Indomethacin for Cluster Headaches User Reviews

Brand names: Indocin, Indocin SR, Tivorbex, Indocin IV

Rating: 8.5

Indomethacin has an average rating of 8.5 out of 10 from a total of 17 reviews for the treatment of cluster headaches. 82% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 0% reported a negative experience.

10		18%
9		41%
8		24%
7		12%
6		6%
5		0%
4		0%
3		0%
2		0%
1		0%

Reviews for Indomethacin

Vil...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
October 15, 2022

"Terrible daily headaches with nausea, brain fog, pressure, and extreme fatigue. All I can do is lie on the couch all day with no energy to do anything. Truly crippled. Even though I don't feel like it's cluster, diagnosed as cluster/TAC. The first time I took a 25 mg indomethacin, I was up and building a chest of drawers within 30 mins. Absolutely unreal! Could not believe it. Still had a headache, but a 'normal' headache. Fatigue gone. Absolutely impossible to do that without this miracle med - just 25 mg as well. Have to say, some scary side effects on occasion though - shuffling - cannot walk, spaced out when I take it sometimes, and eyesight focus problems, uncoordinated occurs the day after. HAVE to take it with lansoprazole or it destroys the GI tract. Also now diagnosed with prolonged QT syndrome - which is definitely due to the tablet's effects."

9 / 10

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9 Report

Kat...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
June 17, 2019

Indomethacin "I have cluster headaches and hemicrania continuum, which is diagnosed by taking indomethacin. I also have fibromyalgia, which means I have really bad reactions to every medication I take, and I have to take this twice a day, every day. I take the lowest dose possible (25 mg twice daily), even though it doesn’t give me 100% relief, it gives me about 95%. I know there are bad side effects, but as long as I eat a full meal before I take it, I have not experienced anything other than my face having a little rash. But I don’t have any of the other problems. As soon as I quit taking it, it just comes back, so to me, this is a lifesaver that is worth the slight rash!"

9 / 10

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Suz...
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
February 25, 2023

"I take 25 mg three times a day for chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, and it is absolutely 100% effective. On occasion, I try to reduce it to twice a day, but the pain returns after just a couple of days. So I revert back to three times a day more often than I would like. I am worried about continued use as it causes indigestion for me and will most likely cause eventual kidney problems."

9 / 10

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5 Report

Frequently asked questions

Sha...
February 22, 2020

"After trying several OTC meds for several days, my doctor called this in, and within 3 hours, my debilitating headache was gone. I woke up with a headache in the morning and took another pill, and the headache was gone within 30 minutes. Works wonders!!!"

10 / 10

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10 Report

wpa...
November 26, 2017

"I have hemicrania headaches since 2005. Tried everything and indomethacin works, only problem now is chronic kidney disease. Trying to find an alternative drug, extremely scared of further debilitating headaches. Taking 50 mg 3x daily, cut down from 4x daily seems to work."

9 / 10

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10 Report

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Dav...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
May 23, 2012

"Prescribed 50 mg indomethacin daily for cluster headaches along with 180 mg verapamil. While the verapamil dosage seemed completely ineffective, the indomethacin was almost completely successful at eliminating the onset of headaches (nominally 4-5 times per day). Changed dosage to 25 mg indomethacin morning and evening, which was slightly less effective as the medication seemed to wear off in about 7-8 hrs."

8 / 10

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Daw...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
March 1, 2017

"I have hemicrania continua since 1999. First attempt of indomethacin made me ten feet tall. Second attempt, when I had stopped working, worked fine. Indomethacin completely got rid of the pain after a few days of taking it. Trouble is, two years later I forgot to take it one day, and the pain is back with a vengeance. The neurologist reckoned it should start working again after six weeks, but it hasn't. Now taking carbamazepine for trigeminal neuralgia."

8 / 10

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Anonymous
Taken for less than 1 month
August 10, 2019

"I was given this indomethacin medication by my PCP for ice-pick headaches and was to take it three times daily for 10 days, and this is the only effective treatment. The good news is within 1 day of meds, my headaches were gone. The bad news is I cannot tolerate the side effects. Total dizziness, anxious feeling, and heart racing within an hour of taking it. We are going to try to take it less often to see if side effects decrease."

8 / 10

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6 Report

Lyn...
February 13, 2013

"I've been taking indomethacin at the onset of headache along with twice-a-day doses of Topamax. The combination works well to control my cluster headaches, and I only have them about every other month now."

9 / 10

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11 Report

Ice...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
August 14, 2020

"Indomethacin is very effective for pain management. I can take as little as 5 mg to get relief (I buy empty capsules and divide the dosage), up to 25 mg if the pain is severe. I also manage the pain very well with ice (Bed Buddy wrapped around my head and stronger) and some pain distraction techniques. Indomethacin has side effects: tired, grumpy, mean, and hard on my kidneys, so I don’t take it during the day when I can manage the pain with ice, only just before bed so I don’t wake up in excruciating pain. Another pill that helps if the pain is not too bad is Vanquish (the caffeine constricts the blood vessels, poundy-poundy-pulse)."

6 / 10

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Rav...
July 12, 2015

"Have been taking 2 dosages of indomethacin 25 mg for over 4 months now. This is the only medicine that has worked on my headaches."

9 / 10

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15 Report

Anonymous
June 13, 2008

"50 mg (2 capsules) was very effective when pain was moderate to severe."

9 / 10

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21 Report

min...
September 6, 2009

"Helps with pain when used with some other pain medications. Sort of boosts effects of Vicodin or even helps by itself."

7 / 10

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9 Report

Pix...
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
December 2, 2020

"Use indomethacin 25 mg to deal with severe tension headaches. Definitely effective in managing the headaches, downside is that I feel very 'spaced out' and, as a result, anxious."

7 / 10

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Nun...
January 23, 2017

"So far, so good. After trying many OTC medications and prescription drugs, this seems to be a good therapy for me. Hope this helps."

10 / 10

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4 Report

JMK...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
October 17, 2020

"I have been suffering from chronic migraines, and indomethacin does help to get rid of them within 2 hours. Although used often, it does result in headaches."

8 / 10

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Jee...
Taken for less than 1 month
October 18, 2019

"Just started taking this medicine, indomethacin. Not yet fully pain-free but anticipate relief from these cluster migraines."

10 / 10

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1 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.