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Share your experience: submit a drug review
Below are Imitrex (Sumatriptan) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 18 ratings/reviews, Imitrex has an overall score of 8.89. The effectiveness score is 9.33 and the side effect score is 8.22. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence. | | Imitrex review by 44 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | |   |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100mg taken 3-6/month for the period of 5 years |
| Other conditions: | | peri-menopause |
| Other drugs taken: | | nsaids | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | the only complete relief from one sided headache and nausea |
| Side effects: | | slight fatigue occasional tachycardia |
| Comments: | | I was prescribed 100mg dosage pills, which are about the same price ($15/pill) as 50 mg. Taking a whole pill gave me relief but also a light headed sensation and odd heartbeat. I bit the pills in two to take approx. 50mg. Gradually my system became inured to it's effects and I had to take the whole pill, also occasionally it just doesn't work anymore. I have long lasting recurring headaches and have always been worried about overuse and rebound headaches, but so far, so good. |
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| | Imitrex review by 55 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraine headaches |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100 mg taken as needed for the period of I have been taking as needed for 6 years |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Complete relief from pain with one 100 mg tablet. Alleviated the sensitivity to light, noise and nausea. Symptoms would abate in one to two hours. |
| Side effects: | | A little "fuzzy headed" until it took effect. |
| Comments: | | This is taken as needed. It works best to take at the onset of the migraine and not to wait to see if will go away. |
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| | Imitrex review by 58 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100mg taken as needed every month for the period of 8 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | this drug will make a migriane sufferer inot a real believer in modern medicine--it really gets rid of the headache and allows you to live. I could not be more positive |
| Side effects: | | if I take more than four over a few days I will get very tired |
| Comments: | | take a pill --headache goes away in half an hour or less---if you are very tuned in and take it a the first twinge youcan avoid the headache totally |
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| | Imitrex review by 48 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migrain |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50mg taken when a migraine was coming on for the period of 10 years |
| Other conditions: | | arthritis |
| Other drugs taken: | | diclofenac sodium | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | As soon as I felt a migraine coming on, I would feel very tired and feel dizzy at first and then the headache would come a little later. As soon as I could feel the headache I would take one tablet and within half an hour to an hour the headache would go and I would feel a lot better but still a little odd, a not quite 'here' feeling |
| Side effects: | | I don't think I have any side effects as such but I usually feel a little odd and very tired after a migraine but not sure if that is the after effects of the migraine or a side effect of taking Imigran. Before I was given these by my doctor my migrains lasted for 3 days with severe headache and nausea. |
| Comments: | | My doctor told me to take one as you feel a migraine coming on, if it does not work it is not worth taking another one but this rarely happens. If the headache goes but comes back I can take another one, I tend to do this if the attack is servere, I might need to take two or even three over two or three days but generally I find one tablets works. I have been taking it for approx 10 years or so. |
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| | Imitrex review by 59 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraine Headaches |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50 miligrams (dosage frequency: as needed, as often as 10-16 per a month) for the period of 1994 to present |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Within 30 minutes for injections to 2 hours for caplets I was pain free and functional.
I had gone camping and run out of Imitrex. I was in pain for about 14 hours when I was taken to a little emergency clinic. They gave me an injection of 50 miligrams and in about 15 minutes I was pain free and feeling normal. |
| Side effects: | | Sometimes a little queasiness if taken on an empty stomach. Sometimes a little fatigue and a feeling of slight slowness. |
| Comments: | | My insurance only covers 9 pills every 28 days, so my physician prescribes 100 miligram caplets and I cut them in half to give more dosages. The caplets work well if the migraine is caught early. I most often wake up with the migraine starting and will take my pill and lie back down with a cold cloth or ice pack for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how advanced the pain is.
If I catch it really early the pain stops progressing and I feel well with in 30 minutes to an hour.
If the maigraine has progressed too far the caplets don't work and I use a self injection of the 50 miligram dosage which works within 30 to 60 minutes without much side effect.
