Partial doses of Imitrex?
Partial doses of Imitrex?
The whys and hows of partial injections of Imitrex SC
Study
Treatment of cluster headache attacks with less than 6 mg subcutaneous sumatriptan
This study confirms that doses lower than 6 mg can be effective in the treatment of Cluster Headache attacks in a large majority of patients.
Moreover, at those dosages, the side effects disappear most of the time!
Why inject a partial dose of Imitrex?
Partial doses are injected for several reasons:
- Your doctor advises you not to use this medication for cardiovascular reasons.
- If you are under 18 years old or over 65 years old, normally Imitrex, while not being forbidden, is to be avoided
⇒ Ask your doctor, neurologist or cardiologist if you can use doses of 1/3 or 1/2.
- You cannot cope with the side effects or react badly to them.
- You are pregnant and wish to limit the risks although they are not strictly established.
- You simply want to decrease the amount you are taking of this medication, which is also a good idea!
⇒ Try 1/2 doses and, if that works well, try using 1/3 during the next attack.
Caution!
The effectiveness of the injection of a partial dose varies among patients. It may not be effective for you.
How do I inject a partial dose of Imitrex?
There is currently nothing in Belgium that allows it, unless it’s “DIY” made.
OUCH Belgium is currently investigating the possibility of compounding half-doses in hospital pharmacies. Indeed, it seems that hospital pharmacies are the only places able to prepare syringes containing 2 or 3 mg of sumatriptan under sterile conditions.
This preparation exists in Germany (3 mg in 1.5 ml of solution).
In the meantime, …
OUCH Belgium offers an alternative:
We have developed an injector adaptable for syringes which allows the precise injection of 1/3, 1/2 or 2/3 of a dose: The Simple 3D Printed Injector Kit.
This injector is 3D printed using PLA and is very easy to use.
The model has been registered with BOIP
Registration number 88006-01.
Another advantage is that it also allows a complete injection. In fact, it is easy and significantly less painful to do the injection manually.
Caution!
This kit is, currently, a unauthorised medical device [1]
Therefore, we cannot sell it or even give it away for the time being.
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