Migraines

For 2 years, Jim suffered the excruciating pain of cluster headaches. Night after night he paced the floor, the pain driving him to constant motion. He was only 48 years old when the clusters forced him to quit his job as a systems analyst. One year later, his headaches are controlled. The credit for Jim's recovery belongs to the medical staff of a headache clinic. Physicians there applied the latest research findings on headache, and prescribed for Jim a combination of new drugs.

Joan was a victim of frequent migraine. Her headaches lasted 2 days. Nauseous and weak, she stayed in the dark until each attack was over. Today, although migraine still interferes with her life, she has fewer attacks and less severe headaches than before. A specialist prescribed an antimigraine program for Joan that included improved drug therapy, a new diet and relaxation training.

An avid reader, Peggy couldn't put down the new mystery thriller. After 4 hours of reading slumped in bed, she knew she had overdone it. Her tensed head and neck muscles felt as if they were being squeezed between two giant hands. But for Peggy, the muscle-contraction headache and neck pain were soon relieved by a hot shower and aspirin.

Understanding why headaches occur and improving headache treatment are among the research goals of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). As the leading supporter of brain research in the Federal Government, the NINDS also supports and conducts studies to improve the diagnosis of headaches and to find ways to prevent them.

For more information, visit ninds.nih.gov

Famous Migraineurs - Terrell Davis

Migraine disease affects nearly 36 million people in the United States. It does not discriminate by age, race, or social status. You may be a third-grade teacher, firefighter, stay-at-home mom, construction worker, someone's favorite grandma or grandpa, secretary, or an NFL star but still have one thing in common: Migraine disease.Terrell Davis is one such famous Migraineur. Born in San Diego, California, on October 28, 1972, Davis began his love of football when he played for a local Pop Warner league at seven years old. Unfortunately that's when his Migraine attacks started too. He continued to play football through high school, excelling at many different positions. Davis received a scholarship from University California at Long Beach for a year, then transferred to University of Georgia, when the football program was eliminated at Long Beach.

The Denver Broncos picked him in the sixth round and he went on to be one of the best playoff running backs in NFL history.Davis hasn't let Migraines stop him. During the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXII, playing for the Denver Broncos, he was hit hard and left the field with a towel draped over his head. The Migraine that was developing made the sunlight exceedingly hard to tolerate, and Davis missed the second quarter. He used an ergotamine Migraine abortive, and was back in the game for the second half. In fact, he scored three touchdowns -- including the winning one -- and the Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl! Davis was named Most Valuable Player.When famous Migraineurs share this part of their lives they legitimatized Migraine disease. As if to say "If Terrell Davis was sidelined by a Migraine, then they really must be bad!" Being in the public eye allows NFL players, actors or politicians to bring much needed attention to Migraine disease and its lack of effective treatments, research funding, understanding, and compassion.

For more information, visit mymigraineconnection.com

Alexza's AZ-104 (Staccato(R) Loxapine) Phase 2a Trial Meets Primary Endpoint of 2-Hour Pain Relief in Patients with Migraine Headache

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today positive top-line results from its 168 patient Phase 2a clinical trial of AZ-104 (Staccato(R) loxapine) in patients with migraine headache. Migraine is a debilitating, yet common neurological disorder characterized by attacks of severe
headache and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Two doses of AZ-104, 2.5 and 5 mg, met the primary endpoint of 2-hour pain-relief compared to placebo. Alexza believes the novel, non-invasive nature and rapid pharmacokinetic (PK) properties resulting from inhaled loxapine
administration via the Staccato system have the potential to make AZ-104 a viable product to treat acute migraines. AZ-104 is a lower dose version of AZ-004, which is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. AZ-004 and AZ-104 are being developed through Symphony Allegro, a development
collaboration formed between Alexza and Symphony Capital in 2006.

About Acute Migraine Headaches

According to the National Headache Foundation, approximately 13 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with migraine headaches. Acute migraine headaches occur often, usually one to four times a month. Of the estimated 29.5 million migraine sufferers (including diagnosed and undiagnosed sufferers), there are at least two groups of potential patients
for whom we believe AZ-001 (Staccato prochlorperazine) and AZ-104 could be effective and safe in comparison to triptans. Many migraine sufferers who do take triptans have an insufficient therapeutic response to these medications. In addition, according to the warning labels on triptans, patients with hypertension or high cholesterol, or who smoke cigarettes, are contraindicated for and should not take these medications due to potential cardiovascular health risks.

For more information, visit mymigraineconnection.com

What's Behind My Migraine?

Migraines are severe headaches that can also cause nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Migraines are more common in women than men. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists these common triggers of migraines in women:

Not getting enough to eat.
Not getting enough sleep.
Exposure to bright lights or loud noise.
Fluctuating hormone levels, such as during your period.
Changes in the weather.
Emotional factors, such as stress or anxiety.
Chocolate, alcohol, nicotine or foods with additives such as MSG.

