I'm sure this has been answered somewhere already but I am in pain so I dont have the energy or focus to go looking for the answer. briefly I think this is my third Ch cycle in 3 years. I am new to this site and the second time last september the neuro put me on treximet and this works in about 20 mins. My cycle seem to last about 3 to 4 weeks growing in intensity. I am ready to go back to neuro and checked the approved prescription list at my insurer Cigna and saw that Treximet is now not approved. This obviously has me a little worried. If I take two pills imitrex and naproxen will I experience the same relief ? what have been your experiences with taking the two pils over the one?  thank you

Have you talked to your nero about oxygen treatment for Ch. I do have the imetrex shots but have not needed a single prick since i got the 02. I can beat a Ch in less than 5 minutes with 02. It is worth a look trust me.


                        Coach Bill

Insist on oxygen.

        Potter

I don't remember why, but my neuro told me not to take Ibuprophin with Imiterx. I think it has something to do with the stomach. :-?

Treximet was compounded and is marketed for migraine. Naproxen has no value with CH and so is a needless med to take.

Primarily, however, the pill form of Imitrex is too slow acting for most folks who have commented on it here. It would be more effective to fight with your insurance company to get approval for the forms of Imitrex which do work--injection of nasal spray. (This is a job for your neuro--to do the fighting--and there is info on the OUCH site [left] to help.)

Another option, which has the convenience of a pill form and lower cost cf. Imitrex, is Zyprexa. (Print out Rozen list, below, and give to your Neuro.)

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Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)

I also use imitrex injection due to the slow acting nature of the pills.  My doc did prescribe me Treximet to try - it did nothing for my clusters.  I believe you may see more of a difference with two pills of imitrex due to the higher dosage that Treximet has - it has 85mg Imitrex plus naproxen sodium.  This is almost as much as the max 100 mg pill of imitrex.  It would be better (as far as cost & how many you can get per month from insurance etc) to ask for a prescription of the 100mg pills than to take two... side note - the max you should take in a day is 200mg...

I also agree with Potter & Bill, however - Oxygen is the BEST - you should aim to try it if you haven't - I only use Imitrex injections if I'm not near O2 (on a plane, driving, in a store, etc) and am hit or if the O2 doesnt work for whatever reason - it does most of the time and Without side effects!!

Best of luck,

Val

thank you all for your quick response, I will ask about the O2 and research the other drug options. Thanks again for getting back to me so quickly

Bob Johnson wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 2:07pm:

Naproxen has no value with CH and so is a needless med to take.

Bob I have to disagree with you on Naproxen.
Naproxen sodium (Aleve)

For me and a few others it is one of the few OTCs that can help with the lingering headaches, the stressed neck muscles and other incidentals to CH.
Being a muscle relaxant and anti inflammatory it has the potential to be detrimental to CH but used sparingly it can help a lot.

For me it is one of the only meds that could relieve the strong lingering shadows and tight neck muscles so common for many of us after endless days and nights of pain. Other NSAIDs do not help me in this way.


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Potter wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 1:52pm:

Insist on oxygen. Potter

Yep - if done right, O2 can be fantastic for most Clusterheads.. (Bob P tends to do things wrong  ;D)




Bob Johnson wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 2:07pm:

Treximet was compounded and is marketed for migraine. Naproxen has no value with CH and so is a needless med to take. Primarily, however, the pill form of Imitrex is too slow acting for most....................

Bob, I have to agree with you here. When MOST people get hit with a real K8-K10, Naproxen has no valueat all. The pill form is slow, so it allows the hit to bloom into a biggie.

MJ, for low level hits and/or tension headaches I can't disagree. Have you had good success with Naproxen on a really big hit? If so, I am jealous.

Marc

Marc -Your right it does absolutely nothing for an attack but Naproxyn can do wonders for the side effects as stated above.

It wont even help a low level CH hit but it will help between the hits.

When days have rolled into weeks, months, and all you can feel is the nagging remnants of CH. while you wait to be hit again.
That is the time for Naproxyn and then occasional doses will break the nagging headache and knots tied into the neck from the constant stress of pressing your head into your hand, the wall or whatever one does.
may not help others but its one of the very few things that ever helped me. A good 12 hour dose can do wonders might even allow a few hours of sleep.

Again it is not to abort a hit but can alleviate the pains between (without causing a hit) and that is a surprisingly big part of CH that we too often just accept as part and partial.

Makes sense. That's how Indocin (Indomethacin) worked for me for many years - until I found myself taking way too much of it.

Marc

One other thing I noticed on this cycle and the last one was a constant sensation on the top of my nose at the Tip. Does anyone know what this means. Does this have anything to do with the Trigeminal nerve....I am interested to see when this sensation disappears will the headaches diappear? anybody else have this?