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coachsteph	Dec-23-03, 08:00 AM (CMT)
"initrex side effects on kidneys"
I am trying to find out if any other fellow migraine suffer who has taken imitrex has had any type of kidney trouble. (kidney stones infection) I never had a problem with my kidneys until 10 years ago when I started imitex. Since then I have had 7 hospital stays 6 times to blast large stone. They called me a "stone maker" I started to really take notice in the time how often I took Imitrex and the amount of stones I developed. I have been off Imitrex for a year. I managed to pass all the stones I had and no new ones developed. I averaged passing 4-6 a month at home before I stopped the Imitrex. All my Dr. Say Imitrex does not cause stone. I even wrote the drug Co. They told me the same thing then sent me a letter asking for me to release all my medical records reguarding Imitrex and my Kidneys to them. Am I the only one or are their others???
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RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., catwoman, Dec-23-03, (1) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., coachsteph, Dec-23-03, (2) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., catwoman, Dec-23-03, (3) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., lesherb, Dec-23-03, (4) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., coachsteph, Dec-23-03, (5) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., coachsteph, Dec-23-03, (6) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., catwoman, Dec-23-03, (7) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., coachsteph, Dec-23-03, (8) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., catwoman, Dec-23-03, (9) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., Lilywhite, Dec-23-03, (10) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., catwoman, Dec-23-03, (11) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., kathy, Dec-23-03, (12) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., sumbum, Dec-23-03, (13) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., donjonrn61, Dec-23-03, (14) triptans and kidney stones... inter..., Catherine, Dec-23-03, (15) RE: triptans and kidney stones... i..., coachsteph, Dec-24-03, (16) RE: triptans and kidney stones... i..., mishkyn, Dec-24-03, (17) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., Sandi, Dec-24-03, (18) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., coachsteph, Dec-25-03, (19) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., hpilgrim, Dec-25-03, (20) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., smiley, Dec-25-03, (21) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., coachsteph, Dec-26-03, (22) RE: initrex side effects on kidney..., catwoman, Dec-31-03, (23)

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catwoman	Dec-23-03, 08:08 AM (CMT)
1. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
YES! I think that you are right! I spoke to my neuro about this!!! When I take imitrex injections I will find that I have to pee huge amounts of urine! And when I have to go I will wake up from a deep imitrex induced sleep. I spoke to my neuro about this (and even though he is great)he was some what dismissive about this side effect. I do belive that there is a correlation between taking imitrex shots and something going on with my kindneys. I have not had the overwhelming effects that you have experienced (i.e. the kidney stones) but there is definately something going on when I take a shot! You are on to something!!! Heather
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	coachsteph	Dec-23-03, 08:23 AM (CMT)
	2. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	If you read the insert that the phamacy gets it says that there has been no trials but little to no effect is expected on the kidneys. Yea. 10 years later thousands of dollars and not to mention the pain of the stone(close to that of a migraine) Dr. still do not believe me even though I have been stone free for a year and imitrex free for a year. I guess I will let them have my medical record. 8 uroligist 2 nephroligist. I have lost faith in Doctors.
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	catwoman	Dec-23-03, 09:03 AM (CMT)
	3. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	We can't be the first people to notice this side effect. Can we? I thought it was just me being crazy! Why isn't this being mentioned??? I don't understand!!!
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	lesherb	Dec-23-03, 09:15 AM (CMT)
	4. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I haven't had any kidney stones but I do find an increase in urination when I use Axert (another triptan) and also noticed it when I used Imitrex. I just figured this type of med has a diuretic effect. Łeslie
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	coachsteph	Dec-23-03, 09:16 AM (CMT)
	5. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I think it is becaus Drs don't know about it because the drug company did not enough research on it. They are either afraid I will try to sue them or they have gotten other complaints but not enough to justify the cost of the research that needs to be done. I have seen 8 uroligists 2 nephroligist for my kidneys as well as my neuro and family dr they all told me that there is nothing in the research that shows it will cause a problem. But thir own research says it should not cause a problem and that no study was done.
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	coachsteph	Dec-23-03, 09:17 AM (CMT)
	6. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	how long and how often do you use imitrex?
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	catwoman	Dec-23-03, 10:05 AM (CMT)
	7. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I have used imitrex off and on for probably 10 years with times where I was using the maximum amount of injection my insurance would pay for a month (4) and supplementing with imitrex pills and maxalt. I really find the increased urination with the injections. I don't have that problem with maxalt at all.
