Migraine - alternatives to Sumatriptan?

[ScrambledSmegs]

I don't know whether it's my age (mid-40s) or just general intolerance to it, but sumatriptan seems to be causing almost more problems than the migraines it's supposed to be treating . It makes me feel nauseous and foggy/woozy for ages after taking it. Sometimes it makes me throw up, as much, if not more than an untreated migraine normally does.

Surely a medicine designed to make you feel better shouldn't actively be making you feel worse?

I haven't managed to get a medication review with the GP for months but I'm due one in early January and want to find out what the possible alternatives are at the moment. Any recommendations gladly received.

There's other triptans to try. I've had one called Rizatriptan and it was a wafer that melts on your tongue. They worked very well for me and the bonus is if you get stomach problems with or after migraines, the Rizatriptans seem much more gentle

My sister tried the nasal spray sumatriptan which worked well for her, maybe it would be worth trying?

There are seven triptans.

I had lots of side effects from sumatriptan tablets but none at all from the nasal spray version.

Ah thanks everyone, both the wafer and the nasal spray sound promising. I'll ask about those.

I need to inject sumatriptan for best effects.
The nasal spray is effective but hurts my nose.
Rizatriptan were great for no after effects and were fairly effective but I had quite some break through pain.

Only issue with rizatriptan is actually the bomb proof blister pack.

Sumitriptan makes my legs feel like jelly, I hate it. Also I don't think it actually works. CBD capsules are bloody life changing for my migraines though!

Another vote for trying different triptans.

I developed too much tolerance to naratriptan and was put on zolmatriptan instead... they were sufficiently different to trick my body into responding to it!

I hated rizatriptan - the flavour made me retch for ages because I couldn't shift the taste. Plus it didn't work for me, which didn't help 😂.

I've been through sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, and almotriptan as ineffective or wearing off their efficacy very rapidly maybe through resistance. It's a shame as I took sumatriptan for over 20yrs and it suddenly stopped working overnight.

I now bounce between zolmitriptan and frovatriptan as directed by neurology to reduce how quickly I develop resistance to them.

I also find that if I can get on top of the nausea early with anti emetics then the migraine often doesn't develop further.

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin

Sumitriptan makes my legs feel like jelly, I hate it. Also I don't think it actually works. CBD capsules are bloody life changing for my migraines though!

Do you mind me asking what CBD capsules you use? Have heard they can be good but worry about getting bad ones and them doing nothing.

I take Rizatriptan and it does make me feel sleepy, but not so much that I can’t function. No other side effects.

@TheQueef is right - you need to have a degree to get into the pack

@TheQueef luckilymy migraines have lessened in intensity and frequency over time, and I tend to respond well to most medications for them. Even so I'm not sure I could cope with having to inject medication in the early stages of a migraine when my eyesight goes blurry!

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin. As far as the actual hemiplegic pain goes, sumatriptan definitely works for me although I have heard that it doesn't for some people, sorry that you're one of them.

@Puzzledtenant I use heavenly CBD. I think there's a lot of dross on the market but Heavenly is one cited again and again as a really good company. (Google, newspapers etc).

They don't make me feel any way, except maybe slightly more energetic and relaxed. I started taking CBD during a migraine and it made them much shorter (2 hours instead of 2 days) and it also helped with the sickness that comes with migraines. Then I started taking one CBD capsule a day and I haven't had a migraine since. This is the longest I've gone without one!