This may seem stupid...

Written by

Myth1977

Wed, January 09, 2008

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My neuro put me on Amerge for hormonal migraines. My doc did not put me on an abortive since I had chest pains and breathing issues with Imitrex. I have been on Amerge years ago and never had any issues with it at that time. And really I need something to deal with the hormonal migraines, as Lyrica does not do anything to them and I am returning to work as soon as my boss gets back to me. In order to return to work I must have a way to effectively manage any migraine that comes in order to not miss work.

Anyway, I tried out the Amerge to see how effective it would be and to see any effects it may have, so I know how to handle it when I return to work. And it is not so great. It does cause chest pains, about fifteen minutes after taking it. It does cause breathing problems... not like Asthma with issues on the exhale and wheezing... but just not getting enough air. My heart goes a little weird and then later on it leaves me with palapatations. It also makes me extremely tired after it gets rid of the migraine, so tired I am dopy like I have slept for hours and start falling alseep. I am hoping the sleepy effect will not last. As for the others, well as long as I stay upright, they go away.

I have read the info on abortives and I know chest pains are one of the side effects that usually means you cannot take it any more. Yet I need to manage the migraines I have no choice in the matter. Having experienced some nasty angina pain in the past I don't tend to get riled up over it and certainly would not run to the ER over it either. I honestly do not think it would be dangerous to continue with the Amerge even with this effect, as long as I do not take it twice in a day. And being used to enduring any number of side effects over the years, I get used to letting a lot of these things slide, unless something jars me like Imitrex was getting. So it may be stupid to keep taking an abortive that causes chest pains, I am just not sure this side effect is really doing anything harmful to my heart, and since I have to return to work I am willing to risk it.

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Cindy

1/10/08 1:23am

The first 2-3 times I took Imitrex I experienced a tightness in my chest. I cannot say it was pain. I no longer have that but continue to have heaviness in my left arm when I take it.

I have tried Amerge and it did nothing for the migraines I took it for.

Some additional food for thought for you. I take Frova for menstral migraines, but I take it daily during the course of my period. My neurologist, who is a migraine specialist, perscribed the use of the Frova this way. He was specific in the use of the Frova due to the lenght of time it stays in the system. It has worked well. I do feel there may be issues with medication overuse headaches, but it's difficult to fully tell that.

Take care and good luck. It is difficult to find the right medications.

Cindy

Myth1977

1/10/08 3:18am

Amerge is also a longer lasting abortive, which is good. And it is known for working for this. And our right there is always that chest tighteness things, which makes me believe the symptoms I get are not as serious as docs seem to think. With Imirex it was quite a bit worse over time, so I get that one is no good.

Laurelin

1/10/08 10:16am

I've had imitrex for about 8 years now and it's always given me tightening in the chest that makes it feel hard to breathe. A neuro told me once that that was normal for triptans because of the vasoconstricting. Unusually I just use my inhaler and then that side effect isn't so bad.

I didn't get that chest tightening with the frova, but the frova made me so sleepy I had to take a several hour nap (imitrex, relpax and maxalt give me the nap effect too though so I'm not sure that there is an abortive that won't do that to me).

Anyway, there are several different abortives. Maybe your doctor can give you samples of some others to try out and see which ones are easiest on you.

Myth1977

1/12/08 2:39am

Yeah, I've been on my fair share of abortives. But would not want to be on one all the time because of the side effects, however for the hormonal ones, I don't think there is much choice. And I agree, very much, that the tightening in the chest and that piercing pain is a die effect... I had the same effect with Maxalt and Zomig and it never really concerned me. With Imitrex it was always worse, but man what a good abortive, but then it got quite a bit worse, maybe because of the asthma or maybe because I was taking it the max amount a week. Whatever it was it gave me some angina pain that was not pleasant. So far the Amerge had been somewhere in the middle, but I just do not see any other choice in the matter and don't want to be concerned about it.

RaeDreams

1/11/08 7:40pm

Hi there, I was reading your story about Amerge, and went to WebMD and looked it up. It said: If there's any chance of a heart problem, your doctor may administer the first dose of Amerge in the office and monitor your response. After later doses, call your doctor immediately if you experience chest discomfort (including, pain, heaviness, tightness), sudden or severe stomach pain, numbness or tingling, heat sensations, or facial flushing after taking Amerge. Amerge is only for classic migraine headache. If the first dose fails to relieve your symptoms, your doctor should reevaluate you. Your problem may not be migraine. I'd surely look into this, since this advice says that the chest pain isn't a thing you should just accept or live with, it says to call your doctor immediately, hon. I took great interest where it says it's only for classic migraines, there was no mention of hormonal migraines. Just some thoughts. I wish you well, Rachel

Myth1977

1/12/08 2:40am

I read the same thing, which is what worried me a bit, because I thought some chest pain and breathing problems was a side effect, as I have had milder versions of it in the past with other abortives.

Dolores

1/13/08 10:23am

This happens to me too when i take abortives. And i'm a somewhat healthy 21 year old. You might want to try taking a lower dose. I know that when I take 5 mg of Zomig, I get chest pain/papitations and breathing problems, but when I take 2.5 mg its almost nonexistant. The lower dose is slightly less effective, but if you take it early, ussually it works.

This may seem stupid...

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