Treximet (Sumatriptan/Naproxen) for Migraine

Treximet (sumatriptan/naproxen) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine with or without aura in adults and children ages 12 and older.

How Treximet Works and How It’s Taken

Treximet combines a triptan and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It targets certain serotonin receptors and blocks cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that help make pain and inflammation signals. In migraine, this may narrow swollen blood vessels, reduce pain-signaling chemicals, and lower inflammation.

Doctors prescribe Treximet for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults and children ages 12 and older.

Treximet is given as a tablet by mouth, typically taken when a migraine attack starts. It can be taken with or without food, and the tablet should be swallowed whole.

Typical Dosing for Migraine

Adults: The recommended dose is one Treximet 85-milligram/500-milligram tablet. If the migraine comes back or only partly improves, a second 85-milligram/500-milligram tablet may be taken at least two hours later. Do not take more than two tablets in 24 hours.

Children ages 12 to 17: The recommended dose is one Treximet 10-milligram/60-milligram tablet. Do not take more than one dose in 24 hours unless your healthcare provider gives different instructions.

The safety of treating more than five migraine attacks in 30 days in adults, or more than two migraine attacks in 30 days in children, has not been established.

This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Treximet Side Effects

In clinical trials of Treximet for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura, the most common side effects were different between adults and children.

For adults, the most common side effects occurred in between 2 percent and 4 percent of people and included:

Dizziness
Somnolence (sleepiness)
Nausea
Chest discomfort or chest pain
Pain, tightness, or pressure in the neck, throat, or jaw
Paresthesia (tingling or “pins-and-needles” feelings)
Dyspepsia (indigestion or upset stomach)
Dry mouth

In children, the most common side effects occurred in up to 2 percent of people and included:

Hot flush or hot flashes
Muscle tightness

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Treximet can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Heart attack or stroke — Serious heart or blood vessel events can occur and may be fatal.
Serious stomach or intestinal bleeding, ulcers, or perforation — A hole in the stomach or intestines can occur and may be fatal.
Dangerous heart rhythm problems — Life-threatening arrhythmias can occur.
Cerebrovascular events — Bleeding in the brain or stroke can occur.
Blood vessel spasms in other parts of the body — Reduced blood flow can affect the arms, legs, or organs.
Liver injury — Hepatotoxicity can cause symptoms such as yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Increased blood pressure — Blood pressure may rise, sometimes severely.
Heart failure and fluid retention — Swelling, sudden weight gain, or shortness of breath can occur.
Serotonin syndrome — This serious reaction can happen when Treximet is taken with certain antidepressants and other medicines.
Kidney injury and high potassium — Renal toxicity and hyperkalemia can occur.
Severe allergic reactions — Anaphylaxis can cause trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Serious skin reactions — These can include Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and fixed drug eruption.
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) — This severe reaction can include rash and organ problems.
Seizures — New or worsening seizures can occur.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Treximet

Currax Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Treximet, offers a program on the Treximet website that lets you “pay $75 or less” for the Treximet authorized generic, with nine tablets, or “$99 or less” for brand-name Treximet, with nine tablets, plus free shipping. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may pay even less.

The Treximet website also says the program includes pharmacy assistance to look up your insurance coverage and submit where possible.

What To Know Before Taking Treximet

Before starting Treximet, your doctor may do a cardiovascular evaluation if you have multiple risk factors for heart disease.

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to Treximet or any ingredients in the medication.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.

Do not take Treximet if you:

Have ischemic heart disease or coronary artery spasm, including Prinzmetal’s angina
Are having or recently had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
Have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or certain heart rhythm problems
Have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a history of hemiplegic or basilar migraine
Have peripheral vascular disease or ischemic bowel disease
Have uncontrolled high blood pressure
Have taken an ergot medicine or another triptan within the last 24 hours
Take an MAO-A inhibitor or have taken one within the last two weeks
Have had asthma, hives, or an allergic-type reaction after aspirin or another NSAID
Have had a serious allergic reaction to sumatriptan or naproxen
Have severe liver impairment

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Treximet, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. NSAIDs like naproxen should be avoided at about 30 weeks of pregnancy and later, and use between about 20 and 30 weeks should be limited to the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible. If you are breastfeeding, infant exposure to sumatriptan can be minimized by avoiding breastfeeding for 12 hours after taking sumatriptan.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Treximet?

In adult studies of acute migraine treatment, 65 percent and 57 percent of people who took Treximet had headache pain relief at two hours, compared with 28 percent and 29 percent who took placebo (an inactive treatment). Also, 25 percent and 23 percent stayed pain-free for 24 hours without using other medicine, compared with 8 percent and 7 percent with placebo. In a study of children ages 12 to 17, 24 percent who took the 85-milligram/500-milligram dose were pain-free at two hours, compared with 10 percent who took placebo.

How long does Treximet take to work for migraine?

In adult migraine studies, headache pain relief was measured at two hours after treatment, and more people improved with Treximet than with placebo by that time. The median time to peak sumatriptan level in the body is about one hour, while naproxen reaches its median peak at about five hours. Food did not meaningfully change how much medicine was absorbed, but it slightly delayed sumatriptan’s peak time by about 0.6 hour.

Can Treximet be used with other medicines for migraine?

Treximet should not be taken within 24 hours of another triptan or an ergot-containing medicine. It also should not be used with an MAO-A inhibitor or within two weeks of stopping one. Using it with SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, or MAO inhibitors can raise the risk of serotonin syndrome, and using it with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended.