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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications,  Treatments,  Therapies >> Frova anyone?
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Message started by Nate_Q on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 12:34pm

Title: Frova anyone?
Post by Nate_Q on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 12:34pm
I went to Dr. last week.I got percocet which I know help most of the time.But he gave me some sample packs of a non-narc called Frova(frovatripan succinate).He told me to take one at the first sign of a headache coming on.So I tried it and Im amazed.I had 10 pills and only twice did they not quite work fast enough.But the other times it kicked in before the pain.And they seem to stay in my system all day.Does anyone else use this?I dont know much about medications so maybe this is just a variation of something already mentioned here.

Title: Re: Frova anyone?
Post by Bob Johnson on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 2:36pm
For this class of meds ("tripans") there is no best. Imitrex used the most often, I assume, but the others can be very effective because their mode of action can be matched with your Cluster presentation. Gives the doc some choice in what he Rx.

We would have expected him to have also started you on a preventive med so that you would not to have to use the abortive as much.

Print out the PDF file, below, and use it as a discussion tool with your doc.
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=downloadfile;file=Mgt_of_Cluster_Headache___Amer_Family_Physician.pdf (144 KB | 27 )

Title: Re: Frova anyone?
Post by Nate_Q on Aug 9th, 2011 at 5:17pm
We tried o2 and that had no effect for me at all.Tried some other pill but cant remember the name.Taking percocet now but those dont seem to be doing much of anything.As for the Frova....called the pharmacy to price it.WTF!? $280 for 9 pills and my insurance co.(along with most others) wont pay for it because it costs too much.And I have excellent insurance.

Title: Re: Frova anyone?
Post by Bob Johnson on Aug 9th, 2011 at 10:06pm
In the "Important Messages" above, is a article giving sources of assistance to pay for meds.

This med is very effective and about $3/dose (the last time I bought it). Doc can give you samples to see if it works.
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Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6 

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. THE INITIAL OLANZAPINE DOSE WAS 5 MG, AND THE DOSE WAS INCREASED TO 10 MG IF THERE WAS NO PAIN RELIEF. THE DOSAGE WAS DECREASED TO 2.5 MG IF THE 5-MG DOSE WAS EFFECTIVE BUT CAUSED ADVERSE EFFECTS. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and TWO PATIENTS BECAME HEADACHE-FREE AFTER TAKING THE DRUG. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. IT ALLEVIATES PAIN QUICKLY AND HAS A CONSISTENT RESPONSE ACROSS MULTIPLE TREATED ATTACKS. IT APPEARS TO WORK IN BOTH EPISODIC AND CHRONIC CLUSTER HEADACHE.

PMID 11576207 PubMed

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Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.
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Since this abstract was first posted Zyprexa has appeared in some lists of recommended meds for CH. [BJ]
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Percocet isn't going to help with Cluster and will, in time, tend to increase the number of attacks.

Print out the PDF file, below, and use as a discussion tool with the doc.
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=downloadfile;file=Mgt_of_Cluster_Headache___Amer_Family_Physician.pdf (144 KB | 27 )

Title: Re: Frova anyone?
Post by cmassa1 on Jan 29th, 2014 at 5:29pm
I realize I'm a few years late to this post but Frova has been very effective for me as a preventative.  I take it about an hour before I go to bed and it's nearly wiped out my noctornal headaches.  My neuro told me you don't need an entire Frova - I only take half of one, so they last twice as long.  You are right, they are VERY expensive, so this helps.  He said some people only even need 1/4 of a Frova.  The other thing I do to get the cost lower is I get them via mail order through my insurance.  Nearly all drugs are cheaper this way.

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