Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Hurdity on November 24, 2017, 04:48:35 PM
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I am wondering if any of you have experience of this medication?
Those of you who know me will know I have an aversion to meds and take a minimum - so only the 3 common pain-killers and occasionally antibiotics (HRT doesn't count as medication!).
I have had migraines for about 15 years probably but was only diagnosed about 5 years ago as I didn't realise they were migraines due to no aura and probably mild compared to some who get them. However someone (on here I think) recommended Sumotriptan so I went to the doctor who prescribed me some to try because it would be great to have something to alleviate them during the migraine.
I was extremely nervous about using them because they constrict blood vessels and I didn't really want to take anything that has this effect, but have just been having a migraine (started on Weds) and yesterday morning decided to try one rather than my usual pain-killers and feeling awful. The effect was remarkable as within half an hour the headache had gone and the horrible foggy head had lifted. However by the evening and when I went to bed it had returned but I didnt want to take another one (sumatriptan) so took a paracetamol and then two aspirin in the night - none of which worked.
I had something important I needed to do this morning that I was responsible for so needed to be on the ball so after very little sleep took another one at 6.30 am and again the effect was miraculous! The headache and foggy head completely disappeared.
What I am wondering is, whether any of you take these and whether the headache always rebounds once the medication has worn off? At the moment it's still working but was wondering if taking it prolongs the migraine attack - mine usually persist for 3-4 days? I find the nights the worst because although it's not a banging headache it is there all the time and hurts to lay my head and nothing seems to work for long so I end up with a very restless night and feel awful the next day.
Any experiences of this medication - how long you take it for eg day and night, or how many during a migraine - would be great - as I have nothing to go on (instructions are a bit vague). I would have taken it at night as well but was worried about then having to take another one this monring due to what I had to do....
As an aside I note in the leaflet it says not advisable if over 65 and I'm a gnat's whisker away from this age....
Sorry a bit rambling but hope someone can help!
Hurdity x
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My daughter my husband and myself take sumatriptan.
My daughter and husband get heamaplegic migraines ( which they have no choice but to take them as theses are stroke like migraines ).
I get a 3 day one most months with my period , but only need to take one every 3/4 months but none of us get rebounds no.
I hate medication also , but sometimes I / they get so desperate.
However husband and I are trialling magnesium and it's definitely reducing the migraines / headaches.
There is a lot of evidence for magnesium and migraines , and migraine specialists are now prescribing it .
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I've been taking these for a few years as have suffered with migraines most of my life. I find they work best if I take them when I know I'm going to get a migraine (I know the signs) as they don't work quite as well once it's full blown. Sometimes I need to take up to 3 during the day or night. But each migraine is different sometimes one works. You can take up to six in 24hours. Before I had them I would end up in bed for 2 or 3 days but with them I can carry on. Hope this help.
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What's with the age restriction? Surely if it works at aged 64 and one gains relief, quality of Life is better than worrying about being 65+. Headaches of course can be caused by dehydration or by bounce back when someone uses far too much pain 'relief'.
Wonder what the advice is as to how long the relief is expected to last?
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Before I joined the forum I remember reading Elizabeth Rose' advice on migraines as I too suffer but like you Hurdity, I never realised they were actual migraines as it's not a 'banging' headache but it isn't a pleasant experience. I also have had one this week and I do tend to get them just before a period.
If you type Sumatriptan into the search box, there are a lot of threads where it is mentioned and a lot of the migraine threads with Elizabeth Rose' advice.
With regards the age restriction. Found this on google.
Who might need a lower sumatriptan dose or extra monitoring?
Adults aged over 65 years and children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Sumatriptan is not licensed for use in children or elderly people, but may sometimes be prescribed by a specialist or doctor with particular experience in migraine.
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Thanks for your comments - I'm not looking for expertise in migraines especially but just some personal experiences of sumatriptan itself and specifically for the type of non-aura ordinary migraines like I get, and what happens if you keep taking them. I sort of got the impression that if you took one and it went it would stay away so was quite surprised (and disappointed to find it returned last eve but was worried about taking another tab. I just didn't want a rebound especially as it affects blood vessels. I haven't yet done a search - silly me!
There is no advice in the leaflet (well I skimmed it) about how long relief should last - but instructions about taking a second one if it disappears immediately but returns after two hours, but not to take any more if the first one doesn't work, and also not to take more than a certain number in 24 hours. If one has never taken them before it's difficult to fathom out what's best to do. So far it hasn't come back as a migraine although I can now feel a slight headache returning at the top/side of my head. It (the relief) seems to last a pretty long time so not at all like a pain-killer.
