Imitrex - addicting or not?

[lady67]

Good Morning guys!  I woke up with another migraine this morning.  This is the 3rd one this month.  I usually have about 2 in a year, but never this close together and this often.  I have been taking 1 imitrex when I have a headache.  My question is, "Is Imitrex habit-forming?"  I have researched all the websites, but they also say that ultram isn't habit forming.  I was just wanting some info from someone who has taken it.

Thanks,
S

[Alvin555]

I have been taking sumatriptan for about twenty years or so. I have as many as four headaches in a week and as few as one a month. I use the injections and tablets. I have never experienced any addiction or need to take this. I do not believe it is a dependency type medication. I know I have never felt a need to take it other than to relieve a migraine. But its a life saver for migraines. I have noticed it is not working quite as well as it used to but at 55 I supposed it is time for something safer.

[pinkpancreas]

i agree- anything these days can be addicting. i just noticed that I feel weird when i don't take the imitrex so i'll take it and feel better- even if it's not for a migraine. I wondered if it boosted dopamine or serotonin possibly? maybe it's just a placebo but there's something in it my body craves that it satisfies!

[Butfirstcoffee]

Im afraid my sibling is addicted to sumatriptan. He was addicted to pain killers in the past and I worry hes taking too many for migraines now. How do I bring it up without him getting too defensive?

[Lilyfair_]

Judy I am in the same position, would love to discuss this.

[Quince30]

Hi Emptycan,  I'm a migraine sufferer as well.  Do you know what your triggers are?  Mine are definitely hormonal, although alcohol is also a trigger.  

As I progressed in peri menopause (I started early) my headaches increased in severity and frequency.  I am seeing an endocrinologist and will be seeing a neurologist as well.  if your triggers are also hormone related, it wouldn't hurt to see and endocrinologist as well.

I'm really sorry you're going through this and I completely understand how these headaches rob us of a normal life.  {hugs}

[emptycan]

I too am very afraid that I have now become addicted to Imitrex. I have been getting migraine headaches for 28 years and have been getting far more intense and often the past few years. This year has been extremely difficult. I am not at the point where I have a migraine headache 3-4 days per week. I take half and imitrex (to save cost) each time. There are occasions when the headache is so bad that I have to take it twice in a 12 hour period. My neurologist wants me to discontinue Imitrex due to the side effects associated with it at my age as well as the overuse. I don't know what to do anymore. Headaches are completely ruining my life. At least with the Imitrex I can somewhat function. Help!

[vaughnbay]

I switched to sumatriptan tablets from injections because my insurance would no longer provide coverage. I have found that the tablets work as well as the injections. HOWEVER, the tablets take an hour to work as compared with fifteen minutes for the injection. I get a migraine every day, and as soon as  I feel it coming on, I take a sumatriptan tablet. As you might guess, I too have been wondering if I am dependent on the medication! I would like to hear from others who use it as often as I do.
Judy

[tmccui]

Imitrex is very hard on the system, gives you high blood pressure among other things. Yes it may stop being as effective if you take it regularly. My wife has had chronic migraines that do not go away for the past 7 years, although they vary in pain severity. She has used just about everything you can think of prescribed by several different doctors including injections into the lower back of the skull. Try having your Doctor rotate your meds every so often. Maxault seems to work as well as imitrex without raising blood pressure.

[AvasDaddy1]

I was wondering if like many other headache and migraine medication.  Do you get immune to Imitrex (quits working because you get used to them) I'd greatly appreciate any feedback thanks a bunch .
.                                                                                  Jim B.

[wiley66]

Masteele - I found this thread (even if it's old, who cares?) and got a lot from your post to it.

I have really bad PMS and migraine headaches a few or so days before. I recently got an Rx for Imitrex and not only did it get rid of my migraine, it also gave me some unexpected energy, alterness, and a slight high combined with my pain meds for Fibromyalgia.

Nothing has pulled me out of a bad PMS slump with extreme fatigue and feeling like I am being poisoned by my hormones like Imitrex. I would be tempted to use it when I don't have a migraine during a bad PMS slump.

I don't know that I would overuse it or get addicted, but I can totally see how it could be abused by some.

Cat

[vicki595]

Masteele--  This thread is 2 years old at the least...

Imitrex is not an addicting substance,physically. Maybe mentally you never want to be without it because it works so well. I think of it as a BP med and that sort of thing...
There is absolutely nothing in it that could cause an adiction.

[masteele80]

here is the lay of the land by someone who has taken almost everything.

Anything, yes, anything - that changes your mood, alters your personality, or changes the way you feel, or sense pain - will, can and is addicting.  

Opiods will be more addicting, because they make you feel good.  Ultram is addicting because it numbs and calms your senses.  Imitrex doesn't feel addicting, but it affects your mind, and yes, can be addicting to many people.

Again, anything that affects your mood or changes you - can be addicting.  Everything from Allergy Pills, to cough syrup, to percocet, to sniffing glue - can be addictive.  Just because the research doesnt support it at this time, doesn't rule it out.

[HR_PuffnStuff]

It's not addictive BUT I will say that I heard from a neurologist that if you take it too often, it can definitely cause a "rebound" situation. He said your body knows you are going to take it. I used to take it almost daily and after I heard this (that combined with the cost) I went cold turkey for about two weeks. I had some rough days but the headaches I did have were contained with ice, laying down, dark room, etc. When it would get really bad I would take Benedryl to knock myself out and just go to bed. Sometimes at like 8 O' clock at night! Giving it up c/t was the best thing I ever did. Now i only have an actual migraine like once every two weeks or so. So themom3, you may definitely tell your daughter to try this. I can't tell you how great it feels not to have a headache every day. Oh and just so Y'all know...Imitrex now has a generic so it is much more affordable. Yeah!

[themom3]

my daughter gets migraines and they keep getting worse she has been taking Imitrix for years first shots then pills it seems she is taking them several times a week now and their not helping like before we've heard about rebound headaches from taking to much medecine I feel she might have to give it all up and go cold turkey the doctor recently added a high blood presure med and another pain med saying that the Imitrix may be causing rebound headaches and that he would like to wean her off the Imitrix and she is now weak and having black outs so went to the hospital this morning IM sure it's from her blood pressure going to low, yikes, this is so frustraiting especially for her she hates being sick but seems to have these problems about every day I wish doctors were more compassionate and decicated to helping more. Thanks for listening

[NautyOne]

Not......

[road2recovery]

It is not addicting at all...I have very bad migranes, and have tried every med they make and that is the only one for me...I also use the nose spray...Because most of the time i throw- up the pills...And at 30 dollars a pill, what a waster....
As i get older they get worst.....I hope you feel better, and know they caue no dependence or addiction!
r2r

[lady67]

I usually use the imitrex nasal spray, but they didn't have any and couldn't get it in for a couple of days.  I couldn't wait that long so they gave me the pills.  I don't think the pills work as well as the spray.  I, too, only have a couple a year, but this is the 3rd one this month.  I try not to take it unless I absolutely have to because they cost so much.

[sadinmichigan]

I do not believe it is habit forming..I took imitrex shots for many years for my migrains..never had a problem..but I didn't need to take it everyday..do you use the shots or pills..I know that you can take no more than 2 shots in a 24 hr period..I will tell you..Imitrex helped me sooo much..and funny thing..when I divorced the a$$ I was married to,my migraines went away..LOL..I'm serious..Now I have maybe 1 a year..but i have noticed that I have already had 2 now since june..I think it's the same cause..