Recent studies are proving that combining your prescription migraine medication with NSAIDS such as naproxen is much more beneficial than using either product alone. When someone takes both medications, there is also less chance of recurrence.
The medications known as triptans include Imitrex(sumatriptan). They stop migraines by stopping the release of inflammatory substances from nerve endings and also alter the pain signal transmission. NSAIDS, nonseriodal anti-inflammatory drugs, stop inflammation. While the prescription migraine medication is considered standard therapy, as many as 1/3 of patients do not get relief from them.
A study of nearly 1000 migraine sufferers concluded that 46% got relief from the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen, 29% from sumatriptan only, and 25% from naproxen only. They also found that after 2 hours, 65% of the combination group remained migraine free, 49% of the sumatriptan group was pain free, and 46% of the naproxen group was pain free.
The researchers concluded that the best combination is 50mg of Imitrex (sumatriptan) combined with 500mg of naproxen.
Triptans are expensive. They include the following medications: Imitrex, Zomig, Axert, Frova, and Amege. They are only available in brand name and are about $20.00 per pill.
Naproxen 500mg is inexpensive and prescription only. You can buy over-the-counter naproxen 220mg and take two of them; 440mg should work just as well.
**UPDATE**
GlaxoSmithKline, aka GSK, is manufacturing and profiting from the migraine medication Imitrex to the tune of about $900 million a year. Not a huge number in the drug world and I have no problem with a company profiting from its products.
Several years ago, I wrote an article and spoke about the advantage of taking the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen along with your Imitrex to boost the effect. The pain relief results from taking the combination are much greater than just taking the single Imitrex. There was no generic substitute for the costly Imitrex but the naproxen is just pennies a dose.
In January 2009, the patent will expire on Imitrex allowing generic manufacturers to produce the same drug for a greatly reduced price. GSK stands to lose virtually 100% of the revenue from Imitrex. GSK is not stupid. GSK is a large, multimillion dollar company. GSK, like any company, does not like to lose $900 million a year. INTRODUCING TREXIMET!
Treximet, from GSK, is the combination of Imitrex and naproxen. It has been patented by GSK, approved by the FDA, and will be on pharmacy shelves soon. So what.
So what? Do you know what happens when you go to your doctor and he prescribes Treximet? First off, he gets rewarded, and you get the shaft. You will be paying a heavy price tag for this new drug when the exact same ingredients are available for pennies on the dollar. Treximet contains 85mg of Imitrex(sumatriptan) and 500mg of naproxen.
Here's my suggestion; if you have migraines and get a prescription for Treximet, ask the doctor to change to Imitrex 100mg and naproxen 500mg to be taken together. Your cost is going to be significantly lower and the results are going to be virtually the same.
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