Treatment of Acute Migraine Attack: Naproxen and Placebo Compared

Abstract

A double-blind, cross-over, randomized study of acute migraine attack compared treatment results of naproxen with that of placebo. Each treatment period continued for either three months or six migraine attacks, whichever occurred first. The initial dose of naproxen was 750 mg, with additional 250-500 mg doses taken if and when required, to a maximum of five 250 mg tablets within a period of 24 h in each migraine attack. Forty-one patients were enrolled in the study; they had all experienced at least two but not more than eight migraine attacks a month during the preceding year. Thirty-two patients completed the two treatment periods. Naproxen was statistically significantly superior to placebo in reducing the severity of head pain, nausea, and photophobia; in shortening the duration of head pain, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and lightheadedness; in diminishing the frequency of vomiting; and in decreasing the need for escape medication. Both patient and physician treatment preferences significantly favoured naproxen. Nine side effects were experienced by seven patients while receiving placebo and seven by five patients during naproxen treatment. Mild gastrointestinal discomfort was the main complaint. Only one patient withdrew from treatment because of a side effect, which occurred while receiving placebo.

Naproxen sodium decreases migraine recurrence when administered with sumatriptan

“…The headache recurrence is particularly pointed as a major limitation for the use of sumatriptan 2,7,8 . Naproxen sodium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) derivative of the propionic acid, also effective for the acute treatment of migraine 9,10 . The combination of the NSAID tolfenamic acid and the sumatriptan has been demonstrated to reduce the recurrence rate presented by the single use of sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine 11 .…”

Современные Подходы К Фармакотерапии Мигрени

“…Согласно данным клинических исследований, на-проксен натрия обеспечивает лучшее облегчение голов-ной боли по сравнению с плацебо в лечении мигрени [20][21][22]. Напроксен натрия является препаратом выбора первого порядка для лечения острого приступа мигрени [10] и препаратом второго порядка для профилактики мигрени [23].…”

Headache, Primary Headaches and Their Treatment

“…Aspirin and NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen 37 or naproxen 38 are effective for the most milder headaches, although they often require high doses. 39 Dosage, timing, mode of administration, tolerance, influence of pathological states, cumulative action and individual idiosyncrasy of the patient are factors of great importance.…”