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	coachsteph	Dec-23-03, 10:26 AM (CMT)
	8. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	increase urination is a side effect with injections and a rare side effect with the pills. Just watch for stones. From what I have read the pills excreat through the kidney as 2 different chemicals. one is a crystalline compound and the other is a bonding agent.Good luck with the Malt. Did not work for me. Im on Topomax. UGLY UGLY med.The side effects are a nightmare. I have been on it 2 weeks and only had 3 headaches That is a world record for me.(except when I was pregnant.not 1 headache for 10 months) Im going to keep looking for other people. you can educate your Dr by showing him the Imitrex info that comes with the box or print it off the internet.Im really like this site.
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	catwoman	Dec-23-03, 10:38 AM (CMT)
	9. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I like this site too! I have learned so much since I started reading here and I am hooked! I don't feel so alone with dealing with my migraines since I joined here. I am so glad that I found it one day while I was doing a search!
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Lilywhite	Dec-23-03, 01:47 PM (CMT)
10. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
LAST EDITED ON Dec-23-03 AT 01:48 PM (CMT) I think we would indeed be the first the notice. We, the actual human guinea pigs.
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	catwoman	Dec-23-03, 02:02 PM (CMT)
	11. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	so then what can us guinnee pigs do to protect ourselves and others?
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	kathy	Dec-23-03, 02:12 PM (CMT)
	12. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	My theory is that just because they don't have it documented doesn't mean it can't happen. Go with your gut instinct on this, it's probably right. kathy
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	sumbum	Dec-23-03, 04:46 PM (CMT)
	13. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I have also noticed that when I take imitrex, I have to pee a lot more. I'm not sure what effect this has on the kidneys, but my guess is that this is just something that hasn't been researched. Just because a particular side effect hasn't been scientifically studied and identified doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. It's like when they put on most drugs.. "Do not take during pregnancy" or something like that, what they really mean is "We have never studied this on any pregnant women. We have no idea if it has any effects." I'm glad other people have noticed this about imitrex.. I'm not crazy ;)
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	donjonrn61	Dec-23-03, 05:46 PM (CMT)
	14. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	Coachsteph, You mention that you've recently started taking Topamax. Just so you know, Topamax DOES have a known side effect of causing kidney stones in users. You might want to discuss this with your doctor who prescribed it for you even though you already have a history of this problem. I had never had kidney stones until about three months after starting Topamax and it was my neurologist who pointed out the connection. I went several rounds with kidney stones during the year and three months I was on it and have not had one single incident since discontinuing the Topamax three months ago. Just an FYI. - Donna
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Catherine	Dec-23-03, 05:53 PM (CMT)
15. "triptans and kidney stones... interesting..."
LAST EDITED ON Dec-23-03 AT 05:55 PM (CMT) I'm glad you shared this on this board. I take amerge and have taken approx 24-40 tablets/month for a few years, until last summer. I developed my first kidney stone about 2 years ago and have had, I think 4-5 seperate ones in total. I forget how many times I've been through that h#ll. lol. Anyways, I just wondered if I was our water, well/artesian, minerals, had moved there about 5 years before, then I wondered if it was my atkins diets, protien, which is known it increase your chance of kidney stones. I have moved from the town, not been back on the diet, and passed another stone last week, but it seemed smoother, different variety, so I thought this one had to do with topomax, which IS listed to have potential to cause kidney stones. So, now maybe its the triptans? Well, I only take about 12-16/month now, so that's good, compared to before... maybe thats why this one was not so bad, and took a year to hit me? hmmm... more to keep in mind. thanx Catherine
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	coachsteph	Dec-24-03, 05:59 AM (CMT)
	16. "RE: triptans and kidney stones... interesting..."
	I am aware of stones being a side effect. the amount of water I have been put on for the last ten years should help alot in preventing the topa from causing stones. If it does it will be alot less than the multi a month I had on Imitrex. I think the Triptans can cause them. The drug manufacuture wants copies of all y med records since I have raised a stink with them. I dont trust the public robbing drug companies.
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	mishkyn	Dec-24-03, 01:24 PM (CMT)
	17. "RE: triptans and kidney stones... interesting..."
