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Full Question: I have suffered very severe migraines since I was about 4 years old, and I am now 26. I have tried many different prescription drugs, and found that Imigran Nasal spray did the best job for me, as I constantly vomit not long after I get an aura. However, I have been pu...
Thanks for that reply. It seems I may have suffered from Seratonin Sydrome in the past when I have been on Amytriptaline - I have definately had all the symptoms! I will go to see my GP about this - and as I have hemiplegic migraines, I am led to beleive from looking at your site that triptans are not receommended. Thanks for your help.
You're very welcome. With hemiplegic Migraine, you may find that you need to see a Migraine specialist. If you do, let us know. We can recommend some for you.
Good luck!
Dr. K. & Teri
It's good to see you not just accepting, but questioning and taking charge of your care. Let us go ahead and give you the link for specialists. We do have several listed in the UK.
Patient recommended headache and Migraine
specialists
take care,
Dr. K. & Teri
I took 25mg zoloft for 3 days, on the third day I took a 50mg tablet Imitrex and that night I was in the ER with seretonin syndrome. Every doctor and pharamcist I spoke with and/or consulted before taking these meds said SS is so rare so nothing to worry about. Thank goodness my friends got me to the hospital in time. I did not take a high dose nor did I take it for long, only 3 days and one dose of imitrex. I do not believe that Seretonin Syndrome is as rare as being claimed, my theory is the medical professions misdiagnose it and or are not familiar with the very life threatening symptoms. This is very serious, I almost lost my life.
I'm sorry that happened to you, truly. Still, I stand by our answer to this question. Dr. Krusz and I do not take this lightly. When the FDA issued their warning about serotonin syndrome, their statistics showed how rare this syndrome is. Also, to date, ther eare no deaths attiributed to it.
If serotonin syndrome weren't as rare as it is, the FDA would order the labeling on triptans and antidepressants to list taking the two types of drugs together as a contraindication, meaning not to take them together. But, they didin't. They made sure there are warnings on all of those medications for doctors to telll their patients about serotonin syndrome and it's symptoms and to advise them to see care if they experience any of those symptoms.
You said the doctors and pharmacists you consulted told you that serotonin syndrom was "so rare so nothing to worry about." Did they (and your prescribing doctor) tell you what the symptoms were? Did you read the patient information sheets that came with your prescriptions? The warnings are on those too.
I'm not trying to minimize your experience, but even when something is rare, someone experiences it. The fact that you did doesn't mean that it's not rare, that it goes undiagnosed, or that doctors aren't familiar with it. It just means that you were one of the rare unfortunate people it happened to.
I'd really like to know -- Did your doctor tell you about the syndrome and its symptoms? What did he or she say afterward?
Teri