Yes who knows what's with the age restriction CLKD? It's like the pill and all sorts of meds - I think there is a risk of stroke with older people and this can potentially add to this risk - apparently it raises blood pressure (but mine is very low normally). Also not studied in people of this age group. However I've been given the lowest dose so.....
Mostly I do know when what I am experiencing is going to turn into a migraine but now and again I get a slight something that goes after 24 hours - so nothing needed there!
Snoooze maybe you would benefit from these too? If yours last over several days and nights and prevent you sleeping/functioning properly then give them a go. If this really stays away I will be wondering why I didn't ask for them years ago. In fact when the doc first diagnosed them she didn't suggest anything for them so I didn't ask - assuming there wasn't anything apart from normal pain-killers!
Anyway thanks for those who have given their experiences and comments - very helpful! :)
Hurdity x
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My teenage son takes it, he is under 18 but was prescribed off license by consultant. The reason why it is not prescribed for older sufferers is because of stroke/heart problems being more common in that age group, my son had to get agreement from his cardiologist as he had Kawasaki disease as a toddler and more caution has to be taken with anyone with a heart condition.
He finds it switches off a migraine if taken early enough, he looks like he is having a menopausal flush after he takes it though!
He seems to get more rebound headaches from other medications than he does the sumatriptan.
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Do you mean that stroke is likely to be a problem after 65 due to taking this medication if so, why not put the patient on statins :-\ to counteract the risk?
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Thanks Tinkerbell - It did come back overnight so had another restless night but didn't take anything and woke feeling awful again. It should really have gone by now but took another Suma and it went again. The test will be tonight because if it comes back it's definitely prolonged it even though it gives really good and long temporary relief without having to take all those painkillers!
Sparkle I have wondered about this but I've been on HRT for 10 years but started getting migraines for the first time before I was even peri-menopausal - in the late repro stage I started getting pre-mesntrual migraines. Later I got them still on the prog withdrawal part of the HRT so still part of the same cause, and then also on the progesterone part of HRT so there has been a partial link. Not on this (prog) part at the moment though.. However it seems something was set off so that multiple triggers seem to cause them now! eg alcohol too much or too late in the evening (but not early on or with plenty of water and caffeine!), too many neck lifting exercises in Pilates or other exercise classes, (doc said thrse might be cervicogenic headaches), driving into sunlight and things I've no idea about. This one followed the exercise class last week so could have been that.
The gynae I went to see about testosterone said that low T can cause headaches and many women find relief once they start (but in my case made no difference). My female GP said low oestrogen can cause them but my oestrogen level is fine as far as I know - I don't get flushes or swetas, and apart from starting T two years ago I've been on the same regime for all this time and the frequency hasn't changed! Symptoms were so unpleasant when I stopped HRT that I dread doing that even to try and at my age probably best just to carry on....(my mum has osteoporosis and has had several bone breaks). I don't get migraines that often but it's just a pest that they last several days and I feel rubbish and get very tired!
CLKD I'm not worrying about strokes at this point - have got high cholesterol but good ration of total to HDL and low stroke risk according to the online thing and my lifestyle. Hopefully when I reach 65 and these tabs seem to do the tirck then she will take this into account. No point in taking unnecessary medication to counteract a potential risk from another unnecessary medication eh?!
Thanks everyone for commenting. Hopefully this one will be gone for good....
Hurdity x
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Hurdity - I have a total contradiction to stroke risk apart from a cholesterol of 7.5. But my GP insists on statins because they know that they work. I have upped my exercise regime, altered my diet whereas my husband is trying to bring his level of 7.5 down by that method, i.e. diet and more exercise and is not taking statins (different GP, same surgery). How is your diet? Could it be low blood sugar or dehydration causing your symptoms, headaches are well known to occur without being related to hormones.
What is a 'cerviogenic headache' for goodness sake and if the 'doc' suspected such, then a cervical spine X-ray should have been requested. Wear and tear can cause all kinds of aches and pains.
