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[Hurdity]

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

[Maryjane]

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 .

[Tm]

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.

[CLKD]

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?

[Snoooze]

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.

[Hurdity]

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

[Tinkerbell]

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.

[CLKD]

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?

[Hurdity]

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

[CLKD]

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 ........... 

[wombat62]

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!

[CLKD]

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. ...........

[Hurdity]

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

[CLKD]

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..

[Bea66]

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!.