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.

1 . A method of treating 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 migraines.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is selected from the group consisting of: sumitriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, eletriptan, almotriptan 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 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the single dosage form comprises: 5 mg of rizatriptan benzoate, 10 mg of VIOXX®, 42 mg of microcrystalline cellulose, 42 mg of modified food corn starch and 1 mg of magnesium stearate or 10 mg of rizatriptan benzoate, 10 mg of VIOXX®, 39.5 mg of microcrystalline cellulose, 39.5 mg of modified food corn starch and 1 mg of magnesium stearate.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the COX-2 selective inhibiting compound is VIOXX®.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the COX-2 selective inhibiting compound is MK-663.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is rizatriptan or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the COX-2 selective inhibiting compound is celecoxib.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the COX-2 selective inhibiting compound is valdecoxib.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the COX-2 selective inhibitor is celecoxib and the 5HT 1B/1D  agonist is eletriptan or a salt thereof.