Imitrex for Cluster Headaches User Reviews

• Joh...
• July 2, 2014

"Imitrex in any form is the best med for cluster headaches by far. High-flow oxygen at first twinge, and the pill at the onset (even if you think it might hurt) is most effective. You all know how fast they come on. It usually works immediately unless late in a cycle. I too wish you could take more than twice in a 24-hour period. After suffering for almost 20 years with no medicine at all for these crippling things. I have tried all Imitrex types: injections, pills, nasal sprays. Injections are fast but so very expensive and painful as well. Nasal spray is nauseating for me, the pill form has always worked well if taken at the very blink of a headache. Because of price and insurance restrictions, I would wait to take the medicine. Not anymore."

• Deb...
• December 4, 2013

"This is a miracle for me. Cluster headaches would put me out of commission for 2 days. Imitrex gets rid of the intense pain of my eye feeling like it might pop out of my head! The first few times I took it, I had side effects of the heavy feeling on my chest and in my muscles. After 3 times, I can take it with no side effects. I've only taken it 5 times, but it's still working great."

• Clu...
• June 30, 2016

"Words cannot express how grateful I am for this medicine. I have dealt with these crippling headaches since my mid-20s. Now in my mid-30s, I finally happened upon a physician (at a CareNow of all places) who actually listened to me as I told him of the nightmare I face at least three times a day, every day, for months on end, and prescribed Imitrex for me. If taken at the very first sign of an attack, these little beauties (I take the oral) can save you 30 minutes to several hours of unimaginable pain. I cannot recommend enough that my fellow cluster headache sufferers ask their doctor about considering Imitrex. While there's no cure, this is the closest thing I've found so far that at least makes living with these headaches bearable."

• Jun...
• May 23, 2014

"Imitrex works very well for my eyeball pain, light and odor, toxic smells, nasal stuffiness that leads to migraines. Migraines. I am sensitive to gluten of all kinds, if I ingest some, I WILL get nasal stuffiness that will lead to a migraine or cluster headaches. Imitrex works in 45 minutes, sometimes sleep is needed to take it away. Sometimes I get migraines for a week or so. Sometimes I take it as a last resort, after trying allergy meds, Tylenol, or Valium. But Imitrex works for me. I eat very healthy, no breads of any kind, no gluten, very little sugar. I read all labels, eat mostly veggies and meat, mostly organic, I'm getting better at that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 23, 2012

"I suffered with cluster headaches for about 15 years before finally receiving an Imitrex injection in the hospital ER. My headache was gone within 5-10 minutes, I thought it was a miracle. I do not leave home without it!"

• Lyn...
• June 22, 2014

"I have been using Imitrex since it first came out in the '90s. It was a godsend. I've had migraines for 42 years. I get about six migraines a month. Imitrex always works, but for me, I pay a price with stomach aches. Sometimes I refrain from taking Imitrex for fear of the stomach pains."

• Dsi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2015

"Imitrex has helped me 100% with my cluster headaches. Certain foods trigger these painful headaches, and even though I know most of the triggers, and even though I try to avoid them, it's impossible to eat and not have at least one or two of these triggers in my food. My doctor tried me on several pain meds for these headaches, but nothing worked. The headaches got so bad I was literally pulling my hair out and was thinking about suicide. Then my doctor gave me Imitrex. As long as I know I have access to Imitrex, I am fine. I finally went to a wonderful neurologist who has been very patient in trying other meds to work with the Imitrex. I do take the generic of Imitrex."

• pho...
• April 24, 2010

"I have suffered from cluster headaches for over 15 years and have tried almost everything offered by hospitals and over the counter. I recently was given Imitrex in a nasal spray by my doctor, and as long as your nasal passage is clear, I have found that about five to ten minutes after you taste it in your throat, the headaches go away. It is the best medicine I have ever come across for cluster headaches, and my days and nights are much better because of it."

• tri...
• April 28, 2013

"I've just started taking Imitrex. The first time I took it, I thought I was getting lockjaw. I was quite worried. I took it again the next day, though, because it did take care of my headache. Since the first time I took it, the side effects have been minor. Hopefully, it stays this way."

• Che...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 23, 2020

"I use Imitrex to treat my cluster headaches. I have episodic clusters. Usually get them once a year for a month or more. I get two to three attacks a day during the cycle. I use Imitrex injections and pills, the injections get rid of the pain in about 10 minutes, and the Imitrex pills take about thirty minutes to work. Don’t know what I would do without them."

