Imitrex – the Best Drug to Treat Migraines
Imitrex is a potent drug applied to treat cluster headaches and migraines. It relieves pain sensations and improves the symptoms overall. This medication is the most effective for migraines.
| Drug Name | Doses | Per Pill | Visit Pharmacy |
| Generic Imitrex | 25 mg | $6.01 |  |
| Generic Imitrex | 100mg, 50mg, 25mg | $3.00 | |
Get Rid of Migraine Headache with Imitrex
Imitrex is a medication first presented to the US pharmaceutical market 30 years ago. Every year, millions of people save themselves from migraines by using this drug. Its efficacy rate reaches 82% in people with migraine headaches and 77% in those dealing with cluster headaches.
Whatever your reason to seek treatment with Imitrex, you have to keep in mind that it’s a prescriptive preparation, and it has a wide range of precautions and contraindications for use. The only way to minimize your risks for unwanted reactions is to consult a doctor and stick to all the advice you’ll get.
Imitrex. What Do You Need to Know About It?
When searching for Imitrex on the web, you may come across the name sumatriptan. This is a generic name of the medication. This substance belongs to the class of triptan drugs, which are intended to manage the symptoms of headache and other sensations related to migraines and cluster headache. The peculiarity of this drug is that it can relieve the symptoms, yet cannot prevent new episodes of the disease or cure it.
The mechanism of action of Imitrex is not totally understood yet. However, scientists presuppose that its effects result from the impact on the levels of Calcitonin gene-related peptide. The latter is believed to increase the sensitization of the trigeminal nerve, which leads to severe headache, nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity characteristic of migraines. Sumatriptan inhibits the production of the mentioned peptide, thus improving the disease symptoms.
How to Take Imitrex? General Advice on In take
Imitrex comes in tablet form, nasal spray, and injections. The dosages depend on the medical form you choose to use. Tablets are available in 50 mg and 100 mg dosage strengths, whereas spray contains 20 mg of the active substance per unit. Talk to your doctor to choose which medical form is better for you and what dosage is more appropriate in your case.
If you decide to take Imitrex pills, use them right after you feel the first symptoms of migraine. The sooner you administer the drug, the sooner it will help you. Usually, the drug needs about two-three hours to come into effect. If your symptoms won’t improve within this time, you may take another dose of the medication after a consultation with a doctor. Slight improvements in your condition allow taking another dose of the drug two hours after the first one to fully relieve the symptoms. The maximum safe daily dose of sumatriptan is 200 mg. Never exceed it, as this will lead to overdose.
People who have migraines more than 10 days a month should limit their use of Imitrex as such a frequent intake of the drug may result in the so-called medication overuse headache.
Who Shouldn’t Use Imitrex Pills?
The treatment with Imitrex may impose some negative effects on your cardiovascular health condition. A number of other health issues may also get worse because of sumatriptan use. To make sure you can use the medication safely, contact your GP for medical advice. The conditions that should stop you from taking Imitrex include:
- Pregnancy and lactation (safety hasn’t been proven);
- Allergy to sumatriptan or other similar drugs;
- Arrhythmia;
- Heart attacks in medical history;
- A history of stroke;
- Seizures;
- Problems related to blood circulation;
- Chest pain;
- Hepatic disorder.
Some comorbidities can make you more prone to adverse effects affecting heart health. They include diabetes, arterial hypertension, obesity, and heart disease.
Imitrex Side Effects
The unwanted reactions related to the intake of Imitrex affect about 2% of users. The most common of them are:
- Pain or the feeling of pressure in the chest;
- Vertigo;
- Fatigue;
- Trouble sleeping;
- Flushing or vice versa, the sensation of cold;
- Drowsiness;
Talk to a doctor concerning the possibility of easing such unwanted reactions. Go to the nearest clinic if any severe reactions occur, like mood swings, worsening of hearing, cold feet and hands. Immediate medical attention is required if you develop rare but severe reaction, including chest pain, heart rhythm changes, increased sweating, seizure, etc.