if anyone takes imigran here 100mg for Migraine i wonder if they can answer this?.

I have Imigran to take as well as Amitriptyline and i have my Migraines every 11days to one every two weeks at the moment. It says you should not take it too often. But how often is ok then? Does anyone know?. I suppose it means every day or something.

[Juliapester3]

Hi, my dr says you can take 8 triptans per month, anymore and you,re risking MOH. I don't think you're supposed to take too much amytryptiline with triptans as it can cause serotonin syndrome,(not sure what yr dosage amitryptiline is) but every Dr,s opinion seems to be different. My Dr was happy to give me 10mg of amitryptiline per day on top of triptans but I only took it for four days as didn't like the side effects! Hope this helps

[grasshopper in reply to Juliapester3]

What is MOH? thanks

[Juliapester3 in reply to grasshopper]

Medication overuse headache

[Hidden in reply to Juliapester3]

Im only on 20mg of amitriptyline at moment,thats a very low dose. I find it works better with the Sumatriptan (imigran) to get rid of the Migraine if i can catch it and take the Sumatriptan in time that is.

[katya2]

8 triptans a month is 4 days of migraine at 2 doses a day UK reckoning. In Oz and NZ the recommended dose of triptans is 3 a day (that is why maxalt melt, another triptan, comes in packs of 3). On that basis 4 days of migraine a month equals 12 triptans a month. More than 12 triptans or 4 days of headache a month is definitiely too much. Between 8 and 12 is a grey area. Could argue UK is more worried about triggering overdose headaches or more worried about buying expensive triptans - take your pick of motives.

It is worth keeping a headache diary and counting how many triptans you take. My doctor prescribed 36 which lasted me 5 months. I worked on the basis that if I had to keep going I took upto 3 triptans a day and if I could collapse and rest I took none so my average was 7 triptans a month and i had no trouble getting a repeat prescription. If your diary shows that your headaches are getting more frequent you need to go back to your doctor regardless of how many triptans you are taking, Good luck and congratulations on persevering with getting the right headache management regime. It takes time but is worth doing.

[Juliapester3 in reply to katya2]

Hi katya, I think we,ve spoken on here before. I get approx 5/6 migraines per month and so medicate with caution and only take when I really need to. That does mean that I would normally take one tablet per migraine and therefore sometimes six times per month. Do you think I should be medicating only four but with more triptans. I know there is no hard and fast rule here but wondered what you have been told? I,m always worrying aout making it worse! Thanks Julia

[katya2 in reply to Juliapester3]

Hi Julia, I get fewer migraines than you - 2-3 a month. If 1 take 1 triptan and keep going it will keep pain at bay for 5 hrs max then I will need to take another one. I have a friend who takes a triptan and a painkiller, goes to bed with an ice pack and the migraine clears up. I have not tried this yet so don't know if it would work for me. As you say there are no rules just trial and error. Sorry not to be more helpful.

[Hidden in reply to Juliapester3]

I just dont know how you cope with that many Migraines, im lucky really im only having about one every two weeks at the moment.

[Murphy123]

I take sumatriptan injections for days when I wake with migraine as have migraines 3-4 days on a good month but do find that the migraines keep coming back so try not to take too much triptan. I also have zomig spray for non-menstrual migraine days and frovatriptan that I take - 2 days into first 4 days of period (only take the other triptans if I have too). My doctor and migraine specialist have advised not to take too many triptans or painkillers for anything other than migraine to avoid MOH.

[sckd69]

MOH = medication overuse headache

migrainetrust.org/medicatio...

[Pattipan]

You lucky people only having a few migraines every month. I've been keeping daily records since 2010 (though I've been having migraines since 1970) and the only time I've taken as few Zomig as 11 was May 2010! I average 17 a month and they usually work really well to get rid of my pain within two hours (a single orodispersible 2.5 mg dose) I don't always take the triptan early enough, only succumbing when I can't tolerate the pain and inconvenience any longer and just occasionally I get a headache which responds to paracetamol. I've tried every preventative, including GONI and am now waiting for Botox. I'm sure I am suffering from MOH, but what do you do when the medication works and the alternative is intolerable?

[woodlog]

The neurologists who treat migraine recommend a maximum of ten doses of imigran a month and only if you are absolutely desperate but it does depend upon the individual. Most migraineurs take too much imigran and become dependent: the drug causes far more headaches than the migraine itself.

[Emma1024]

You should ask the pharmacist or your GP for details to confirm. You might also want to google 'medication overuse headache'. I think the recommended limit for triptans (including Imigran) - to avoid generating what is called 'rebound headache' - is that you should not take them on more than 10 days per month.

[babs1234]

Wish I had found this before. I wake up every morning with a migraine. I was on Tryptiline for a year but it was sending me loopy also the pain was starting to come through it. I now try to live with it taking Imigran when I know I have to go somewhere, where I can't tolerate having the pain. I have been referred to a Neurologist and am waiting with hope for an appointment soon. I will keep you updated