Any headache should be investigated unless it's 'within normal limits'. If I get the hint of a headache I have to take Nurofen immediately or I get sick to my stomach. Have never had migraines for which I feel very fortunate. However ........... :-\
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My hubby has these for his migraines and they work very well if taken at the right time. However, with migraines you can get them in clusters so you may be ok for a few hours and it can come back the next day or even up to four. He tends to get these around a change of weather/season and also if there is weather depressions. There is a weather website that gives a migraine predictor which may help.
He's tried a few preventatives but none of them really work. I keep telling him to try the botox ..will help the wrinkles as well :) He now takes a supplement which is magnesium, B its and Feverfew, not actually sure if it helps though but can't do any harm!
You're not supposed to take too many in a month either. With the stroke risk it may be because people who have migraines are supposed to be at greater risk but of course it depends on you, BP, weight etc I guess a doctor would assess and decide whether to let you carry on once you get to 65.
Migraines are still a bit of a mystery to the medical world (bit like meno lol), we can't find the trigger other than than dehydration, some stress and low blood sugar/not eating.
Hope you get some relief soon Hurdity!
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I have a headache this morning because I didn't take my over-night medication - it is as expected, leaving me tired.
Any relief overnight? Maybe as you often suggest, check your diet, gentle exercise and I would suggest, check hydration levels. Keeping a mood/symptom/food diary etc. etc. etc. ...........
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Thank-you - yes all gone now I'm pleased to say. Slept heavily but woke at 5.30 with another headache so took paracetamol and it didn't come back though felt wiped out for a few hours when I woke (more so than usual) which I'm sure was to do with the Sumatriptan. I feel it did prolong the migraine (by a day) although I got total relief (apart from feeling a bit weird) for approx 12 hours after taking it each time enabling me to have 3 normal days even though nights were not! In the end I looked up online as well, and did find that some women experienced rebounds and longer migraines when using triptans - but it's great to have the relief though :)
I do of course follow my own advice re diet, exercise, lifestyle, and liquid intake, and especially re stabilising blood sugar - as I'm always going on about it!! I pretty well know what brings on the migraines in my case but always interesting to read others take on things. However it was specifically experiences of this medication I wanted to find out - since it was completely new to me and there is only so much you can get from the info leaflet/SPC so thanks to all of you who have commented. Btw have discussed headaches with doc several times over the years....they would be concerned if they occurred frequently but fortunately only every few weeks still horrible though. (Cervicogenic = arising from neck)..... until next time
Cheers girls
Hurdity x
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Yep Hurdity I understand what it means: however, the GP should have sent you for cervical spine X-rays - that's the only way to see if there is any damage etc..
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I have hemiplegic migraine, and after trying several different triptans, due to rebound , my neuro suggested frovatriptan, which lasts much longer, and is especially successful in treating hormonally driven migraine. Its not invincible, but it's the best yet!.
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Thanks for that Bea66. Mine aren't hormonal but worth knowing what others have tried. They also aren't serious migraines ie I don't need to consult anyone apart from GP as they don't happen often enough - but I'm belatedly (after 5 years since knowing they were migraines) trying to seek some relief if I'm going to carry on getting them regularly for years to come. The doc only prescribed 1 pack of 6 and I've used half of them so will have to go back anyway after the next migraine. When you say it lasted much longer - how long was this? The suma.. lasted definitely at least 12 hours but then started to get twinges or if I went to bed thinking it had gone it came back in the night but I wanted until morning to take another (to get through the day without being too weedy!).
Hurdity x
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Hi Hurdity
I don't use any form of triptan these days (tried many types of triptan, tablet and nasal spray over the years) as if I don't take it exactly at the right time, at the start of the vile neck pain and knots, it doesn't work and just makes me feel drowsy, faint, very dehydrated and all-round ghastly on top of the migraine - plus makes night sweats worse. If I do happen to take it at the right time, I can often get rebound, the migraine can recur - it's as if it has to have the last word! - or it will start up on the left side (mine are always right sided). Also have read that they're contra-indicated when post-menopausal - as you know triptans constrict the dilated blood vessels in the brain and in other parts of the body too, ie. heart. I get really bad palpitations during a migraine and have a history of heart disease in the family, low BP and dizzy spells so those factors were another decider in not taking the triptan.
Just recovering from a hideous, vile 3 day migraine that was not progesterone (Utrogestan) so can't blame that, just hormonal imbalance, low oestrogen, who the hell knows. One Neurologist told me to take high dose dispersible aspirin - and that is my go-to med - Alka Seltzer as the effervescence helps absorption. If I'm particularly nauseous and can't keep anything down, then I'll use rectal Paracetamol (on prescription from GP), they're not very effective but better than nothing. Daily (Solgar) Magnesium Citrate and B2 (Riboflavin) seems to help a tad in prevention.
