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Imitrex Alternatives

Imitrex is a prescribed medication used to treat migraines and cluster headaches. It does not prevent migraines, but can be used to treat a migraine that is in progress. During a migraine or cluster headache, the brain's blood vessels widen or dilate, which causes the symptoms associated with a migraine. Imitrex shrinks the blood vessels of the brain back to their normal size to help relieve the symptoms of a migraine. Though Imitrex has been shown to relieve the symptoms of migraines, it does not help everyone. There are alternatives to Imitrex that can be used to help treat a migraine.

  1. Oxygen

    • Receiving oxygen during a migraine can help reduce symptoms.

      Oxygen can be administered to an individual that is suffering from migraine headaches, according to MayoClinic.com. One hundred percent oxygen can be given through a mask by a health care professional with a minimum rate of 7 L per minute to provide relief from migraine symptoms. It is said that relief can happen within 15 minutes of being administered. This type of treatment requires an individual to visit a health care professional during a migraine or carry around an oxygen tank at home each time they suffer from a migraine.

    Triptans

    • Imitrex is a triptan that can be injected or taken in pill form. Another triptan alternative to Imitrex is Zomig or zolmitriptan, according to MayoClinic.com. This type of triptan is administered in a nasal spray or pill form and can be used as a fast-acting treatment for cluster headaches. Other Imitrex alternatives on the market are Axert, Electriptan, Frova, Amerge and Maxalt.

    Preventive Medications

    • Imitrex is meant to treat a migraine or cluster headache that is already in progress. Individuals looking for alternatives to Imitrex can use preventive medications to prevent a migraine from occurring in the first place and thus avoid the need for Imitrex to begin with. Preventive medications can include calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, nerve blocks, lithium carbonate and melatonin, according to MayoClinic.com.

    Lifestyle Changes

    • A regular sleep schedule can help prevent cluster headaches.

      Cluster and migraine prevention does not always require medication. Often cluster headaches and migraines are the result of lifestyles that need to be changed to prevent migraines from occurring. It is important to give the body a regular sleeping schedule with the same amount of hours of sleep per night to prevent a cluster headache or cluster period from starting, according to MayoClinic.com. Alcohol consumption and caffeine consumption should be limited by individuals that suffer from cluster headaches or migraines since both substances affect the brain's blood vessels.

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