Naproxen for Migraine

[LRLR]

Hi I’m new on here. Have had focal migraines for 27 years since I was 13.

I usually take sumitripan during the aura stage which helps however it sends me to sleep, so GP has changed me to naproxen.

Has anyone tried this? How do you find it?

Also I have been told to take it during my period as a preventer, however i am a bit reluctant to take this every day as it’s so strong. I have been given something to help my stomach with it which put me off a bit.

Has anyone tried this for prevention of mensteral migraine?

Thanks so much!

[Cat00]

Yes I take naproxen with my triptan and with omprizole to protect my stomach. I've not been on it for that long but my triptans have stopped working and I have chronic migraines so this month I've had it every second day. To be honest I was fairly desperate to stop the pain and the naproxen works but I find it takes a couple of hours.

I don't like how the omprizole intefers with my stomach/bowel but 2 of my mother's friends have had their stomachs damaged by naproxen so I take it anyway. Like you I would not want to take it long term, I'm on a new CGRP injection which has really reduced my migraine frequencies so I'm hoping this is just a bad month, Although I have to come off it for 3 months so I may be using naproxen a lot for a bit of the future then hopefully return to much lower levels.

[LRLR in reply to Cat00]

Sorry to hear your triptans have stopped working. I understand you feeling desperate to stop the pain. It’s ashame it takes a few hours to stop the pain.

Thanks for your insight, I was worried to take naproxen for the first time at work so will try the weekend. instead I have done this new method as the gp advised- to take anti-inflammatory in morning before migraine can come on but used ibuprofen instead of naproxen.

It’s actually worked. Well, I have still had signs like light sensitivity, irritability, exhaustion and can’t stand noise but I don’t have the usual focal aura followed by head pain. It’s like the migraine still happens but without the symptoms. I have also had the post drome stage too where you feel terrible the next day. I have never had this before it’s very strange for me! But feel lucky I didn’t get the full migraines this week.

Gp told me they are going toward using this method more rather than the triptans.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Cat00 in reply to LRLR]

Ah well the triptans worked half the time for 30 years before now so I had a fair run.

It's surprising what your doctor said about ibruphen. With chronic migraines you can only have 8 days a month where I can take any kind of painkiller, so Im not sure what I would do for the 20+ days left over! Still im on the CGRP self injector as a preventative now and I don't get aura so it might be all different.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Cat00]

There about 7-8 different triptans. Do you think you need to increase the dose? Or change? You could change to an "sublingual"- under the tongue. Which should be quicker than a pill. Have you tried injections ( of triptans)? They are amazing, just like an epi-pen.

I use 100mg ( normal dose is 50mg) pill and injection.

Good luck!

[Cat00 in reply to Onthemove1971]

I've tried 5 out of the 7 triptans, the only one that worked that well was Zomig and Sumatripan but Sumatripan hurt my stomach for days afterwards. I found I can only tolerate triptans that have nasal spray available versions. I don't know why ive never been offered an injector version to be honest. I find the CGRP injector really painfull to administer though!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Cat00]

I'm not sure how large turn needle is on the CGRP, but the Sumitiptan need is small. It helps so much becuase all of my head pain goes away in less than 10min. Just a thought for you when you get really bad.

[Cat00 in reply to Onthemove1971]

The CGRP injector is I think like an epipen so the "needle" bit doesn't hurt but the speed they ram the liquid in really hurts, but it's only once a month and it's make a real difference so its well worth it. May I ask how you came about getting triptan injectors, the only other person I know who got them didn't get them on the NHS. The Zomig takes at least 2 hours to work on me and even then doesn't work that well but my neurologist said this was because my migraines had become transformed which I think means when you start getting them as frequently as I do there is no distant 'beginning' anymore and the triptans only really work well when taken at the onset of a migraine.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Cat00]

I am.in the US. But my Neurologist knew that I needed to stop the pain quickly and he prescribed it. Within 10min. It is gone! The best. Of course I can't take them often. I have to be very careful not to over use any medication because they will turn into a drug dependent migraine.

[Cat00 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Yup that's always the problem. I had my months worth of painkiller days in the first 10 days of this month so I can't take anymore til July sadly. 10 minutes sounds fabulous, if I ever get to see a doctor again I'll ask about them but with the pandemic it's all on the phone and I'm not good on phones!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Cat00]

If you already have pills, the Neurologist should be able to give you the injection. Not sure if I have asked you before, have you tried Magnesium? I know how much it has changed my life.

Good luck!

[Cat00 in reply to Onthemove1971]

I haven't tried Magnesium although due to your excellent recommendation I did listen to the heads up podcast and they make a good case. My reluctance is really down to two things, the first being my neurologist didn't rate it, or rather the studies she's seen on it but also I have IBS and bladder pain syndrome and they've got worse when I've tried supplements in the past so I'm nervous about it.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Cat00]

I have also tried a million things. If you start on a very small dose 1x a day then add a second dose and if all goes well add a third. This has really changed my life, of course I am only one person but I have heard many others also have success. Of course if it doesn't work stop.