If I take the Imitrex by mistake for a headache that is not a migraine I get queasy and tight in the stomach and feel hung over. |
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| | Imitrex review by 39 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraines |
| Dosage & duration: | | 1 tablet (100mg) taken as needed for the period of 3 times |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I initially switched over from Axert since my insurance covers more of the Imitrex prescription. Imitrex just isn't right for me. I experienced almost all of the side effects such as flushing, sensations of tingling/prickling, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, and fast/pounding heartbeat. On top of that the packaging is just HORRIBLE! It comes 9 to a package. The packaging is a tri-fold "booklet" that is very rigid and has individual blisters for each tablet. It's about 6 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, folded. I like to have migraine meds on me at all times so I ended up cutting the tablets out of the booklet so they would fit in my wallet or purse. Definitely going back to Axert! |
| Side effects: | | flushing, tingling, prickling, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness and pounding heartbeat. |
| Comments: | | Take 1 tablet by mouth. Max 2 tabs per 24 hours. |
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| | Imitrex review by 48 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraines |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100mg taken 3 t o 4 times a month for the period of 1 year and still take the med. |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I am so thankful for Imetrex. I have severe migraine headaches at leat 2 to 3 times a month. Before taking Imetrex my headaches would last 3 to 4 days. With Imetrex I can take the pill and my headache is gone within the hour. I have no side effects from the taking this medicine. |
| Side effects: | | None |
| Comments: | | You can only take this medicine while not driving. You have to be able to go into a dark room and be able to lay for at least and hour and half. After that you are able to go back to normal living. |
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| | Imitrex review by 54 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine headaches |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50mg taken apprx. 5 times a month for the period of 9 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | This drug has changed my life. I have had severe headaches most of my adult life- Imitrex takes the headaches away. The only downside is that the drug causes me to be a bit drousy. |
| Side effects: | | See above |
| Comments: | | I take the drug at the onset of a headache. Within 10 minutes, the headache symptoms disappear |
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| | Imitrex review by 45 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraines |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100mg tablet taken 9 pills per month for the period of 9 times per month |
| Other conditions: | | Severe Depression and Mood Swing Disorder |
| Other drugs taken: | | Wellbutrin, Actonel, Valtrex | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Improved my quality of life and was able to maintain a job for longer period of time. I have suffered with chronic severe migraines since the age of 4 with severe nausua resulting in 3 to 4 emergency room visits per month. I missed so much school, work and family events that I became unrealiable which later brought on depression. I still suffer today 44 years later with them but they are not as severe and I can now function in life somewhat normal. Imitrex gave me a chance to live my life the way I wanted to! |
| Side effects: | | Usually a feel of tiredness 10 to 12 hours after initial dose which can last up to 24 hours. Taking one dose of the pill has less effects of tiredness then taking the 6mg shot or taking them both within a 24hr period. |
| Comments: | | After over the counter medications failed to relieve headache pain I could tell if the headache was triggering a migraine and at that time take the imitrex pill and the migraine would be totally gone within 30 minutes. If the migraine was to strong with nausea symptoms and the pill didn't work, I would then take a imitrex 6mg shot for almost instant relief including nausea. Very rarely will the imitrex not work and then I have to go to emergency room. |
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| | Imitrex review by 28 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50 mg taken as needed for the period of 2 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | yasmin | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | no headaches and better quality of life great at treating headaches |
| Side effects: | | nervous system overhaul, dry mouth, stiff neck |
| Comments: | | used as needed no healing- just treatment the medicine was very effective at treating headaches as needed but provided no preventative help still had them just as frequently but was able to rid myself of them |
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| | Imitrex review by 69 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100mg taken as needed for the period of 10 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | foxamax, topomax, singular | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The imitrex I first took by giving myself shots, but now just take the 100mg tablets. I no longer have migraines. As soon as I feel a migraine start, I immediately take a tablet, and within an hour the headache had subsided. No one should have to suffer with migraines anymore. |
| Side effects: | | I have not had any side effects. |
| Comments: | | Decribed above. |
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| | Imitrex review by 72 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50mg taken as needed - 9 per month, more or less for the period of since its inception |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | premarin--very small dosage | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I had my first migraine at age 10 and suffered for almost 60 years. Then Imitrex--a miracle! Imitrex, finally, gave me my life back. As I get older and am now retired (72) and have less stress, I use the stat dose once or never during the year. The 50mg tablet usually returns me to normal within an hour. A "generic" has become available but is less Imitrex and more Naprosin, an anti-inflammatory, which is cheaper for the manufacturer but not good long-term for the patient. My doctor is keeping me on the brand name. However, Humana has dropped Imitrex coverage, not wanting to pay the high cost, which never gets lower as the manufacturer won't release the patent. Now I'm worried, having to pay the entire cost myself, which is impossible. It's a horrible dilemma. I can't pay for it and they won't. What now? |
