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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
        
(Message started by: BIX on Apr 13^th, 2004, 1:42pm)

Title: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by BIX on Apr 13^th, 2004, 1:42pm

I recently moved into the chronic phase about a year ago. Which was always a fear of mine, and now it sucks. Episodic is nice and predictable. I have had these for 8 1/2 years and realized long ago they will never leave. So I now have only a week if I am lucky between clusters. I was introduced to Amerge about 8 months ago. For me Amerge knocks out my HA's for 24 hrs. It works great and reliable, one problem..expensive. My health insurance will only give me 9 pills a month, as any one knows you cannot predict med usage when being attacked. I recently was given a new drug called Frova. Frova is very much like Amerge in its make up and desired affects, only its half life is 10 times longer. I have had up to 72 hrs of no headaches. I have not tried pushing the limits of it yet ( running, or high physical activity... major trigger for me) but as for small triggers it works ie.. limited alchol consumption. I am in no way advocating drinking alcohol with meds, but every one wants to lead a normal life, allowing them to do what they want. I am not talking about binge drinking just a beer or two after work. Frova has given me good results, on the downside Amerge and Frova can both produce rebound HA's according to my Nuerologist, I have not expeirienced them, but it could be a possibility. Frova is new and some neurologists will give it out for free in complementary trial packages.

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by pubgirl on Apr 13^th, 2004, 7:36pm

For info:

Amerge=Naratriptan
Frova=Frovatriptan
Imitrex=Sumitriptan
Zomig=Zolmitriptan

None of them are new (not even Frova)
All are contraindicated for people with any heart or circulation problems

Imitrex overall is the one shown as most effective for CH, but a few have found relief from the others.

Downside of Frova is that it is currently pill form and therefore too slow for a CH abortive, but if you search the archives, a small number of people have found very short term preventive relief from triptan pills (frova, Zomig and Imitrex). Some found that Frova was causing rebound migraine type headaches though.

Each person is different though, so if one triptan doesn't suit, another might.

Wendy

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by Lizzie2 on Apr 13^th, 2004, 7:44pm

And to add to wendy's list:

Maxalt
Relpax
Axert

My former neuro sent me some info this morning about using Frova twice a day for CH prevention. He did a recent study (which is in the process of being published) showing success with CH patients preventing their attacks by taking Frova twice a day. Sounds promising to me. I currently take Amerge, but I am going to ask my neuro about using the Frova, instead. We'll see!

Lizzie :)

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by Thorns on Apr 13^th, 2004, 9:58pm

My last neuro gave me samples of amerge, frova, and imitrex in the pill form. I ended up trading them all in for imitrex nasal sprays.

The amerge and frova both gave me migraine like headaches for about 24 hours after taking them and did not abort CH attacks when taken. However, I did not experience anymore CH attacks w/in the 24 hours.

The imitrex in the pill form kicks in at the peak of an attack like a giant heat wave of nausea that sends me praying to the porcelain gods.

I guess I'll just have to stick to the spray once I can afford it again.

Thorns

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by Tall_Guy on Apr 19^th, 2004, 11:44pm

When I first started with Amerge about 3-4 episodes ago, it was good for 24 hours (imitrex tabs lasted 2-3 hours at best). Now it seems as though the beast has adapted & it's less effective, especially as I reach a peak of a cycle. I've recently moved & have yet to find a new MD. I want to investigate other potential preventatives & abortives that I've learned about at this site.

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by UN_SOLVED on Apr 20^th, 2004, 9:42am

A triptan for PREVENTION ??? omg ... this is all new to me. Where are you getting this info from ?

Unsolved

PS...Bob_P and I are 'discussing' this now on the "Solution" thread. He's for triptans as a preventative and I've always been told and i've read that they're not supposed to be used as preventatives. [Learn me if i'm wrong]

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by Bob P on Apr 20^th, 2004, 9:56am

If memory serves me, the half-life of trex is 1-2 hours, Amerge 2-4 hours, Frova 24-26 hours. When Frova first came out I wondered if it would work as a preventative. 1 tab a day and you're good to go. Unfortunately the first reports from people who used Frova were not good. A lot said it didn't work on clusters. I asked the manufacturer if they had any intentions of testing it's use on clusters. They said no test were planned.

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by Karla on Apr 20^th, 2004, 11:46am

I tried both frova and amerge and found it to be effective as imitrix. Meaning I would take it at onset of my ch and two hrs latter when the next ch hit the frova or amerge wasn't working to cover me. So I only got 2 hours out of it. I was very disapointed in the stuff.

Title: Re: Frova, lasts longer than Amerge
Post by Lizzie2 on Apr 20^th, 2004, 8:20pm

Amerge doesn't work fast enough to abort an attack for me, but it does prevent future ones for the rest of the evening if I take it...and then don't get hit for 4 more hours! LOL

My former neuro did a study that is ready for publishing citing the effectiveness of Frova as a twice daily preventive for CH. I didn't reread my earlier post, but he did find it effective for 5/7 people tested with it. I do not know the length of time that people would use it as a prevent. I know that I was supposed to take the Amerge for 2 weeks from my other neuro, but my insurance only allowed 4 days, so I never got a chance to really check it out.

Sooooo there ARE studies out there on frova and amerge as short-term preventives, but they may not be published yet. That's my scoop. I'm asking about the frova treatment in May when I go back to Jefferson because of the recommendation from my former neuro.

Hugz,
Lizzie