Migraine

Since the onset of menopause & moving to the Southwest, my migraines have gotten progressively worse. Over the years, my regular doc and a 2 neurologists have prescribed a plethora of meds as a prophylaxis. They work for about a month and then I'm back to migraines either every day or every other day.

I decided to do some searching online & found some articles in neurological journals that suggested success with using Naprosyn/Naproxen (prescription strength) as a "preventive" medication. I had been taking 500 mg. of Naprosyn along with 2.5 mg. of Zomig as abortives.

So, I decided to try this, since my doctor from the air force base was deployed to Afghanistan and the neurologist in town has basically told me that I have no more options left when it comes to preventive medications.

Well, the Naprosyn has worked! I started with 2 doses (500 mg. each) per day. That seemed a bit much, so I went down to 1 dose of 500 mg per day. I have just gone down again to 250 mg per day. I have been migraine headache free for 12 days. Anyone else have a similar experience with Naprosyn/Naproxen?

I will warn you though - you WILL RETAIN FLUID! I put on 5 pounds in 1 week and wasn't eating much at all as it was Lent & I was fasting.

I went to see the Neurologist yesterday (they only let me see the Certified Nurse Practitioner). She was delighted with the results and I'm sure happy that I did all the research for her, PLUS paid for the office visit! I was concerned because she did not share the opinion about the side effects and dangers of NSAID's that are clearly noted on the FDA website for this drug.

So anyone else out there use Naprosyn/Naproxen as a prophylaxis?

Jan

Welcome Jan.

I've had success with another NSAID - Mobic. Teri, our expert guide here, says I'm an unusual case, though, because most people will rebound from daily NSAID use. I do feel lucky.

Also, that was quite a chance you took prescribing yourself the Napoxen. At prescription strength, it should only be a doctor that decides if that's the course for you.


I would also be concerned about a medical professional not sharing the opinions of the FDA. I worry about the Mobic, but I have to weight the pros and cons.

We do have a list of preventives should you ever need to check into another one:

Migraine preventive medications: too many options to give up!

Jan, I wanted to add another link for you to read:

Medication Overuse Headache

Deb,

How kind of you to reply and for the two links provided. I have accessed the list of preventive medicines & have printed it out previously. I've tried a number of them. NEVER more than one at once. And, my neurologist was VERY CAREFUL to make sure I didn't take too much abortive medication. In fact, he has me considering migraine treatment on a 30-day cycle. Within that 30-day cycle, I am NEVER to take my abortive med more than 6 times. Thus, hopefully warding off any chance of rebound headaches.

I resorted to doing my own research on Naprosyn/Naproxen as a preventive medication because I have literally been abandoned by the medical community here. We live in a small rural area of New Mexico. Our Primary care comes from the local air force base. As I mentioned in my initial post, my primary care physician has been deployed to Afghanistan. My husband & I have yet to be reassigned to another physician. All we have to resort to is a Physician's Assistant on base, who has not been very reliable in returning phone calls (like when my speech was slurred from taking Topamax - which I got off of pronto!). The neurologist's office has basically written me off. When I saw the CNP yesterday, she was relieved I had done more research and had found a successful preventive medication (Naprosyn/Naproxen) treatment myself.

In my research on this medication, I read many studies from reputible Neurological journals, so I don't think I was taking too much of a chance. The medication had already been prescribed to me as an abortive to be used in combination with Zomig.

I did insist that the CNP at the Neurologist's office order kidney & liver function labs for me (which is recommended by the FDA) even though she didn't think it was necessary. I encouraged her to read up more on this treatment and gave her a number of links to access.

So, I didn't just dream up this course of treatment. It is well documented. My intent on posting this was in addition to finding out if it was successful for someone else ..... to also suggest it as another method of prophylaxis treatment for those who have not had success otherwise to examine it along with their physician.

I will continue to give a progress report on this from time to time. As mentioned, I have been migraine h/a free for 12 days now. That has not happened for over 10 years! So, there must be something to this treatment.

Check out this link ...

Successful migraine prophylaxis with naproxen sodium

Jan, you say you've tried many of the preventive meds on our list, but never more than one at a time. Just some food for thought - many of us only have success with using several in combination. Something you may want to discuss if you choose to go back to another treatment route.

MaxJerz,

Thank you so much for your reply to my post & for your suggestion.

I did in fact discuss exactly what you suggested with the Certified Nurse Practitioner at my Neurologist's office whom I saw yesterday. She & the neurologist who supervises here do not subscribe to prescribing multiple medications for migraine prophylaxis.

Thanks anyway!

Hi Jan,

We're glad you've found our site helpful. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

Here's the thing. While a neurologist may be a fine doctor, they are not experts in any one area because they treat so many different conditions. Migraine specialists devote their entire practice to Migraine disease and headache disorders and are on the cutting edge of treatments. Our list of patient recommended specialists can be found HERE.

The link you provided is over twenty years old. Daily use of naproxen sodium can, in the short term minimize your pain, but potentially create another problem called Medication Overuse Headache. We have information on this HERE.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing, ok?