For more information, visit mymigraineconnection.com

Epilepsy Drug Doesn't Prevent Migraines

The epilepsy drug oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) does not seem to prevent migraines, as once thought, a new study finds.

Migraines affect more than 28 million Americans, and certain epilepsy drugs have been shown to be effective in preventing these severe headaches. For this reason, many assumed that oxcarbazepine would also work against migraines.

The report appears in the Feb. 12 issue of Neurology.

The three epilepsy drugs that have been shown to prevent migraines, topiramate, divalproex and gabapentin, do so through several mechanisms. One mechanism is the regulation of the neurotransmitter called GABA. However, oxcarbazepine appears not to affect GABA activity. It is possible that epilepsy drugs need to regulate GABA to prevent migraine, Silberstein noted.

Another expert agreed that this drug is not likely to prevent migraine.

For more information, visit mymigraineconnection.com

Migraine Sufferers Have Different Brains

Researchers have identified specific differences in the brains of migraine sufferers linked to the processing of sensory information, including pain.

In earlier research, Harvard Medical School investigators used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show structural differences between the brains of people with and without migraines.

Specifically, the imaging showed thickening in a specific area of the brain related to the communication of sensory processing called the somatosensory cortex (SSC).

Migraines and the Brain

In the newly reported imaging study, researchers compared the brains of 24 people with migraines and 12 people without them. They found that the SSC was an average of 21% thicker in migraine sufferers. The thickness changes were especially pronounced in the part of the SSC related to sensation of the head and face.

Other studies have also shown differences in cortex thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

But it is also possible that the structural changes precede migraines and actually cause them to occur.

Imaging studies on young children who are at high risk for having migraines later in life because their mother or father had them may also help answer the question of which comes first.

For more information, visit medicinenet.com

Why Women Have More Migraines: The Role of Hormones

Your head is throbbing severely, probably only on one side. Any light or sound only makes it worse, and you may be feeling nauseated. The excruciating pain is almost unbearable. The slightest movement only intensifies the pain. Maybe you are having visual symptoms such as flashing lights or an aura, as well. You are having a migraine headache. Although you feel like it's the end of the world, and no one can understand what you are going through. You are not alone.

Twenty-eight million Americans suffer from migraine headaches.

There is no cure for migraines. However, there is hope for effective relief and a significant reduction in the severity and number of migraine headaches you suffer. The first step is getting an accurate diagnosis from your physician. Unfortunately, only about half of migraine sufferers are diagnosed, and even less receive proper treatment according to the American Migraine Study II.

Who gets migraines? Boys experience more migraines than girls prior to puberty, however, after age 11 girls begin to experience the majority of migraine headaches.

The increase in the incidence of migraine in girls over boys continues to rise until adulthood when women experience migraine headaches 3 to 1 over men.

Why do so many more women than men suffer from migraine headaches? While it is improbable that sex hormones can completely explain the difference, there is significant evidence that there may be a connection between migraines and fluctuations in estrogen levels in women. The problem appears to be the response of the central nervous system to normal hormonal fluctuations. Women who suffer from migraines should understand that hormonal fluctuations are normal.

Will oral contraceptives (OCs) help women with migraines? Or will migraines become worse? Most women who have had previous migraines will not see a significant change in their headache pattern after beginning oral contraceptives; however, they may see an increase in the severity of migraines during the pill-free week. Women who use oral contraceptives may be surprised to learn that OCs may actually be a trigger for migraine. Some women may find their migraines are alleviated after starting oral contraceptives, while others find their migraine attacks are getting worse premenstrually.

Are there any risks for women who use OCs and suffer from migraine headaches? This a subject of much discussion because of the increased risk of stroke in women who use oral contraceptives. The risk of stoke in migraine patients appears to be higher in women who use OCs, have high blood pressure, and/or smoke. This is particularly true with the older high-dose oral contraceptives. The best advice for women who have migraines and want to use oral contraceptives is to use the lowest effective dose of estrogen because the risk appears to be estrogen-related, rather than progestin-related.

For more information, visit healthcentral.com

Common Migraine Triggers

By knowing what triggers your migraines -- and avoiding them -- you can reduce the frequency and severity of your attacks and improve your overall quality of life. Keep a detailed diary of your daily routine including eating, sleeping and exercise habits.

Some of the most common migraine triggers are:

Changes in weather or air pressure
Light
Hormone fluctuations and menstrual cycles
Certain foods
Smells, odors or fumes
Motion travel
Loud or sudden noises
Dieting and eating habits
Changes in sleeping habits
Overuse of headache pain medications
Emotional stress
Intense physical exertion

For more information, visit healthcentral.com

Migraine linked with sleep problems and fatigue

Recent findings confirm that excessive daytime sleepiness is more frequent in people who get migraines than in those who don't. However the findings tend to discount the theory that the underlying cause involves the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that produces hormones that control thirst, hunger, body temperature and sleep. Rather, the investigators suggest that problems may arise "from the complex burden" of the migraine.