	Dear Coachsteph and others~~ After taking a triptan, I have always noticed a feeling as if I am getting a urinary infection that didn't quite break through. An increased urgency, a feeling that I cannot empty my bladder enough, that I have to urinate no matter how little comes out. I've run into this same problem of a drug co claiming no correlation with side effects or no contraindications with meds--things they never tested for. I recently ran into this again with a brand new med my mother is taking. When she was prescribed an antibiotic, I called to make sure the drug would not block the antibiotic. I was told there was no problem in taking the two together, but the nurse at the drug company kept hedging and told me to ask my pharmacist about it. I said, "Doesn't Eli Lilly have an entire staff of pharmacists that would be better informed than mine about a drug that just came on the market?" She said yes, but kept telling me to call my pharmacist anyway. Finally I pulled it out of her that there has been no research about using the drug (which is a kind of super calcium) with an antibiotic, so any claims about the two together were completely invalid, only guesswork. I guess they are willing to let guess work rule the day because the above story is a common one throughout my drug history. We are indeed guinea pigs. But with billions of dollars being spent on headache meds, they are all willing to experiment with us. It is a bit chilling. Mishkyn
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Sandi	Dec-24-03, 02:35 PM (CMT)
18. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
I know for fact that Imitrex is known to be hard on Kidneys, at least the nephrologists at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota say so. I have a 39 year old male friend and he has been diagnosed with I can't remember what kidney disease and he also has about 6 bad migs per year. They told him no Imitrex ever. They also said he has very high cholesterol but they would not allow him to take meds to lower it, as they said those drugs are also very hard on kidneys. He has never had a stone. My sister has had about 10 surgeries for kidney stones in the past 2 years. Started after she had that weight loss surgery. She just did this test where she had to save all her urine for a total of 24 hours. They did some analysis on it and prescribed some meds for take for 3 months, and then they will repeat the test. The doc said he also thought that the WLS aggravated the stones. I have had kidney stones once. It was after I quit using Imitrex and was using lots of Maxalt and DHE. I quit both Maxalt and DHE and also Imitrex. When I took Imitrex and DHE I couldn't breathe. If I had iv DHE I would have such sore muscles for days afterward (even like in my crotch area...sorry guys. Like I had tried to do the splits for hours on end. Kidney stones are very bad, they can lead to major scarring. Large stones can cause a kidney To "shut down"...happened to my sister. She was told if these stones keep up she could lose her kidney..require a transplant. Take care.
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	coachsteph	Dec-25-03, 08:18 AM (CMT)
	19. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	If I take 1 Imitrex today in less than 24 hours one or both of my kidneys will hurt for up to 2 weeks which by then I will have had another headache and had to take another Imitrex. It was a never ending circle of pain. Every Dr I went to said Imitrex does not cause it. The drug makers said the med does not cause it. I took mysself off Imitrex. passed all 15 stones i was carring and have not had even a twing in my kidneys so far. I have passes 100's of stones 6 times having 16mm or bigger blasted and then forced to pass the smaller stones. I have done the 24 hour urine collection dozens of times and meds to lower the oxilates,uric acid and calcium. I have been on a kidney stone diet for 6 years. nothing helped til I stopped taking the Imitrex. They need to do studies. I do have damage from all the scaring.
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	hpilgrim	Dec-25-03, 10:34 AM (CMT)
	20. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	Are we talking about just Imitrex, or does this apply to all triptans?? And what does this mean for people who take at least one a day.... Holly
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	smiley	Dec-25-03, 10:37 AM (CMT)
	21. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	Your right, thats very scary. It`s sad, that they can`t come up with something better. You take one Medication for one thing, ending up to take several things for the following damage they do to your body. Sometimes I feel like a dog, which runs behind his tail and try to bite it.
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	coachsteph	Dec-26-03, 09:04 AM (CMT)
	22. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I do not know about any of the other triptans. None of them even phased my migraines. I would like to know if anyone on any of the triptans is having kidney stone problems.
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	catwoman	Dec-31-03, 02:01 PM (CMT)
	23. "RE: initrex side effects on kidneys"
	I can't stop thinking about this topic. I really want to try and research this and see why the potential for kidney problems is not clearly stated with Imitrex usage. It has to be! This cannot simply be a correlation that we are all noticing the same symptoms! Heather
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