Method of treating migraines and pharmaceutical compositions

Abstract

A combination of a 5HT 1B/1D agonist and a COX-2 selective inhibitor is useful in the treatment and or prevention of migraine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing migraine in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, which comprises administering to the patient a COX-2 selective inhibiting compound and a 5HT 1B/1D  agonist, or salts or hydrates thereof, in amounts that are effective for treating or preventing migraines.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is selected from the group consisting of: sumitriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, eleptriptan, almatriptan and rizatriptan and the COX-2 selective inhibiting compound is selected from the group consisting of: meloxicam, MK-663, VIOXX®, RS 57067, celecoxib, valdecoxib and a compound of structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the COX-2 selective inhibitor is VIOXX® and the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is rizatriptan.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist and COX-2 inhibitor are administered combined in a single dosage form.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist and COX-2 inhibitor are administered as separate dosage forms substantially concurrently.  
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition which is comprised of a 5HT 1B/1D  agonist and a COX-2 selective inhibiting compound, or salts or hydrates thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is selected from sumitriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, eleptriptan, almatriptan and rizatriptan, and the COX-2 inhibitor is selected from MK-663, VIOXX®, meloxicam, RS57067, celoxib, valdecoxib and a compound of structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is rizatriptan or a salt thereof, and the COX-2 inhibitor is VIOXX®.  
     
     
         9 . A composition in accordance with  claim 7  wherein rizatriptan or a salt thereof, is present in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 10 mg, and VIOXX® is present in an amount ranging from about 10 mg to about 100 mg.  
     
     
         10 . A composition in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the rizatriptan is present in the form of the benzoate salt.