Tolfenamic acid
In this section
Does it work?
What is it?
How can it help?
Why should it work?
Can it be harmful?
What's the evidence?
Does it work?
Tolfenamic acid is likely to relieve your migraine headache. Some studies have found that tolfenamic acid works about the same for migraine pain as sumatriptan or paracetamol.What is it?
Tolfenamic acid is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The brand name is Clotam. You can get it only on prescription.How can it help?
Tolfenamic acid can make your migraine headache less severe and it may make it go away completely. If your headache is bad, it may make it more bearable.1 2 3 4One study showed that more than three-quarters (77 percent) of people taking tolfenamic acid felt that their headache became more bearable.1
Why should it work?
Like other NSAIDs, tolfenamic acid works by stopping your body making chemicals called prostaglandins. Your body makes these chemicals when you are in pain or injured. Prostaglandins cause inflammation and make you more sensitive to pain. By stopping the prostaglandins, tolfenamic acid can help you feel better.Can it be harmful?
The drawback of tolfenamic acid and other NSAIDs is that they can irritate the lining of your stomach. This may cause stomach ulcers or bleeding in your stomach. It's usually best not to take NSAIDs if you have a stomach ulcer or if you've had one in the past.One study showed that about one-third of people taking tolfenamic acid got side effects.1
Guidelines for doctors on NSAIDs also say that if you need an NSAID you should:
- Start on the lowest recommended dose
- Not use more than one NSAID at a time.
Taking high doses of some NSAIDs every day for a long time may increase your risk of a heart attack or a stroke. This is unlikely to be a problem with the doses you take for a migraine. But if you'd like to read more, see Warnings about side effects of NSAIDs.
What's the evidence?
What's the evidence for tolfenamic acid?Sources for the information on this page:
- Myllyla V, Havanka H, Herrala L, et al. Tolfenamic acid rapid release versus sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine: comparable effect in a double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel-group study. Headache. 1998; 38: 201-207.[PubMed]
- Norrelund N, Christiansen LV, Plantener S. Tolfenamic acid versus paracetamol in migraine attacks. A double-blind study in general practice. [in Danish] Ugeskrift for Laeger. 1989; 151: 2436-2438.[PubMed]
- Hakkarainen H, Vapaatalo H, Gothoni G, et al. Tolfenamic acid is as effective as ergotamine during migraine attacks. Lancet. 1979; 2: 326-328.[PubMed]
- Tokola RA, Kangasniemi P, Neuvonen PJ, et al. Tolfenamic acid, metoclopramide, caffeine and their combinations in the treatment of migraine attacks. Cephalalgia. 1984; 4: 253-263.[PubMed]
- British National Formulary. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Section 10.1.1. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 24 September 2009).
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