I have had episodic CH's for 20+ years and have tried just about everything on this site; however, today my Dr. gave me a script for Treximet (sumatriptan and naproxen sodium). same company that makes Imitrex.  I am sure they won't abort a CH as effective as the injection, however, if anyone has used this and care to share their thoughts on its effectiveness, would appreciate it.

It's a combination product which has been useful for migraine but which will have little impact on CH. The pill form of Imitrex may help some but is generally too slow acting.

Needless to say, the naproxen has no role for us.

Hi Iron,

My neuro is Dr Sheena Aurora, Director of the headache clinic at Swedish Pain and Headache Center, Swedish Hospital, Seattle. Prior to my first visit I had been trying naproxen because, what the hell, why not? I had been thinking it MIGHT be helping.

Her opinion, stop NOW, it won't help ch and the long term use necessary for that condition has nasty side effects (I forget exactly, but kidney and liver come to mind).

Several years later I was invited to participate in a study of Treximet  in headache treatment (sponsored BTW by the maker, GlaxoSmithKline). When I filled out the questionaire, was immediately disqualified because it was a MIGRAINE study.

Dr. Aurora is consistent, because it was HER study. I didn't follow the results closely, but apparently it was found to be beneficial in migraine treatment. My personal opinion, great, but if you have migraine and you want to use, get a script for Imitrex (or better yet, the generic) and buy the naproxen over the counter (much cheaper combo). The skeptic in me notes that Imitrex is going off patent, and this is a way to keep cashing in on a money cow(actually, I probably heard that here!).

Best,

Jon

I tried it. didn't do a think to help.

Took Treximet last night but not as an abortive.

I have been getting an attack every night after sleeping 1 hour.  Last night was a K8-K9 for about 1/2hr about 1:00am with substantial shadows lurking about.

Decided to take the Treximet at about 4:00am.  Went to bed and slept til 8:00am.  Woke up with very slight shadows.  So it did work as a preventative in my case.

However, I feel pretty buzzed up this morning

                                         PFD's On Ya
                                             JPC

welp...to keep the rule "alive" its worked well for me but not for thee!   I'm 3 weeks into a 5-6 week cycle and other than 2 or 3 times its been a successful abortive for me.  The trick?  Get it down the gullet ASAP....CH gone in roughly 30 minutes form aura to KIP 5-7.  

FYI, I'm also on Prednisone (second round of a 6 day pack)

Cheers

I am at a loss as to why Naproxen would be prescribed for CH.


           Jeeze.  The mis-information out there is staggering.

jon019 wrote on Oct 16^th, 2008 at 8:33pm:

The skeptic in me notes that Imitrex is going off patent, and this is a way to keep cashing in on a money cow(actually, I probably heard that here!).

Exactly. And there is NO reason for a cluster sufferer to be taking naproxen. It will do more harm than good. Too bad the pharmaceutical companies don't take the hypocratic oath.
(The doctors that work for them should all be ashamed of themselves)

JM2C
Bobw

tried it,  but no beneficial effect for me. i think the other post have right imitrex is losing the patent and they are just trying to keep the cash cow going.  imitrex and naproxen   PLEASE !!!!!!!!  try to keep it real drug makers.

Got a coupon to try it; should have saved the co-pay. It took half an hour to notice any difference in a shadow headache and the relief didn't last. Maybe it's good for migrains, but not for clusters.