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If you’ve used Midrin or its equivalents as your Migraine abortive medication, you’ve probably followed the long saga of Midrin and medications equivalent to it being removed from the market. Thanks to one of our Migraine.com members, Mandy, I’ve learned that there may still be hope.
See Also
March 31 2011 Midrin Update
Midrin Equivalents for migraines
Update: Midrin & Equivalents 2/9/11
To summarize the situation, Midrin was developed long enough ago that it first went on the market before the current FDA drug approval process went into effect. During the many years between the time that the FDA approval process went info effect and the time that Midrin was discontinued, none of the pharmaceutical companies producing these medications did the required clinical trials and applied for FDA approval. So, first Midrin was discontinued, then the equivalent medications – medications with the same ingredients – were pulled from the market. Since Midrin was never approved by the FDA, there technically weren’t generics; there were equivalent drugs. For more background on this, including a copy of the email explanation I received from the FDA, see Looking for Midrin Equivalents for your Migraines?.
Mandy posted some comments on one of my other Midrin blog entries to let us know that her pharmacist has recently been able to get a Midrin equivalent medication for her. When I asked, she very helpfully provided the name of the manufacturer, Macoven Pharmaceuticals based in Magnolia, Texas.
This morning, I called Macoven’s customer service and spoke with a woman named Cindy. She confirmed that they are indeed producing and distributing a medication equivalent to Midrin. They distribute across the U.S., and pharmacists should be able to get their Isometh/Dich/Apap capsules. Those abbreviations stand for isometheptene mucate, dichloralphenazone, and acetaminophen
Cindy was well aware of the situation with these medications and the FDA. She told me that Macoven is “working with the FDA” to be able to keep their product on the market. Although I find this encouraging, I’m going to be cautious about being too encouraged until Macoven has officially worked things out with the FDA. The reason for my caution is that two other pharmaceutical companies have worked with the FDA over the last year to keep their products on the market, and they ended up discontinuing their Midrin equivalent medications.
I’ll be checking in with Macoven periodically to see what progress they’ve made with the FDA and will post updates whenever I have new information.
Live well,
© Teri Robert, 2011
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"I had my first migraine when I was 12. I thought I was going blind, the spots in my vision all grouped together and everything went black. The pain was intense and felt like my head would crack open above my right eye." 
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I was happy to hear about Macoven, but in the meantime I had pursued other sources. I live in western Colorado, and my local compounding pharmacist told me that she could make up the migraine meds for me with my doctor’s script. ***Post edited by moderator due to personal contact information***
I checked with my pharmacy, and they already had it on the shelf! They got it from Macoven. We sent a fax request to my doctor, but I guess he needs to see me again first.
I appreciate your comment, but this blog entry was to let people know that there’s no need to have it compounded at this time because there’s a Midrin equivalent being produced and shipped. Your pharmacist should be able to get it for you. More information in the blog/article.
As of November 7, 2011 Reed’s Compounding Pharmacy in Tucson Arizona is making the drug. It takes three days to fill the prescription. I don’t know if they mail prescriptions but here is the phone number **edited by moderator to remove personal contact information** Oh, and no insurance is accepted, sorry. You might try contacting a compounding pharmacy in your area before calling Reed’s. No, I don’t work for them, but like many others here midrin is the only solution to my migraines and I get them in two forms: ocular(retinal) and common. Thank you Teri for the information.
You’re very welcome, Vicki!
hangingbyathread,
Could you have Midrin confused with Pamprin? One of the ingredients in Midrin is a controlled substance, and Midrin has never been OTC. If you try this Midrin equivalent, keep in mind that it shouldn’t be used more than two or three days a week to avoid medication overuse headache.
Teri
Midrin was the first med I used to get rid of period cramps back in the 1970′s instead of percodan which I was using because the pain was so severe. The docs were giving me 60 caps at a time with each scrip. Then as the migraines got worse I used the percodan, but switched to the midrin, which worked well. I had to take about 8 pills to get rid of the pain over about 12 hours (4 in between each dose) which was a long time to get relief but I got rebounds from the percodan, so that was not really working, and the midrin wasn’t giving me rebounds, at least not at first, and really did take away the pain, so I used it for period cramps and migraines as well. It was a great med, until I could not get it any more. And it was OTC for a while. I would love to have it back in my arsenal of pain meds for the daily headaches that I deal with everyday. It would make my life so much more pain free and enable me to have a more normal life. This update is great news!
This is wonderful! Thanks to you both for the update!