• Str...
• June 14, 2016

"I've suffered from cluster headaches since I was 14 years old. I'm 35 now. My last headache was in 2013, shortly after my mother passed. I thought I had outgrown the headaches, but in May of 2016, here I go again, going into my second month of having them every day. I've tried Imitrex, you name it. Sometimes painkillers work, sometimes they don't, but like many other cluster headache sufferers, I've been through hell. I don't know what to do. I'm a truck driver, and it makes it hard to do my job even after the headaches have gone. I just wanted to share my experience."

• Zon...
• March 31, 2008

"Imitrex is a wonderful drug for us cluster heads. I've not been without one on or about my person for the past 17 years. I'm sure that all of us cluster sufferers only wish that they would work a lot faster (like the injections), but I am so thankful for them in any form. A real 'life saver.'"

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2010

"I consider Imitrex to be the greatest medicine in the world, at least as far as my health is concerned. I am never without the auto injector. When a chronic headache comes on, I inject myself, and 3 to 4 minutes later ... no pain. My muscles are fatigued, and I'm somewhat tired for about 30 minutes, but NO PAIN! ... Yes!"

• Dmy...
• April 13, 2010

"Injections are expensive, but they are the only thing that I have found that works for my cluster headaches. Truly a lifesaver. The burning sensation is ugly, but better than the viciousness ripping of my head to pieces."

• Big...
• June 17, 2011

"Gets rid of my headaches easily, but sometimes takes an hour before it works. Taking it on an empty stomach seems to speed up things. The only downside is they are quite expensive, even with insurance."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2016

"Well, I was having really bad cluster headaches, I took an Imitrex for the first time. Within 15 minutes, I was projectile vomiting and having bad stomach cramps. The taste stayed in my mouth for hours. My headache has gone down some, but it was still there."

• Des...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 7, 2023

"I discovered Imitrex about 13 years ago (35 YO now) by accident as my doctor could not diagnose my headache and classified it as a migraine. I was born in an EU country with a population of 1.2 million. Cluster headaches are rare, and I assume my doctor had never even heard of it. I have headaches once per year lasting 2-4 weeks with 2 episodes per day. It's not the worst, but the pain is so severe that I have cut my finger multiple times to shift the pain from the eye. During this period, anything can trigger it! Imitrex 50mg works exactly as others have described, it takes 30-60 minutes. I am writing this review to add something: for me, this drug also works to prevent clusters from forming. Alcohol is a big trigger, as most know. If I take the pill an hour before having a cocktail, I will not develop a headache. Just FYI for others with cluster headaches! Oh, and I have had zero side effects. The price of a 4-pack (50mg) in Spain is 7 EUR."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 22, 2022

"Suffered for years from cluster h/a. Tried many meds, no help. Till 10 years ago, they tried Imitrex inj. 6 mg. 20 minutes after injection, 6 mg, my headaches were completely gone. I still have cluster h/a. I have never taken an injection of Imitrex that my h/a doesn’t go away, sometimes in 10-15 minutes. Take as soon as you feel h/a. However, it doesn’t prevent them. I am happy, happy after years of living in a migraine nightmare. Hope it works for you also."

• mat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 22, 2021

"I’ve been having cluster headaches for about 5 years! I take the pill form of Imitrex. I sometimes have to take two of them! The first one seems to take the edge off, but after two hours, I end up taking another one, which eventually gets rid of the awful pain in the eye!! I wish they would work quicker and better, but at least it helps!! I have chronic cluster headaches, so when there’s a short-lived period of no headaches, I’m relieved! I’ve not tried the other forms of Imitrex, but I might mention it to my doctor!"

• Ora...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2021

"This is the only medication that will get rid of my cluster headaches. It's so effective. I've only used the nasal spray so far but am starting pills since I was having trouble getting authorization for the spray. It's a godsend, really, these headaches make me want to opt out of the entire universe."

• Ken...
• January 29, 2022

"I have been on Imitrex for 10 years, one colored pill a day, until I started cutting them in half, and it worked, and then quarters, and it worked. Now I’m almost off of them. I think too much is bad."

• Tre...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2013

"I suffered for several years before I found a specialist who diagnosed me properly and prescribed this great medicine."

• Anonymous
• May 15, 2009

"Only thing that works for clusters. Within 15 minutes, pain is gone. Thank goodness for this medicine. Only wish you could take more than 2 doses in a 24-hour period."

• See...
• January 28, 2016

"Pain would cease within 15 minutes."

• MKE...
• May 14, 2011

"Best one for me in the 20-some years I've had to deal with them. I've taken 100 mg pills all along."