Or just try the Feverfew.

Good luck..

[Cat00 in reply to Onthemove1971]

I've tried feverfew but not for long enough really. What kind of magnesium do you recommend? I've read there many!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Cat00]

I have great success with magnesium glycinate. Maybe start with 1/2 the smallest dose 1x a day. Then increase when your body gets adjusted. It would be great if you could get up to 3x a day. This is when I found most success. I take Feverfew 2x. But start slow with one first.

My motto is " If it works.. then it will be working".

Good luck!

[LRLR in reply to Onthemove1971]

Hi again

May I ask with the triptans do they all make you drowsy? Do you know if there are any that are non-drowsy? I often get migraines at work and can’t take my triptans as it sends me to sleep and a struggle to carry on working.

Thanks

[Cat00 in reply to LRLR]

I've been taking triptans for over 20 years and they have affected me different ways at different times. I am only finding now that they seem to make me drowsy so I conclude from this that it is not the triptans, it's the migraines themselves, as the triptans themselves haven't changed. Although the drowsiness itself does seem to correlate with the taking of a triptan it does also occur without them in a way it never did before, but only sometimes. Sorry not very helpful!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to LRLR]

I take Sumitriptan ( Imitrix) 100mg, my son takes Rizitriptan ( I think 5mg) neither of us have any symptoms after taking the medication. Other than the migraine goes away. I really hope you start magnesium,.it should really help you!

[laddy3 in reply to Cat00]

Hi sorry to interrupt did ur doc give u the inhibitor jag and has it helped my docs won’t give me 😩

[Cat00 in reply to laddy3]

Do you mean the CGRP injector?

[laddy3 in reply to Cat00]

Yes lol thx

[Cat00 in reply to laddy3]

Yes I've been on it for a year, then they took me off it but I got so much worse they've put me back on it. You have to have migraine over 15 days a month and have tried more than 3 different preventatives before you qualify for it.

[LRLR]

Hi again. I’m not sure how it all works with different migraine types either. Since posting I have realised it’s looks like it’s my asthma inhaler cause if these strange symptoms- head pressure, tiredness ect without the migraines.

I recently went on to a stronger one (fostair 200/6 from 100/6) and every time I take it I have symptoms for a few hours.

Its surprising what we react to and what triggers migraines and headaches.

I tried naproxen and it was very effective in stopping my headache! So pleased with it so far.

Thought I would post this to update incase it helps anyone else.

I hope you are managing ok Catt00, and good luck with your treatment. It must be awful for you having so many headaches every month. X

[Cat00 in reply to LRLR]

This forum has made so much difference to my life. It took over 10 years to find a doctor that believed I was having migraines that often, once I finally started getting some real help I could start living again! I still have never met a person in the flesh with chronic migraines but I know they exist bc I've met them here. It's really nice to know I wasn't completely crazy!!

[Onthemove1971]

There have been a number of research studies that show people who experience migraines are deficient in magnesium. There are 4-5 different types, so I recommend you start with 1 type and take it 3x a day. You can "play" with the dose that works best for you. Neurologist say you can take as much as 1600mg daily. Once it starts to work every migraine will become less painful, then you will get less during the week.

In addition I take Feverfew 2x daily and it has really helps me.

I use both pill and injection Triptans be uase sometimes I need a quick injection to stop the pain.

It is very important to drink...drink..drink water and never skip a meal that includes protein.

I have learned so much from the "Heads Up" podcast. They are women UK migraine specialist and everything is free.

When needed I use ice and heat on my back and neck. I also drink hot peppermint tea. These all help when I feel a migraine starting.

I never let my pain get bad. If I do I will need to go to the emergency room (where they give me a cocktail of medication with IV fluid).

Hope these help!

[LRLR in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thank you for this. This is very interesting and I will research the medicines you are sharing.

It’s interesting you mention deficiencies as I have found out that the fostair can make me defecient in potassium and that this could be causing the side effects I have been having and triggering migraines and head pains. I will research the magnesium d. Too, thank you!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to LRLR]

If after 3 months you do not see a difference ( I am pretty sure you will) switch until you find the right amount. The lunch dose helps me the most. I start to feel a tinge of pain around 11:30am, once I take magnesium glycinate 100mg it goes away. Best of luck!

These recommendations are from 2 different Neurologist.

I also drink a cold Pepsi with my OTC migraine medication and usually that will stop it.

Good luck

[Onthemove1971]

I also wanted to add that, I have had migraines for over 20 years and NO ONE has ever discussed how much back and neck pain starts a migraine. Also eating meals with protein. When I eat "light", just a salad or something without protein I always get a migraine. Same with drinking lots of water..

All of these make such a difference!

I grab ice for my back and this often turns things around for me and quickly.

Hope these tips help others that struggle.

[laddy3]

Hi sumatriptan was great for me shame u have to come off I use Naproxen at 250 mg as had a hysterectomy so can’t take stronger I use Max Malt wafer for Migraine as Naproxen not strong enough for me gd luck rho