Replacement for Amerge
The migraine drug Amerge is recently discontinued by the manufacturer, GSK. What do I replace it with? I’ve used it for more than 20 years and it works wonders for me. I’ve tried a generic and it did not work. I’ve also recently tried Nurtec and Ubrelvy and they did not work. I’m female, in my early 70s, and do not have issues with stroke or heart attack. Any suggestions? Perhaps there is a generic Naratriptan that is very similar. I understand that the generic has several different manufacturers.
Hi there. Sorry about the discontinuation -- it's frustrating and heartbreaking for those of us that had such great results. It's hard to say what else might help you because each person is unique and responds differently to treatments, and there are literally hundreds of options, both pharmaceutical and otherwise. Is insurance coverage a concern for you? Do you have Medicare? It might be useful to start with them and see what they will cover. Unfortunately, many of our members have run into roadblocks with Medicare.
Otherwise, did you try the other CGRP drugs besides Nurtec and Ubrelvy? They are Aimovig, Ajovy, Emgality and an infusion option called Vyepti. How about Botox? There are also wearable stimulation devices Nerivio and gammaCore. Then there's acupuncture, chiropractic care, supplements, the old standby meds like triptans ... the list goes on.
The biggest thing we recommend is to work with a certified headache specialist whenever possible. Neurologists are great, but not all of them are true experts in migraine care, so that can make an impact. Here's a directory of specialists. If there isn't one near you, it may be worth considering a consult via phone or telehealth:
https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/find-a-doctor/
Hope that helps with some suggestions. Ultimately, migraine can be a big game of trial and error. We're here to support you and bounce ideas! All the best. -Melissa, migraine.com team
Thanks for sharing! I hadn't heard this. Amerge is the brand name for generic naratriptan and would certainly be worth a try in my opinion.
There are other triptans you could discuss with your doctor;
Imitrex (sumatriptan) tablets
Maxalt (rizatriptan)
Zomig (zolmitriptan)
Axert (almotriptan)
Frova (frovatriptan)
Relpax (eletriptan)
Try not to get discouraged, there are many options out there! How are you doing today? Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team
