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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnX2 on February 22, 2002, at 11:54:27
I once tried Imitrex for my headaches at my
GPs office and they stuck a big ugly needle
in my arm and it turned my skin all red.
It seemed to help my headache a little for a while,
but I didn't have the symptoms of migraine that
they asked about.Serzone is definately helping alleviate my
headpain (as well as Klonopin and Topamax). Serzone
was the only AD to do so. Others made it worse
including Zoloft. When I take Serzone it also causes
my skin to flush in a manner similar to the Imitrex
shot.I'm thinking the Serzone flush is caused because
Serzone has a metabolite mCpp that is a dirty
serotonin agonist whereas Imitrex has a cleaner
metabolite that is selective for the 5ht-1b and
5ht-1d receptors. Anyways both meds are therefore
agonists at those receptors. The only other SSRI to cause
this flush for me was Paxil, but it didn't work
as an AD.Anyone else experience this flushing in the
skin and get relief from migraines or other
types of headaches?-John
Posted by JohnX2 on February 22, 2002, at 12:31:45
In reply to Serzone vs. Imitrex for headaches question?, posted by JohnX2 on February 22, 2002, at 11:54:27
Note, I seem to be wrong about mCpp. It is an agonist
presumably at selective 5ht receptors, which
Im not sure yet.-john
>
> I once tried Imitrex for my headaches at my
> GPs office and they stuck a big ugly needle
> in my arm and it turned my skin all red.
> It seemed to help my headache a little for a while,
> but I didn't have the symptoms of migraine that
> they asked about.
>
> Serzone is definately helping alleviate my
> headpain (as well as Klonopin and Topamax). Serzone
> was the only AD to do so. Others made it worse
> including Zoloft. When I take Serzone it also causes
> my skin to flush in a manner similar to the Imitrex
> shot.
>
> I'm thinking the Serzone flush is caused because
> Serzone has a metabolite mCpp that is a dirty
> serotonin agonist whereas Imitrex has a cleaner
> metabolite that is selective for the 5ht-1b and
> 5ht-1d receptors. Anyways both meds are therefore
> agonists at those receptors. The only other SSRI to cause
> this flush for me was Paxil, but it didn't work
> as an AD.
>
> Anyone else experience this flushing in the
> skin and get relief from migraines or other
> types of headaches?
>
> -John
Posted by OldSchool on February 22, 2002, at 13:00:18
In reply to Serzone vs. Imitrex for headaches question?, posted by JohnX2 on February 22, 2002, at 11:54:27
>
> I once tried Imitrex for my headaches at my
> GPs office and they stuck a big ugly needle
> in my arm and it turned my skin all red.
> It seemed to help my headache a little for a while,
> but I didn't have the symptoms of migraine that
> they asked about.
>
> Serzone is definately helping alleviate my
> headpain (as well as Klonopin and Topamax). Serzone
> was the only AD to do so. Others made it worse
> including Zoloft. When I take Serzone it also causes
> my skin to flush in a manner similar to the Imitrex
> shot.
>
> I'm thinking the Serzone flush is caused because
> Serzone has a metabolite mCpp that is a dirty
> serotonin agonist whereas Imitrex has a cleaner
> metabolite that is selective for the 5ht-1b and
> 5ht-1d receptors. Anyways both meds are therefore
> agonists at those receptors. The only other SSRI to cause
> this flush for me was Paxil, but it didn't work
> as an AD.
>
> Anyone else experience this flushing in the
> skin and get relief from migraines or other
> types of headaches?
>
> -JohnThe reason Serzone made your headaches better most likely has to do with serotonin. Low serotonin levels causes headaches, because when serotonin levels are low, blood vessels become inflamed and hurt. Increasing serotonin via serotonergic antidepressants soothes and relaxes inflamed blood vessels and nerves in your head, making headaches go away.
Have you ever tried depakote for headache prophylaxis? Its quite effective for that.
Also, Tricyclic antidepressants tend to be quite effective for headache prophylaxis.Old School
Posted by JohnX2 on February 22, 2002, at 13:14:01
In reply to Re: Serzone vs. Imitrex for headaches question?, posted by OldSchool on February 22, 2002, at 13:00:18
Old school,Depakote was the 1st anticonvulsant I tried and with
my luck I got my only placebo effect.Klonopin was my main medicine to fix this horrible
headache for 2 years. Serzone also worked but it made
me so dizzy I crashed my car.This time, I am taking Topamax as a Gaba replacemant
for Klonopin and that has fixed 80% of the problem. I
couldn't quit the last mg, so I asked my pdoc to restart
Serzone figuring I would live with the dizziness. Surprisingly
I haven't felt dizzy. I suppose my Lamictal or Zyprexa may
be boosting the Serzone.Never know about my brain. Zoloft boosts serotonin
but made my headache ohhh so much worse!!.Thanks,
John> The reason Serzone made your headaches better most likely has to do with serotonin. Low serotonin levels causes headaches, because when serotonin levels are low, blood vessels become inflamed and hurt. Increasing serotonin via serotonergic antidepressants soothes and relaxes inflamed blood vessels and nerves in your head, making headaches go away.
>
> Have you ever tried depakote for headache prophylaxis? Its quite effective for that.
> Also, Tricyclic antidepressants tend to be quite effective for headache prophylaxis.
>
> Old School
Posted by cmcdougall on February 26, 2002, at 10:01:06
In reply to Re: Serzone vs. Imitrex for headaches question?, posted by OldSchool on February 22, 2002, at 13:00:18
Hey Oldschool,
I suffer from frequent migraines - they were much worse while I was on Effexor. Seem to be better now that I take Celexa. My neuro is always fussing at me to take a triptan (I've got samples of them all) at the first sign of migraine. I don't do it because every triptan makes me feel like my skull is filled w/ acid. Very bad.
One neuro put me on neurontin for prophylaxis - I was going thru effexor withdrawal at the time and when I added the neurontin I had a psychotic episode. My pdoc said it wasn't caused by the neurontin but I've been afraid to try it again. I currently take celexa, adderal, and desipramine. This combo seems to work pretty well most of the time for my resistant depression.
What do you think? Any ideas why the triptans make migraines worse? I now have 2-4 migraines per month. This is really great considering while on effexor I was having 2-3 migraines per week.
Thanks,
Carly
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