| Side effects: | | I have had no side effect at all, and I have been taking Imitrex since it came on the market. |
| Comments: | | I don't know what you mean by "details." |
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| | Imitrex review by 31 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100 mg taken as needed for the period of 2 years |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Amazing results with minimal side effects. I suffered from severe headaches for years before finally consulting with a neurologist. Imitrex was life changing because I no longer worried about getting a migraine, which in turn reduced the number I was getting! |
| Side effects: | | Tingling in the back of my head and hands. Warm, strange feeling when running hands under water. All last for a short time and are well worth the relief. |
| Comments: | | Very simple - Take one pill when I felt like a migraine was coming on. |
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| | Imitrex review by 47 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine headaches |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50 mg taken three times/month for the period of six years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | migraine headache would stop |
| Side effects: | | dizzy, palpitations |
| Comments: | | I have taken both the shots and the pills (separately) and they both worked well. I would need to take the pills before getting sick to stomach, because if after, I could not keep pills down. The shot worked regardless of when I took it. |
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| | Imitrex review by 24 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraines |
| Dosage & duration: | | 100 Mg taken 2-3 times per week for the period of 2 years |
| Other conditions: | | N/A |
| Other drugs taken: | | N/A | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Relieves a migraine 8 out of 10 times. |
| Side effects: | | Strange tingling sensations, a 'floaty' feeling, occasional stomach ache |
| Comments: | | Sometimes it makes me feel really weird for awhile afterwards, but it is worth it to calm the pounding in my head. I've had migraines since kindergarten and only recently discovered Imitrex. I never knew there was actually a pill that would take away a migraine. I think they cause rebound headaches, and they're ridiculously expensive, but it's more than worth it in the moment. |
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| | Imitrex review by 42 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Migraine |
| Dosage & duration: | | 25mg taken once per month for the period of 7 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Pain relief that was seen within 30 minutes. If migraine was not reduced then a second 25 mg tablet is taken after the 30 minutes. |
| Side effects: | | Mild dizziness and a rushing feeling sometimes occurs. I am not comfortable driving after having taken Imitrex and will generally stay at home that day. |
| Comments: | | As stated above, a 25 mg pill is taken at the onset of the migraine, followed by a second dose if pain is not reduced. |
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| | Imitrex review by 50 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraines |
| Dosage & duration: | | 50 mg taken as needed for migraines for the period of for last 15 years |
| Other conditions: | | NONE |
| Other drugs taken: | | NONE | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | If I have a classical migraine, I cannot function without taking an Imitrex. Imitrex takes the edge off the pain, takes away the feeling of nausea and I am able to work on the computer, which I otherwise could not do with a migraine. The pills work most of the time but do not work if the headache was not a migraine. The drug used to have an effect quicker on me several years ago when it took care of my migraine within 30 minutes. Today it often takes me an hour to feel better after taking Imitrex. |
| Side effects: | | I usually feel really tired and depressed the next day after haven taken Imitrex. I feel the drug depresses all systems. It takes off the edge of the pain, but still leaves a dull feeling in the head. |
| Comments: | | I take an imitrex within an hour of onset of a migraine headache. However, I do not take more than one Imitrex per day. Also, I usually do not take it two days in a row, if I don't have to, as the drug makes me feel very tired and depressed the next day. |
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| | Imitrex review by 61 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | migraine headaches |
| Dosage & duration: | | 25mg (50mg cut in-half) taken can be up to 15-20 times a month for the period of I have been taking it for about 14 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I was able to completely stop a migraine from happening once I felt one starting. This has been extremely beneficial to me. I have gotten my life back. I would have 1-2 migraines a week which would put me in bed for 2 days. I would take pain killers, which only knocked me out, doing nothing to alleviate the pain. I was missing a large part of my life, being in bed. Also I never knew when I would have to cancel plans or stay home from work due to a migraine. I felt very unreliable, which is not me. I am a very responsible person. |
| Side effects: | | I have never had any negative side effects from Imitrex. |
| Comments: | | I take half of a tablet at the first sign that a migraine is starting. Usually within 45-60 minutes the beginning symptoms of my migraine are gone. Once in awhile, at this point (60 minutes after I have taken half of a tablet) the symptoms are not noticeable different, so I will take another half of a tablet. |
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