---
title: Does rofecoxib prevent migraines around menstruation? | Niyora
description: Yes, rofecoxib significantly reduced how often migraines occurred, cutting them roughly in half. Intensity and duration did not improve.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/rofecoxib-in-the-prevention-of-perimenstrual-migraine-an-open-label-pilot-trial-2004/
---

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- Does rofecoxib prevent migraines around menstruation?

Randomised trial, 2004

# Does rofecoxib prevent migraines around menstruation?

Yes, rofecoxib significantly reduced how often migraines occurred, cutting them roughly in half. Intensity and duration did not improve.

 Early or limited evidence

14 women with menstrually associated migraines

## What they did

14 women with migraines around their period were randomly given 25 mg or 50 mg of rofecoxib daily for 10 days, starting 5 days before menstruation. They continued for 2 consecutive menstrual cycles and recorded headaches in a diary.

## What they found

Average migraines per cycle dropped from 5.6 to 2.6 (P=.005). Eight women (57%) had at least 50% reduction in migraine frequency. Headache intensity, duration, and functional impairment did not significantly improve. Both doses were well tolerated.

## What it means for you

Rofecoxib appears effective at reducing how often menstrual migraines occur but does not make them less painful or shorter. This is a small pilot study, so larger studies are needed. Both doses worked similarly.

14

women studied

5.6 to 2.6

migraines per cycle (before to after)

57%

women with 50% or more reduction

## About the study

Original title Rofecoxib in the prevention of perimenstrual migraine: an open-label pilot trial Authors Von Seggern RL, Mannix LK, Adelman JU Journal Headache Year 2004 Study design Randomised trial Participants 14 What was tested Rofecoxib 25 mg or 50 mg daily for 10 days before and during menstruation, for 2 cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2004.04033.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2004.04033.x)

## Topics

[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

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