Migraine Medications: Imitrex Compared to Zomig

Migraines treatment has evolved significantly within the last decade or so, and the newer migraine medications have improved tremendously. At one time, all that was available was pain relief for migraines already in process, where now there are preventative and abortive medicines available for migraine sufferers. Two of the most common migraine medications that fall into the abortive category are Imitrex and Zomig.

Imitrex and Zomig both fit into the migraine medication classification of Triptans. Triptans are, technically speaking, a family of tryptamine drugs which bind serotonin receptors in cranial blood vessels, causing constriction. Imitrex is a sumatriptan, and Zomig is a zolmitriptan, but they both work essentially the same. For best effect, triptans should be taken within twenty minutes of the onset of a migraine headache.

Imitrex migraine medication is available in three basic forms: an injection, nasal spray, and tablets that are swallowed. The injection known as Imitrex Statdose enables migraine sufferers to easily inject themselves with Imitrex for faster relief. It is available in 4 mg or 6 mg strength. Imitrex nasal spray is ideal for migraine sufferers who have nausea and vomiting. Each unit of the nasal spray is preloaded with one ready-to-use dose. Most common, the Imitrex tablets are designed to dissolve quickly upon swallowing and come in doses of 25, 50, or 100 mg.

Zomig migraine medication is available in nasal spray, swallowing tablets, or dissolvable tablets. Zomig nasal spray is easy to use and comes in a single dose per packet like the Imitrex spray. Zomig tablets come in 5 mg or 2.5 mg doses; these are swallowed like most medications. The Zomig dissolvable tablets, known as Zomig ZMT, dissolve on your tongue without liquid for faster relief-these also come in 5 mg or 2.5 mg tablets.

The advantages of Imitrex are that it is more readily and easily available than most other triptans, as it has been around the longest. As a matter of fact, most insurance companies will cover more Imitrex than any other triptan per month, as it is less expensive. The patent on the Imitrex pills expires in 2009, at which time Imitrex migraine medication will probably become available in generic form. Also, Imitrex is available in injection form, and Zomig is not.

Zomig has its own advantages in that it seems to work better and more effectively in some patients than Imitrex. Also, Zomig has a dissolvable tablet, which Imitrex does not. The downside to the dissolvable tablet is that it contains an artificial sweetener which actually causes migraines in some sufferers.

As a migraine sufferer, I have tried both Imitrex and Zomig. Zomig does seem to work faster and better, but Imitrex also is effective. My insurance covers more Imitrex per month, so I have chosen to use Imitrex for migraine relief rather than Zomig. The Imitrex nasal spray is helpful at times when on the go, but produces a horrible taste in my mouth-I have not yet tried the Imitrex injection.

The downside to all triptan medication is the extremely high cost, which will hopefully be alleviated when Imitrex becomes available generically. Those who have no prescription insurance may contact the companies that manufacture these medications to inquire about available assistance programs.