Doctors On Call

Imitrex – invaluable tool in treating migraines

Migraine is a neurovascular disorder which affects a number of people and is characterized by extreme painful headaches and nausea in most cases. Although it is a rather common condition, there is still very little that we know about the exact causes of migraine headaches. The treatment of migraines usually involves some sort of pain-relieving drugs and antiemetics to fight the nausea. Migraines can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and can include additional symptoms such as vomiting due to nausea, increased sensitivity to light and sound, while one third of people suffering from migraines experience something which is called an aura, a strange sensory experience that tells them migraine is going to occur soon. Migraine headaches are more common in women than in men and it is suspected that hormones play a significant role in the risk of developing migraines.

Imitrex is one of the medications that are used in treatment of migraines and it is a triptan sulfa drug. Imitrex works in such a way that it alleviates the inflammation of the blood vessels that are associated with migraine headaches. It also has an effect on cluster headaches, most probably because of its effect on the trigeminal nerve. Imitrex comes in a variety of forms, as tablets, as nasal spray and as injections. It has to be accentuated that Imitrex is not used as prevention of migraine attacks, nor will it reduce the number of migraine episodes in the future. It is only an immediate treatment of migraine headaches that have started. Also, it should not be taken for treating other types of headaches, except for cluster headaches.

Precautions that need to be taken when using Imitrex

Imitrex is a very powerful medication and it can therefore have an effect on many medical conditions that one might suffer from. For example, Imitrex has an effect on the cardiovascular system which makes this medication not indicted for use in people who suffer from such cardiovascular problems like angina, coronary heart disease, circulation problems and a lack of supply of blood to your heart. Any history of strokes, heart attacks or heart disease will also mean that you will most likely not be prescribed with Imitrex. Uncontrolled hypertension, severe liver disease, ischemic bowel disease are also conditions that will prevent you from using Imitrex for your migraines. There are also some conditions that will not prevent you from taking Imitrex, but which need to be taken into consideration when taking Imitrex, like liver and kidney disease, seizure disorders like epilepsy, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias and high blood pressure. It is very important that you take Imitrex as prescribed and not exceed the dosage as this might lead to serious health problems. Another good idea would be to find out as much as possible about your Imitrex treatment, the side effects, interactions and things like that from either your doctor or the pharmacist. This will ensure that your Imitrex treatment will be beneficial and that your migraines will be less severe than ever.