- How does Imitrex work?

Imitrex is a sumatriptan drug, which works by stabilising the serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin occurs naturally in the body to regulate the central nervous system, and migraines cluster headaches can occur when serotonin levels become erratic.

Imitrex is FDA approved for treatment of cluster headaches under the guidance of a specialised physician, but it can cause specific side effects in cluster headache sufferers including nausea, vomiting, pins and needles and wheezing.

- Why do I need to take Imitrex as an injection?

Imitrex can be taken in tablet form to treat a classic migraine, but this is not very effective for cluster headache sufferers as it takes a while to work. Injecting Imitrex provides much quicker relief from cluster headache pain. If you really can’t face an injection, Imitrex is also available in a nasal spray which is a little slower to take effect, but still quicker than a tablet.

An injection of Imitrex is administered just under the skin with an autoinjector. The needle is a quarter of an inch long so you will need to choose a fleshy area to avoid injecting into a muscle or vein. If one injection does not provide sufficient relief, another dose can be taken one hour later, but you should never take more that two doses in a twenty four hour period.

- Cluster headaches are different from classic migraines

Most people have an occasional headache themselves, and could tell you what a migraine headache is, but many people have never heard of cluster headaches. This is because less than one in a thousand people suffer from cluster headaches, and their cause is not entirely understood.

A cluster headache is an extremely painful headache attack, which occurs regularly, sometimes several times a day. Attacks come on quickly with the pain peaking within minutes, and lasting anything from five minutes to one hour.

An episodic cluster headache sufferer will experience attacks for a period of a few days or weeks, which will be followed by a pain free period. A chronic cluster headache sufferer will have no relief from the pain, with attacks occurring every day with no break.

- Symptoms of cluster headaches

Cluster headaches have very specific symptoms which differ from classic migraines. These symptoms include:

- Dramatic pain, often around one eye, which peaks rapidly

- A drooping eyelid and tears from the eye with the pain

- Nasal stuffiness

- Attacks that occur just after sleep

- Regularly occurring attacks at the same time each day or week

- Other treatments for cluster headaches

General pain killers that can be used to treat regular headaches or classic migraines have very little effect on cluster headaches. If you are looking for an abortive remedy for cluster headaches, the best option is a sumatriptan drug such as Imitrex. Alternatives to abortive medication are preventative treatments such as beta-blockers, nerve stimulation techniques, and even surgery to destroy the nerves in the brain that carry pain signals to the face.

If you believe you are suffering from cluster headaches, consult your physician who will be able to confirm your diagnosis, and advise you of the best course of treatment. Taking Imitrex without the supervision of your doctor can be dangerous, particularly if you are not suffering from cluster headaches but another type of migraine such as hemiplegic or basilar migraines