I never stop reading about migraine (migraine.com is a good site) as in my experience it is an absolute disability that scares the life out of me, is life changing and life restricting. I've had neck X-rays, the result of which was: 'general wear and tear' - not very helpful.
Sorry, hope this is not too gloomy. It's a rotten condition to have to cope with Hurdity, you have my sympathies. can't really type properly at the monet as just in recovery from 3-day monster mig.
J x
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Hello Night_Owl - good to see you and thanks for your comments especially about triptans - very helpfpul. When I read about you I feel bad for even starting a post because I've said all along mine are not really bad ones - I'm not confined to bed in a darkened room, nor am I sick - although I feel nauseous some of the time and have light/sound aversion. It's the persistence of them when they start that I find debilitating ie I am not normal for 3-4 days and just mope about the place taking pain-killers and the nights are often long and I wake up so tired (more than normal) which is why I wanted some advice on meds - but they are nothing, nothing compared to yours. Thank-you for your sympathy but really I have so much sympathy for you and anyone who has them like you do - and I don't normally discuss or mention them because mine are not major...
The neck thing is interesting - basically I don't get them (migraines) often enough for anyone to do anything. My GP suggested acupuncture for my neck!!!!
I might read up about Magnesium and migraines as several have mentioned this and I don't know about it's medicinal use apart from stomach (as in Milk of Mag which is great stuff!) and I know my diet won't be deficient.
Mine are more on the right side too - ends up in the centre middle right of head but all over sometimes so I can't lie on my side in bed and have to lie on my back - and snore - waking my husband up!!
Anyway so sorry to hear you've just had another bad one and that yours are generally no better and hoping you recover soon.
:bighug:
Thanks so much for commenting - I have been wondering how you are these days.
Take care :)
Hurdity xx
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I have been taking Sumatriptan for long while @ 10 years. They only work if they are taken as soon as you feel the migraine is coming on. Although, when I have not been able to tell if it's a migraine or headache, I don't take it immediately the pain lingers for longer. And another migraine may come on later in the day.
I noticed that I was getting strong side effects like pain in joints especially knee, and one brand caused more side effects than another. But the pharmacist was having difficulty getting the brand that didnt hv side effects.
I've had acupuncture for other issues like depression & anxiety, and noticed this kept the migraines at bay for many months, about 6 months maybe. I am now taking 1300mg of Evening Primrose Oil per day and these seem to hv kept migraines at bay for past couple of months as well as help with pmt symptoms during Utrogeston phase.
I hope this helps.
Chikabee
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Hi ladies
I suffer from migraines and went on hrt thinking it would help them but alas not I take Zolmitriptan 5mg when I get migraines but I am also guilty of not taking it as soon as I get one I hate taking tablets And I am aware of the rebound factor and that's why I hope it goes but a proper migraine never goes I get them mainly on left side of head but then Also all over my head I have tryed many a preventative which didn't work, I have had head scan and seen a neurologist but I did see a headache doctor and she was great and understood exactly what I was going through as she suffered with migraines also and that was her reason for becoming a headache doctor she has given me nortriptyline 10mg but taking 3 at night have been taking these since Oct 2017 and :hapij: :hapij:fingers crossed I think I am getting somewhere I usually have a migraine about 2 a week and I am sometimes sick with the pain and can't cope but when I take the Zolmitriptan usually within an hour the pain lifts and then I'm human again but they do tend to leave me with a fuzzy head I have tried everything to see if it causes them, leave off coffee, cheese, wheat, sugar, chocolate you name it I've tried it but to all those that suffer with migraines you have my sympathy it's not just a headache .but my migraines can last up to 3 days and so having to take the Zolmitriptan for the 3 days but as I only get 6 in a pack I'm having to ask for repeats often . I know keep having migraines can be a risk of strokes but until someone can come up with why we get. Migraines then it's a bit hard to control them .but if I could not get them for some reason I don't know what I would do as that is the only tablet that works for me .
Js
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Sumatriptan I know doesn't work when the pain is already there. I get horrible back of the head headaches and when I know one is pending the tablets work for me then otherwise Intake two paras and two ibuprofen and that usually works for me but we're all different 😃