flare from triptans?

[dminton]

I experience a flare of bladder pain whenever I take a triptan, in my case, Maxalt, for my migraines. It hits about 2 hrs. after I take the dose. Does this happen to anyone else? Any ideas about the mechanism involved?

[Sarojini]

I am not sure of the mechanism, other than that the triptans alter serotonin (a neurotransmitter) metabolism, and this could well interfere with nerve impulses throughout the bladder, head, and rest of body. In addition,they alter blood flow, and some people are sensitive to that.

I do know that I have not felt all that great bladder-wise after taking Maxalt for a migraine in the past, so you are not alone with this one. I found that it helps me to cut the Maxalt in half... take one half, then wait an hour or so. Surprisingly, just the half can help my migraines sometimes! However, when it doesn't , I take the other half in an hour. For some reason, taking the dose split up like that seems easier on my bladder... I have NO idea why, but if it works, why not.

:)

Hope it helps....

[dminton]

Thanks for your reply! It's always interesting to hear what others experience. I also private e-mailed you.

[sweetangel2080]

was looking for information on triptans and found this thread

In my case tried naratriptan and rizatriptan, both make me flare or diuretic for 2 hours at least then not good after

Tried sumatriptan and this is ok for one or two doses but my migraines reoccurs every day for like 3/4 days and doc only prescribes a maximum of 6 a month!
any others I can try? I was hoping rizatriptan (maxalt) might be okay....

[mtnrunner]

I have not noticed an increase in flare when I take Frovatriptan. I think Frova is a wonderful drug, and works far better for me than Maxalt. But everyone's different. However, I am not a great judge on the drug-flare thing at this point. Oddly, since my IC started I have had fewer migraines than before, so I have only taken a handful of Frova, and my IC is flared most of the time so far so it's hard to judge. I haven't gotten my symptoms under control. But I am fairly new to treatment (only just under two months into it).