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Any other Maxalt users out there ? Does it give you esophageal spasms ?

I was a Maxalt user years ago. I can’t use Triptans any longer, but I can comment on my own experience way back when it first came out…

I do have esophageal spasms, but I didn’t get them until I had already stopped taking Maxalt. I don’t think one has anything to do with the other – in my case anyway. I haven’t seen any research discussing these kinds of spasms, so am curious along with you. Perhaps a little further research would yield some results.

Have you asked your doctor about this yet? That’s a really good place to start. Does he/she have any suggested causes for the spasms?

I have found that if I drink a really lot of liquid with the Maxalt, and take a Dexialant (ppi) prior, it has not been as much of a problem. I suffer from severe GERD ,as well as the migraines.

My ENT says he has found a definite correlation between GERD and LPR (that’s my version) and Migraine. This might e a great question to ask of our physician experts here.

Have you found that treatment for your GERD helps your Migraine situation at all?

I guess I’m lucky I never had much of an issue with the Maxalt. I even found the slightly minty flavor slightly soothing when the nausea hit. I really wish I could take it again

I have found no correlation in GERD treatment helping my migraines. I do thing stress is a major factor in both entities in my case. I have had GERD for over 20 years (now taking Dexilant60mg ppi in am and 300mg.Zantac before bed). Even had the anti-reflux surgery which did not help me. I am a very high anxiety (GAD) person .

I use Maxalt 10mg sub lingual. It has been a life saver for me though I still get enough migraines to have my life affected more than I like. One of the changes I noticed once I started maxalt, is that the previous non-maxalt cycle was broken. For the most part, that was great. But what was really noticeable was the fact I no longer had the nausea nausea’s part of the cycle and fall asleep afterwards. When I woke up after all that I felt as though my body had been washed clean of everything. My brain felt lighter. I felt more aware and calm. It was akin to waking up in the mountains and taking a cold streambed bath as I did in the good old days. With Maxalt I do NOT have that nausea cycle. Has anybody else observed this reaction? In fact I always found the day or two after the migraine would be my most creative and alive. And I now miss that.

I can say I have increased esophageal flow when sleeping in the middle of the night. But to tell the truth I can not relate it exactly to Maxalt. Are people saying the GERD is constant whether on a Migraine drug or not?

saltlakesam,

Just a tip – Maxalt-MLT isn’t meant to be subingual. Sublingual medications are absorbed through the mucosa. Maxalt-MLT is absorbed similarly to other oral medications when you swallow the saliva it dissolves in.

Thought I’d mention this to you since it may dissolve faster on your tongue rather than under it.

Sam, The Maxalt just seems to agravate the GERD. I have GERD wether or not I am on migraine drugs.

I wonder if the minty flavor of the Maxalt may contribute to the problem? Peppermint is on my list of things to avoid for GERD patients.

I have been using Sumatriptan 50mg for a couple of years and find it very effective. The side effect has been greatly increased frequency of Migraine. My doctor has prescribed Maxalt Melt 10mg wafers to use instead and break the cycle.Does anyone know if the same problem exists with Maxalt as they are also the triptan family?

How often are you using them ?
From the Cleveland Clinic– “The triptans–which are migraine- specific medications and include Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Relpax, Axert, Frova, Amerge, and Treximet–taken more than 2 times per week can cause rebound headaches.”

Richardo,

Yes, the problem exists with all of the triptans or pretty much anything we take to treat a Migraine when it occurs. It used to be thought that we could take one type of medication, say a triptan two or three days a week and another type, say a pain medication, two or three other days a week to avoid the problem. We now know that doesn’t work. We need to not use any acute medications more than two or three days a week. The article at this url may help, http://migraine.com/blog/living-with-migraine/help-how-can-i-not-overuse-migraine-medications/

Many thanks Teri and Gregory for the posts. Yes it does look as though my frequent use of Triptans at least 2 or 3 times a week, sometimes more has caused the Medication overuse headaches (MOH)!
Teri that is a great article about other medication that causes MOH, because it was probably the overuse of analgesics in the first place that prompted the treatment of triptans……it can be a damaging cycle that we become involved in when having to use drugs regularly.
I will try temporarily to use analgesics as an alternative when the migraine comes on to break the triptan overuse cycle (if I can handle the pain!).
I am now looking into alternative treatment with more of a holistic approach including preventative techniques you have mentioned and try and avoid/greatly reduce my drug levels.
This last week I have started meditation, neck and shoulder massage, natural breathing exercises. Also avoiding coffee, alcohol, cheese and taking crystallized ginger daily.
I now feel as though control is coming back to me and hopefully by looking more at natural, behavioral and environmental factors which I can choose, I wont be a victim of migraine(brave talk!). This is a great site and thanks for the advise, I will keep searching…..