Nancy,

Thank you for your reply & for your suggestions.

Many months ago, I referred to the listing you suggested for a Headache specialist & have checked it many times since then to see if there were any updates. Unfortunately, I live in rural New Mexico & there is only 1 headache specialist on this list & she is in Albuquerque, nearly 300 miles way. In addition, my insurance (Military) does not cover this clinician. I have even checked specialists on that list from the nearest neighboring state (Texas) and they are further away.

Also, I am well aware of the danger of "rebound headaches" or MOH as your suggested link calls them. This was discussed with my neurologist in the very first appointment I had with him. I am limited to NO MORE THAN 6 abortive treatments per month to avoid this. I am VERY cognizant of this.

I see you feel the study I provided a link to regarding using Naprosyn as a preventive medication to be too old. There are many more updated studies on the internet. The only reason why I referenced this one is because it came out of Henry Ford Hospital. As a young woman living in the Detroit area, all of my doctors were there & I found them to be quite reputable. I wouldn't necessarily rule out a study because of it's age. There are certainly a number of medication & treatment protocols that are older than 20 years that are still useful today .... for example - the polio vaccine.

I am merely trying to state in my post that I am having success with this medication -- something that I have not experienced with any others. I feel that is legitimate, wouldnt you agree?

I will be most happy to continue to post both success and if I experience problems with this course of treatment.

Jan,

20 years ago, we didn't know about MOH. While not everyone will experience MOH from NSAIDs such as Naproxen, many people certainly do. We always want people to have the info on MOH because, if someone get into that cycle and doesn't break it, the are essentially sentencing themselves to a headache every day of their life.

In a field that is changing as rapidly as Migraine and headaches, a study that is more than a few years old is very often outdated. Certainly no offense was meant, but that's the way it is in this field. Nancy and I attend yearly conferences to help us stay up-to-date.

Regarding travel to a specialist -- I hear you! There is NOBODY in my state. To see a specialist, I either have to drive eight hours to Philadelphia or fly to Dallas. It has absolutely been worth it. I've gone from an average of five nasty Migraines a week to one manageable Migraine about every two months.

Keep plugging away!

We always want to hear from our members, their success and problems. Being an educated patient is the best thing we can do for ourselves, which is part of our goal on this site.

In my opinion, daily NSAID use is not a good thing for Migraine prevention. Acute treatment of a Migraine attack, ok, but not daily prevention. With over 100 medication used to treat Migraine disease, there are other options available. Sometimes it feels like I have tried every medication out there, then I look at the list again and have quite a few more to go!

When we start a new Migraine prevention medication, it can take up to three months to see a reduction in our Migraine frequency. That's what make's it so frustrating, the wait and see game. But by not giving the medication a fair trial, we may be cheating ourselves from a pain reduced better quality of life.


Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

Thanks Nancy

I respect your opinion. However, the fact remains, this treatment is working for me. Maybe it wouldn't for you or someone else. This forum is filled with experiences that people have with migraine medications. Some are successful, some are not. Everyone is different. I'm just trying to report my success and delight at having been migraine free for the longest time in over 10 years! I will be happy to also report on this forum if things go south with this treatment.

Just an update .... 20 days now on low dose (250 mg/day) of Naprosyn as a preventive .... and only 1 migraine! Haven't had this much success with a preventive med in over 10 years!

NSAIDs seem to actually work for some of us with no rebound headaches or as this forum calls them, MOH.

FYI, the proper diagnostic term IS Medication Overuse Headache, even though it's also commonly called rebound headaches.

quote:

Originally posted by Jan H:
Just an update .... 20 days now on low dose (250 mg/day) of Naprosyn as a preventive .... and only 1 migraine! Haven't had this much success with a preventive med in over 10 years!

NSAIDs seem to actually work for some of us with no rebound headaches or as this forum calls them, MOH.

Hi JanH,

I'm glad to hear you've only had one Migraine attack recently. That must feel great.

According to the International Headacahe Society's Classification of Headache Disorders, Medication Overuse Headache is the correct diagnositc term. On these forums and site, we work very hard to use correct, accurate and current information on Migraine disease and Headache disorders. We certainly don't re-create the wheel - "rebound headaches or as this forum calls them, MOH" as this qoute may suggest.

quote:

Originally posted by Jan H:
Just an update .... 20 days now on low dose (250 mg/day) of Naprosyn as a preventive .... and only 1 migraine! Haven't had this much success with a preventive med in over 10 years!

NSAIDs seem to actually work for some of us with no rebound headaches or as this forum calls them, MOH.

Jan,
Having just read this thread I want to throw my caution to you to carfully watch your stomach. My DBF developed an ulcer this summer from Naproxen he was taking for Arthritis. He was very careful to take it only with meals, but the problem still developed. Very, very scarey when it occured. Having read this thread with the amount of research you have done I would guess you are well aware of this, but did want to throw that out.

Take care,

Cindy