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I. Imitrex Fact File
Imitrex was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a world leading research-based pharmaceutical company. Glaxo is headquartered in the UK and with operations based in the US; the new company is one of the industry leaders, with an estimated seven per cent of the world's pharmaceutical market.
GSK also has leadership in four major therapeutic areas - anti-infectives, central nervous system (CNS), respiratory and gastro-intestinal/metabolic. In addition, it is a leader in the important area of vaccines and has a growing portfolio of oncology products.
Glaxo also has a Consumer Healthcare portfolio comprising over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, oral care products and nutritional healthcare drinks, all of which are among the market leaders.
II. Imitrex Medication
Generic Imitrex is a medicine for the acute treatment of migraine attacks in adults.
General pain relievers are made to relieve general kinds of pain, like backaches and sore muscles. Generic Imitrex is different. Generic Imitrex is specifically designed just for migraines and was the first medicine of its kind believed to target the nerves and blood vessels that can trigger your total migraine - the throbbing pain, nausea, and the sensitivity to light and sound - without drowsiness.
Migraine: Information on imitrex
A migraine is not just a headache. Even though moderate to severe head pain is the most common symptom, there are usually other symptoms that help diagnose frequent bad headaches as a migraine.
Any person who's ever been diagnosed with migraines knows that they're more than just bad headaches. Migraines can produce any of the following symptoms. Not everyone will experience all of the symptoms, and symptoms may vary from individual to individual and from attack to attack.
Symptoms of Migraine
Symptoms you may have:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound
- Stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes
- Dizziness
- Mood changes
- Tunnel vision or seeing "spots"
Types of pain you may have:
- Pain on one or both sides of the head
- Pain in the back of the neck
- Pain or pressure in the face, eye area, or sinuses
- Pain that disrupts normal activity
- Pain that is aggravated by routine activity
Causes of Migraine
Many experts believe that during a migraine, blood vessels on the surface of the brain expand, causing the area around them to become inflamed and irritate nerve endings. This dilation (expansion) and irritation may account for the pain you experience during a migraine. It may also lead to nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other symptoms associated with migraine.
Triggers of Migraine
A Migraines have specific triggers, which can be different for each person. Some people seem to have no specific triggers. By familiarizing with potential triggers, you can learn about causes that may contribute to your migraine attacks.
- Food & food additives
Alcohol (especially red wine), caffeinated beverages, nuts, nitrite/nitrate-preserved foods (hot dogs, pepperoni), smoked or pickled foods.
- Light
Strong or glaring light. Flickering lights from TV or computer screen, strobe or laser lights, or reflections.
- Smells/odors
Intense, specific food odors, cigarette or other smoke, perfumes, cleaning products.
- Stress
Migraine attacks often occur after stress - especially on weekends and holidays. Many people mistake these as tension headaches.
- Weather Changes
High humidity, atmospheric pressure changes, rapid temperature fluctuations, and exposure to extreme heat or cold may bring on migraine attacks. Many people mistake these for "sinus headaches."
- Changes in sleeping habits
Too little, or more often, too much sleep can trigger migraines.
- Dieting/hunger
Any change in eating habits, missed meals, change in schedule or dieting.
- Loud noises/sounds
Sudden or prolonged loud noises.
- Motion/travel
Reaction to motion sickness.
- Caffeine
Having more (and sometimes even having less) caffeine than you are used to can trigger migraines.
- Hormonal Fluctuations
The frequency of women's migraines is sometimes said to be related to hormonal fluctuation, particularly with regard to estrogen. In a lot of women, migraines begin just prior to, or during, their monthly menstrual period, or during treatment with artificial hormones such as birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy.
Treatment of Migraine
Many physician analyzes the patient’s migraine history to devise an appropriate treatment program. The goals of treatment are to prevent or reduce the number of migraines (called prophylactic treatment) and to alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of the migraine (called abortive treatment).
- Prophylactic Treatment
Preventative medications may be prescribed for patients who have
repeated headaches (3 or more a month) that do not respond to abortive treatment. Using one medication (monotherapy) is tried first, but a combination of medication may be necessary. Many of these medications have adverse side effects. If migraines become controlled, the dosage is often reduced or the drug discontinued.
Beta blockers (e.g., propranolol [Inderal], atenolol [Tenormin]) are the preferred medications. These medications produce an effect on heart rate. They should not be taken by patients with asthma and should be used with caution in patients with diabetes.
Anti-seizure drugs such as valproic acid (Depakote), topiramate (Topamax), and gabapentin (Neurontin) may be used to treat migraine.
Calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, amlodipine [Amlodipine]) inhibit artery dilation and block the release of serotonin. They should not be taken by patients with heart failure or heart block.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs; e.g., amitryptaline [Elavil], nortryptaline [Pamelor], desipramine [Norpramin]) block serotonin re-absorption and take 2–3 weeks be effective.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., paroxetine [Paxil], fluoxetine [Prozac], sertraline [Sertraline]) are usually better tolerated than TCAs, but may not be as effective.
Methysergide maleate (e.g., Deseril, Sansert) may be prescribed for patients with repeated, severe migraines.
- Abortive Treatment
Mild, infrequent migraines may be relieved using over-the-counter medications. Severe headaches with accompanying symptoms may require prescription medications.
At the time of migraine, people often prefer to rest or sleep alone in a dark, quiet room. Applying cold packs to the head or pressing on the bulging artery in front of the ear on the painful side of the head may provide temporary pain relief.
Analgesics (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) provide symptomatic relief from headache pain and should be taken at the first sign of a migraine attack. They are most effective for infrequent migraines (less than 3 a month) and breakthrough headaches (i.e., headaches that occur despite using prophylactic medications).
Frequent use of analgesics (i.e., more than 4 times a week) can cause rebound headaches and may interfere with prophylactic treatment. Acetaminophen is sometimes combined with other drugs to form an analgesic compound (e.g., Midrin).
Serotonin receptors (e.g., Generic Imitrex, Amerge, Axert, Zomig), are fast acting, usually well-tolerated medications commonly used to treat migraines. They are available in oral, injectable, and nasal spray forms and can be taken any time during the headache.
Ergots (e.g., Cafergot, Mioranal) may be administered orally or as a suppository and is often combined with anti-nausea drugs, such as prochlorperazine (Compazine). This medication should be taken at the first sign of a migraine and may not be effective if the headache has moved into the throbbing stage.
Prevention of migraine
Avoiding triggers, managing stress, and taking prophylactic medications can help prevent migraines. Keeping a migraine journal can help identify triggers and gauge the effectiveness of preventive measures of migraine. Patients should monitor the following:
- Activities
- Emotional factors (e.g. stressful situations)
- Environmental factors (e.g., weather, altitude changes)
- Foods and beverages
- Medications (over-the-counter and prescription)
- Migraine characteristics (e.g., severity, length)
- Physical factors (e.g., illness, fatigue)
- Sleep patterns
- Stress management techniques (e.g., biofeedback, hypnosis) and stress-reducing activities (e.g., meditation, yoga, exercise) may help prevent migraines.
Side effects of Migraine Drugs
- Side effects of Beta-Blockers include gastrointestinal upset, insomnia, low blood pressure (hypotension), slowed heart rate (bradycardia), and sexual dysfunction. Some beta blockers pass into breast milk and may cause problems in nursing infants.
- Side effects of anti-seizure drugs include nausea, gastrointestinal upset, sedation, liver damage, and tremors.
- Side effects of Calcium Channel Blockers include constipation, flushing, low blood pressure, rash, and nausea.
Side effects of Tri-cyclic Antidepressants include the following:
High doses of TCAs have been implicated in seizures, stroke, and heart attack. Abrupt discontinuation of these medications may cause headache, nausea, and malaise, and may intensify side effects.
- Side effects of SSRI’s include nausea, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and loss of appetite.
- Side effects of Methysergide maleate include insomnia, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and hair loss. This drug should not be used by patients with coronary artery disease and must be discontinued for 3–4 weeks after 4–6 months of use because it can cause retroperitoneal fibrosis, a condition in which the blood vessels in the abdomen thicken, which reduces blood flow to organs.
- Side effects caused by aspirin and ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) include gastrointestinal upset and bleeding. These drugs should be taken with food and used with caution. Ibuprofen is available in suppository form, which can be useful if the migraine is accompanied by severe nausea and vomiting.
- Side effects of Serotonin receptors include dizziness, drowsiness, flushing, discomfort, tingling, and nausea.
- Side effects of ergots include gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, stroke, and high blood pressure (hypertension). Ergots should not be taken by patients with heart, vascular, liver, or kidney disease.
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III. Useful links
Government http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
National Library of Medicine
World Health Organization
Health Sites
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm
MedicineNet.com
Drugdigest.org
Healthsquare.com
Pharmacy sites
http://www.gsk.com
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1509 ,
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1516
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1504,
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~urdesai/atc.htm#Process%20of%20clotting
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