Indomethacin

Anyone ever try it? I was prescribed it by my new neurologist this week. I took it on Tuesday and it wiped out a migraine in progress completely. I'm pretty amazed - virtually nothing has ever done that for me.

It's hard for me to believe that I have been prescribed things such as fentanyl pain patches, and no one ever though to prescribe me a simple NSAID.

Anyone have Indomethacin experiences to share?

I'm glad it helped you!

Anna took it daily for about nine months (about nine years ago). It caused a lot of stomach pain, but she stayed on it. She got down to about 110 pounds because she couldn't eat. I thought she was wasting away too much and asked her doctor at the time to take her off it.

But in the right person, I'm sure it can do wonders! My best to you!

Cheryl

I take it sometimes. I even have suppositories for when I can not take anything orally. Sometimes it works well with me, other times not so well. I'm glad to hear it is helping you.

jwar, did you see on wikapedia it had indomethacin used to treat two kinds of distinct headaches. Both of them spark my intrest in trying your med. Hope you have found permanent relief.

hemicrania

Glad it worked for you. I tried it a couple of times. Might as well swallow a breath mint.

Teri

I Love this Forum and I Love my neuro.

I was reading this post in the waiting room. The Dr. came and got me and walking back to the office I showed him the post and asked him about the drug.

He said "Let's try it". Actually he has me trying Cambia. It's different form of it that's faster acting and stronger. Cambia was just approved for use for Migraine in July of this year.

He said it should help with my back too, so I'll get a two fer. I take it PRN. Are you taking it differently?

I keep indomethacin in stock for my pericarditis when it flares up........never thought to try it for my migraines - will also ask my doc about using it for migraine pain next time I see him. It works for the pericarditis - a very strong anti-inflammatory. Thanks for the idea.

The side effects concern me since I'm diabetic. I think I'll ask my doc too, though, since a recent MRI of my neck showed severe spondylosis. Thanks for the info.

I too have indomethicin for hermicrania continua! It helps me out alot! I was taking it as a prevent and realized i didnt need to do it so much. I now take 2 when i feel a migraine coming and it helps alot! Be careful of long term use a maor side affect is bleeding ulcers My doc had me take a stool test sut for precaution when i was taking it everyday for a couple of months and I was fine. Hope this helps!
Anthony

I have never tried that one before. Gotta give it a go ....

Petzi wrote:I have never tried that one before. Gotta give it a go ....

I am ruled out on several counts.....

http://xpil.medicines.org.uk/ViewPil.aspx?DocID=18095

It has been my main pain relief med for about 4 years now. I have both the capsules and the suppositories. To say I love it may sound weird, but I love my indomethacin. It does not completely take the pain away, but it definately helps.

The suppositories used to knock me out, but I have built up a tolerance to their potency.

It has started to bother my stomach, sadly, so I have had to lay off indothemacin for a few weeks and give my body a rest. I use it daily. I had to give it up for 6 months a few years back while I was on Coumadin, and the replacement pain relievers were weak in comparison.

So, yes, indomethacin gets a huge thumbs up from me!

I took Indomethicin daily for almost 1.5 years. It did help keep the chronic daily migraine pain down to a lower level, but then stopped working like everything else. But it was great while it did work.

I was very careful to always eat something though as it can tear up your stomach.

I'm so glad it is helping you!!

Ann

I have widely used indomethacin for years as abortive for migraines.
It's the only anti-inflammatory that works for migraines.
It is a very old remedy that for years has been almost banned by neuros as it's considered a cause of rebounds.
Recently, it has been re-evaluated as it seems the only alternative to people who don't respond to triptans or ergots.
I know a bunch of people who have been to H/A centers recently and who have been prescribed only indomethacine. I was confused about it, but it seems that the lack on new treatments pushes doctors to take out from the magic hat old but working meds....

I like indomethacine as it works very quickly and well on migraines, especially in suppositories.
Unfortunately, in my case, it covers the migraine attack only for 8/12 hours but never aborts it completely. I can continue with the same attack for weeks.

Most of the migraine sufferers that I know uses a drug that here is marketed under the name of "DIFMETRE" which contains indomethacine, caffeine and anti-vomit.
It works well and gives minor side effects on the stomach.

I do take it PRN. It's interesting to me, because indomethacin is frequently prescribed for cluster headaches. I definitely do not get cluster headaches - my headaches are always on the back right side of my head. The location of the pain NEVER varies. But my headaches are always a clawing, boring type of pain, which is how cluster headaches are described. Apparently a lot of migraineurs have throbbing, burning pain. I wonder if indomethacin is better suited to a specific type of pain.

Anyway, I am thrilled to have found this drug. I also started lamictal last week - an anti-seizure drug that has been shown specifically to help migraine with aura. I was on it once before for PTSD and I didn't have a lot of headaches back then on it, so I'm really hoping it helps me again. I had 4 days of nasty headaches when I started last week (but they weren't migraines) due to an adjustment to the med I think. The indomethacin didn't touch those headaches, but neither did anything else. I haven't had a migraine since I started, but am really curious to see if the indomethacin will continue to knock them out.

Congratulations on finding something that actually works!

I just started indomythecin two days ago and am waiting to see if it will work- I've had daily chronic headache on my left side for over a year. How long did it take for it to kick in for people? Should I give up on it already or give it a week? I'm about to cut my head off, I've tried everything.

I had an awful reaction to it...caused the worst stomach pain of my life and inflamed my liver. Needless to say I can't take that anymore.

I am thrilled for you that it worked on your migraine. I truly hope it continues to keep working for you in the future.

Dawn