Sumitriptan for migraine

A Dr at the Covid vaccination clinic told me to try 3 aspirin and a strong coffee at the first sign of migraine - works for me & no washed out feeling afterwards.
(Each Covid jab so far has resulted in a migraine for me hence chat with duty Dr).
Have suffered from migraines on a monthly cycle since my 40’s; post menopause less frequent but still occur at times. Used Migraleve prior to Aspirin success but always felt washed out afterwards).

I've heard that magnesium really helps....

16 years I took this tablet along with 2 x Ibuprofen 400mg and paracetamol for each attack, sometimes 4-5 a month. I could never have gone through those years without Imigram (there other name).

Sumatriptan gave me my life back. I have had migraines since I was a small child. They used to mean 24 hours in a darkened bedroom where light or noise were both painful. They come on with an aura and within 15 minutes one side of my head would be throbbing and I would feel very sick. I still get migraines when the atmospheric pressure is unstable or if very stressed but much fewer since the end of menopause. Before that I was losing usually one Sunday a month to migraines, dark room etc. Now if I catch it quickly when the signs start it can clear in about 30 minutes. It really has changed my life.

Yes, it works, and the good thing about it, if you google it, is that it says it is safe to take paracetamol as well so the migraine gets a double whammy of medication. Always check for interactions with other tablets though and ask a pharmacist if not sure.

mine disappeared when i got divorced!!

I have suffered from chronic migraine for years and Sumatriptan is the only drug that works for me. I am 75 and have been on many preventative medications, I am now on Rimigepant which is at last giving some relief. I have no side effects from Sumatriptan, but it can cause rebound headaches in some people if taken too often. Good luck!

Sumatriptan is brilliant. I don’t know how I would live life to the full without it. Being able to hold down a job look after grandchildren and socialise. Thank you Sumatriptan 😊

I've tried all over the counter remedies over the last 20 or so years. I'm 66 now and well past menopause but still getting the migraines. I'm on Zolmitriptan now. Works quickly so I can carry on my day. Sometimes I have to take ibuprofen a couple of hours after as a top up. The triptan does make me sleepy ....not a problem now I'm retired.
Tbh I don't know how I would manage without them.

I don't find that sumatriptan gives me much relief at all, I am better off hitting it with 600mg ibuprofen at the first sign of the migraine aura, and then immediately lay in a dark room with bean bags on my eyelids. The wonder drug for me has been taking amitriptyline (30mg) daily as a preventative, I would say that it has halved my migraine attacks.

Interesting to see the later ages that we are here taking the Imigran/Sumatriptan. It’s been bothering me a little and I haven’t yet brought it up with gp or pharmacist but it isn’t actually recommended after 65.
I too have now managed to reduce to a 50 mg from 100 but will take 2 if necessary. But I really don’t want to stop being allowed to have them.

Absolutely brilliant… Went to various migraine clinics tried loads of meds, worked for a while then stopped. Hospital for injections… until GP prescribed them… I ended up having a medical discharge from work due to the migraines…

Goodness, other migraine sufferers in their 70’s. I thought I was alone in this as I don’t know anyone in real life who still gets them. I was told when I was 11yo that I’d grow out of them. I’m still waiting, 59 years on!

One combination of painkillers that sometimes wards off a migraine for me is soluble paracetamol or Solpadeine dissolved in a glass of full-fat Coca-Cola. Some of mine are due to low blood sugar I think, as eating something sweet can stop it.

I take Sumatriptan and it works brilliantly. It has made a huge difference to my life I thoroughly recommend it.

I have been using sumatriptan for a few years. It works for me usually within 30 minutes but I am left with what feels like a heavy head, like a dull ache. I usually then take a couple of paracetamol to combat that.
As others have said I’m so grateful for sumatriptan because it gets rid of the horrible aura that I get which was making it difficult for me to do anything.

At 76 I get about 4 or 5 aura migraines a year, usually without warning, and usually brought about by either the relief of stress, or rose perfume . (I have no idea what brought about yesterday's which came on suddenly whilst watching a film!) I am very envious of those who find Sumatriptan effective!! Unfortunately, the only medication which ever worked for me was Migril which contained ergotamine, and, so I was told by my GP, is now no longer prescribed in the UK. Having experienced total failure with any other medication my GP prescribed, often which had side effects worse than the migraine, I now rely on a combination of paracetamol, very strong black coffee (aka caffeine), and maybe ibuprofen if things are very bad, along with a couple of hours in a darkened room!! (No codeine, as I hallucinate on codeine....)

I am 70 and had migraines since the age of 10. I have Rizatriptan to take along with metoclopramide for the sickness. I have medical Botox (31 injections into head, neck and between eyes) every 3 months as I get really bad side effects with most preventative medications. Fortunately this mostly keeps the migraines at bay. I used to have Sumatriptan but it wasn’t strong enough for me. I hope it helps you.

I still get the occasional migraine..and I’m 76!!
As soon as I have the horrid visual disturbance I take two pink migraleves…they seem to stop the pain..although I feel washed out afterwards.

I take sumatriptan for migraine and find it works within the hour. The only problem I find with it is that it makes me pee. Still I'd rather that to the migraine. Unfortunately I am also one of the exceptions and still get them at 71

I have taken sumatriptan for years. I usually only need to take one or two to avoid what otherwise would be a 3 day migraine.

I was one of those exceptions to the rule and still get migraines at 71!

I did stop having migraines after the menopause. Possibly one upside of getting old.

Sumatriptan is amazing! I have had horrendous migraines since I was a child and was eventually prescribed sumatriptan nasal spray in my late thirties. The relief I felt the first time I used it was indescribable. After a while I struggled to tolerate the nasal spray and was then prescribed injections. I don't know how I would manage without them as they really do stop my migraines (although I do feel worse immediately after the injection) and enable me to to carry on, even if I feel sluggish for the rest of the day. I have recently come off hrt and am hoping that my migraines may ease as a result. I just wish my lovely Mum had been prescribed them as she endured dreadful migraines.

Thank you so much everyone for your comments. Next time I get a nasty migraine I'll take one. I tried codeine today as that great wall of rain came at us but it did not even touch the pain. In the end I went to bed and listened to a long meditation on You Tube then fell asleep.

Sumatriptan has been a lifesaver for me. I’ve suffered from migraines since I was 5 and until my 40s. I had to grin and bear the aura followed by the most painful headache imaginable. Now, I take a sumatriptan when the aura starts and it takes half an hour to work. I generally don’t even get a headache anymore. I’ve even cut down from 100 mg to 50 mg.