of it with me.