Imitrex and Headaches: What Users Say

• She...
• March 19, 2012

For Migraine "I have suffered from migraines for 32 years, the older I am, the worse they become. I have both the Imitrex pills and the shots. When I am nauseated, I must use the shot. Approximately 1 minute after injection, the intense burning in my head and the amplified headache are the worst side effects, however, NOTHING compared to the migraine. Usually, the migraine is gone in 15 to 30 minutes, and I sleep it off. There is also the 12 to 24-hour Imitrex hangover from the shot. Muscles feel as though they are made of jelly, an overall wiped-out feeling. The pill does not have the burning effect for me, and it takes the full 30 minutes to combat the migraine. Imitrex is the only medicine that has worked for me consistently over the years. I become immune to all other medicines."

• Anonymous
• March 11, 2008

For Migraine "I'm 3.5 months pregnant and had been suffering from the worst migraine I'd ever experienced for 2 days. I finally went to urgent care as instructed by my OB. They gave me an injection of Imitrex. The side effects suck. I felt disoriented and my head felt heavy. I was sweating. After about 20 minutes, the side effects subsided a bit and I was able to go. It is now 2 hours later and I feel 100 times better. My migraine is basically gone. If you can deal with the side effects, it's worth it."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2019

For Migraine "I had a horrible reaction to Imitrex, due to a possible drug interaction with Wellbutrin. I had gone to the E.R., worried that I might have been having a stroke. It was clearly stated in my chart that I was on Wellbutrin, but they prescribed Imitrex for me at the E.R. anyway, after presenting with what they concluded to be a complex migraine. I took an Imitrex pill when I got home, and almost immediately after taking it, I experienced the most horrendous and oppressive, burning headache. It felt like the most painful and unbearable sinus headache I had ever experienced. So, I didn't try to take Imitrex again. Then, at my follow-up visit with my doctor, he asked me how the Imitrex was working, and I told him that I couldn't take it because it actually gave me a worse headache than I had started with. He said, 'Oh yeah, Imitrex is known to have a negative interaction with some antidepressants, like Wellbutrin. I wish someone had noticed that when they prescribed it to me."

• ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2017

For Migraine "I avoid taking Imitrex if I can because I experience so many side effects from it. I get jaw and shoulder pain/stiffness, pain in the back of my neck and scalp, headaches, drowsiness, and I just generally feel weird and awful after taking it. After 2 hours or so, my migraine goes away and the awful-ness of the Imitrex lessens, so that is why I do take it occasionally. Every time I take it, I'm reminded of how badly I need to find something else."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2012

For Migraine "My first experience with Imitrex was taking it at work... Well, that was not a good idea! I started to feel the migraine coming on, so I took it at the first symptoms like I was told and went about my day. I'm a technician for an ophthalmologist, and I started to get a hot flash. I stood up, and my arms and legs went totally numb. Since I'm on Topamax too, I expect a little tingle, but this was a RUSH. All this aside, about 30 minutes later, most of my heavy-duty migraine symptoms were thwarted. Not gone, but a lot better. I feel they would have been much better if I had been able to lie down rather than been on my feet working. I also still had a pretty decent headache and photophobia the rest of the day."

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2010

For Migraine "It keeps my migraines from blowing out into severe migraines, but it takes close to an hour to kick in, and when it does, I feel extremely sick, very fatigued for two hours after. Then I have just a mild headache, but I feel like I have a hangover and become forgetful and weak. It is definitely a trade-off, but as severe as my migraine can get, I'll take this until I find another type of medication."

• Lis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 8, 2022

For Migraine "I’ve had migraines since my 20s- I’m 63 now! Imitrex has been a lifesaver for me. I take 100 mg at the onset of a migraine. Don’t wait until it’s full-blown! I also use Imitrex injection in emergencies, like waking up with a #10 migraine, and I don’t want to wait at least an hour for relief. I’m terrified of needles, but the quick relief is worth it. Plus, it’s an auto-injector, you never see the needle- just press the button. I do notice I feel more side effects than with the pill. Rebound headaches are very possible if you take it too often. I would have missed out on so much life without it."

• cli...
• November 19, 2014

For Migraine "Works the best if you only take it once or twice a month. I've had problems with rebound headaches, even when I take this with sodium naproxen. It can also leave me feeling a bit groggy."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2009

For Migraine "Imitrex would eventually stop the headache, but like others have stated, my heart feels like it's about to jump out of my chest, and I would get a worse headache before it got better."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2010

For Migraine "The 1st dose made me so nauseous, and I fell asleep for 1.5 hours and awoke still nauseous and with a headache. I then took a second pill, and then I was perfect within 30 minutes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 6, 2021

For Migraine "I was taking 1 to 2 pills a day, started cutting them in half, now down to a quarter, and even 1/8, and my headaches seem much better. Maybe the drug can cause headaches."