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Does Imitrex work on normal headaches?

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Migraine Headache
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myheadhurts
New Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 1
Posted 4/23/2007 8:38 PM (GMT -6)
First post here- heres my story.

I've had multiple headaches a week for several years, but they were usually minor things that would go away with some advil.  Over the last few months, after some personal problems that had me stressed out, sleeping less, and drinking more caffeine, these headaches because worse and more common. 

I'm calling them a headache because I'm not sure if they are migraines.  They always start in the morning as a nagging discomfort behind one temple and turn into a sharp pain behind one eye by midday.  By the evening when I get home (low lights, taking a nap) they go away.  And I am sensitive to light and smells, but I rarely (only twice) get the naseau or aura (once).

I went to my doctor to get his diagnosis, but he just handed me some sample imitrex and told me to try them out.  Well, in a week I've had two headaches, and both times the imitrex knocked them out in 20 minutes!  I'm really pumped, because normal aspirin hasn't worked in years. 

But my question is, does the fact that imitrex works mean that these are indeed migraines and not some other problem/headache?  I don't want to be misuing my medication if thats not what its for.  Afterall, I'm talking about 2-3 headaches a week, not 2-3 migraines a month, and I don't want to overdose on imitrex.

thanks guys.

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karenb
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 58
Posted 4/28/2007 12:39 AM (GMT -6)

Hi Myheadhurts,
Your symptoms resemble migraine symptoms. But your headaches may be not only migraines. People with migraine can have other types of headaches as well. Here migraine symptoms and phases are described.

myheadhurts said...

But my question is, does the fact that imitrex works mean that these are indeed migraines and not some other problem/headache?  I don't want to be misuing my medication if thats not what its for.  Afterall, I'm talking about 2-3 headaches a week, not 2-3 migraines a month, and I don't want to overdose on imitrex.

Imitrex is used only for migraine headaches, it is not pain reliever. It is structurally similar to serotonin. So, if Imitrex knocked your headache, probably it was the migraine. Although diagnosis of migraine is not easy (because there is no specific test for migraine), trying triptans is not a right way for diagnosis. You need to go to neurologist to be properly diagnosed.

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