Old drug may offer new relief

Shape, August, 2004

Vioxx (rofecoxib), a drug approved years ago for arthritis pain, has been given the green light by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a migraine medication. Tests on hundreds of migraine patients showed Vioxx to be more effective than a placebo and to often offer relief within two hours. Side effects, which can include dizziness, sleepiness and nausea, were no worse than those of other migraine drugs.

Some studies show that Vioxx may be used to supplement or replace a drug that hasn't been effective. It also may stop a migraine from recurring in the same day. While Vioxx is not a revolutionary treatment, many patients fail to get relief from other migraine medications, which means every new option is welcome, says lead investigator Stephen Silberstein, M.D., director of the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia.--F.K.