100 Migraine Drugs, A to Z: naproxen

Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn) is a popular over-the-counter and prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is often used for the treatment of migraine headaches. A combination of naproxen with sumatriptan (Treximet) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Naproxen alone, while not specifically approved for the treatment of migraines, is widely considered to be an effective drug. A review of several double-blind studies confirmed this observation. It has the advantage of having longer duration of effect when compared to ibuprofen or aspirin.

Naproxen has been also studied and proven effective in a double-blind study for the prevention of migraine attacks.  In another double-blind study naproxen, 550 mg taken twice a day was also effective for the prevention of menstrual migraines. It also helped relieve premenstrual pain. Naproxen is rarely used for the long-term prevention of migraines because of the risk of stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding.

NSAIDs carry a warning about the potential negative effects on the heart, but it should be of no concern to most migraine sufferers who tend to be young women with no risk factors for heart problems and who take naproxen only intermittently.

There is a myth that NSAIDs (and triptans) can cause rebound or medication overuse headaches (MOH). There is no scientific proof that this happens and in fact, when someone suffers from MOH due to caffeine-containing drugs (Excedrin, Fioricet) or opiates, naproxen is often prescribed to help withdrawal headaches.