"Excessive daytime sleepiness, defined as difficulty in maintaining a desired level of wakefulness, can be a disabling symptom," Dr. Piero Barbanti, of IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, and colleagues write in the journal Cephalalgia.

In a previous study, Peres et al. found that in patients with episodic or chronic migraine, a high percentage reported experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness.

"To investigate further, Barbanti's group compared sleep quality and rates of anxiety and depression in 100 patients with episodic migraine and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects used as a comparison group.

The researchers found that excessive daytime sleepiness was three-times more frequent in patients with migraine than in controls. However, the frequency was lower than previously reported (36.3 percent in episodic and 55.1 percent in chronic migraine patients).

However, a correlation was observed between excessive daytime sleepiness and migraine disability, sleep problems, and anxiety.

The excessive daytime sleepiness finding, and most important, the lack of correlation between scores on a sleepiness scale and the presence or absence of sleepiness during the migraine attack weaken the hypothesis that the hypothalamus mediates excessive daytime sleepiness in migraine patients, Barbanti's group concludes.

Our data therefore suggest that excessive daytime sleepiness is probably a consequence of the migraine itself, and includes migraine-related disability, anxiety and sleep problems.

SOURCE: Cephalalgia, October 2007.

Prognosis good for sex-related headaches

The exact frequency of headache associated with sexual activity in the general population is unknown, but findings from a small study suggest three quarters of such headaches are episodic and most cases do not require medical treatment. Even the for chronic form of these headaches, about 80 percent will go into remission within 3 years.

At first onset, patients should have a medical examination to rule out more serious conditions, Dr. Achim Frese, University of Munster, Germany, and colleagues suggest in the medical journal Cephalalgia.

The investigators analyzed data from 60 patients treated for headache associated with sexual activity at a headache out-patient clinic between 1996 and 2004, and tracked the patients' outcomes after 1 year or longer.

The patients were an average of 37 years old when they first experienced either slowly intensifying or sudden severe headache, prior to or during orgasm. The researchers report a combined overall recurrence rate of 43 percent over an average follow up of 6 years.

Of the 45 patients reporting single attacks prior to their initial examination, 37 reported no further attacks at follow-up. Another 7 patients reported at least one further attack, and one patient developed chronic headache associated with sexual activity.

The remaining 15 patients had chronic headache associated with sexual activity; 9 with infrequent attacks (less than 20 percent of their sexual activity); 3 reported attacks during 20-to 50-percent of sexual activity; and another 3 reporting attacks during nearly all sexual activity.

Most attacks of headache associated with sexual activity do not require medical treatment, the investigators note, but about 15 percent of patients report severe pain lasting from 4 to 24 hours.

"From our experience, beta-blockers (propranolol or metroprolol) for prophylaxis and indomethacin for preemptive therapy can be recommended," Frese and colleagues write.

While other headache disorders, including tension and exertional headaches and migraines, were evident in 39 of the 60 patients, data from this study could not confirm an association between other headache disorders and headache associated with sexual activity.

SOURCE: Cephalalgia, November 2007

Migraine Pill Topamax Eases Alcoholism Withdrawal Symptoms and Cravings

In a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers reported a 15 percent increase in alcohol abstinence for individuals prescribed a drug commonly known as Topamax compared to those taking a placebo. Yet FDA approval might take years.

When the study began, 371 participants, each heavy drinkers, consumed 11 alcoholic beverages per day on average. Volunteers were encouraged to stop drinking, though never required. Half of the participants were prescribed gradually increasing doses of Topamax while the other half received a placebo. At the study's conclusion, 15 percent of those receiving Topamax, as opposed to just three percent of those receiving a placebo, had quit drinking altogether for seven weeks or more.

"Topamax, along with several other medications, including Naltrexone, Campral, Baclofen and Acomplia, have provided much-needed relief for problem drinkers and early-stage alcoholics," states Roberta Jewell, author of the book My Way Out and owner of the highest trafficked alternative recovery website on the Internet, MyWayOut.org (stats courtesy Alexa.com).

"The My Way Out program incorporated Topamax two years ago as part of a popular, multi-faceted treatment plan," says Jewell. "It combines vitamins, minerals, amino acid and herb therapy formulated specifically to address detoxification, craving and dependence along with home-based hypnotherapy sessions, light exercise and Topamax or other anti-craving drug administration."

The latest research further reinforces the findings in the report "Oral topiramate for treatment of alcohol dependence: a randomized controlled trial" conducted by Bankole A. Johnson et al and published in The Lancet on May 17, 2003. Dr. Johnson's study found that up to 300 mg of Topamax per day was more effective than a placebo as an adjunct to standardized medication compliance management in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Johnson has expressed support for the My Way Out program when administered in conjunction with professional medical guidance and supervision.

For more information, visit mywayout.org