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Two-Drug Combo Helps Teens With Migraines

Posted 12 days ago by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, May 15 – A two-drug combination that relieves migraines in adults also works well in adolescents, new research indicates. Although the findings basically support what doctors are already doing, "it is nice to have this officially shown in a study in adolescents," said Dr. Ellen Drexler, associate director of neurology at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City. Because the combination of Imitrex (sumatriptan) and naproxen sodium (Aleve and other brand names) isn't approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this age group, doctors must prescribe it "off label" to adolescents. "There are no FDA-approved abortive [migraine] treatments for children," said Dr. Noah Rosen, director of the Headache Center at the Cushing Neuroscience Institute in Great Neck, N.Y. "This is the first really large-scale abortive treatment study for adolescents." The study, funded ... Read more

Migraine Guidelines: What Works, What Doesn't

Posted 23 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 23 – Dozens of medications are available to prevent debilitating migraine headaches, but most migraine sufferers don't use them, a new study finds. "Approximately 40 percent of people with migraines need preventive treatment, and only about one-third of them are actually getting it," said Dr. Stephen D. Silberstein, co-author of new guidelines developed by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. The drugs include prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications. Which will work best "depends on the patient," said Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The guidelines, published in the April 24 issue of Neurology, were scheduled for presentation at the academy's annual meeting in New Orleans, April 21 to 28. Dr. Brian M. Grosberg, director of the Montefiore Headache Center in ... Read more

Herbal Medicines for Arthritis Not Backed by Evidence

Posted 12 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11 – There is little evidence to support the widespread use of herbal medicines to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to a review of these products. Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that involves damage to cartilage and other structures in and around the joints, particularly the fingers, knees and hips. It differs from rheumatoid arthritis, which is an immune-based disorder. Devil's claw, cat's claw, ginger, nettle, rosehip, turmeric, willow bark, Indian frankincense and vegetable extracts of avocado or soybean oils are all among the herbal medicines traditionally used to treat osteoarthritis. "Unfortunately, a large number of people suffer from osteoarthritis pain," said one expert, Dr. Robert Graham, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Current pharmacological management is largely focused upon reduction of pain and of ... Read more

Health Tip: Don't Take Too Many NSAIDs

Posted 23 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

-- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been around for years and are frequently the medication of choice to relieve pain and inflammation. But taking too many of this type of drug, which includes aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, can lead to potential complications, including stomach bleeding or ulcer. The American Gastroenterological Association says reasons for potential NSAID overdose include: Taking a subsequent dose too soon after taking the initial one. Taking more of the medication at one time than is recommended. Taking a higher dose over a 24-hour period than is recommended. Taking more than one NSAID-containing medication at a time Read more

Related support groups: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Voltaren, Meloxicam, Advil, Diclofenac, Mobic, Aleve, Motrin, Indomethacin, Toradol, Etodolac, Flector, Nabumetone, Ketorolac

Health Tip: Alcohol Can Interact With Medications

Posted 25 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

-- Over-the-counter medications may seem safer because they don't require a prescription. But they can still interact badly when alcohol enters the mix. The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these popular medications that may have adverse effects if mixed with alcohol: NSAID pain relievers, which may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding if taken while consuming as few as two alcoholic drink per week. Acetaminophen, which may cause liver damage when taken with alcohol. Some OTC antihistamines can make you drowsy when taken with alcohol. Decongestants and cough medications that contain the cough suppressant dextromethorphan can increase drowsiness when taken with alcohol. Herbal supplements, such as kava kava, St. John's wort or valerian root, may increase drowsiness if taken with alcohol. Read more

Related support groups: Percocet, Hydrocodone, Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, Tylenol, Codeine, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Benadryl, Promethazine, Zyrtec, Voltaren, Advil

Can NSAIDs Cut Colorectal Cancer Deaths in Older Women?

Posted 24 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

SUNDAY, Oct. 23 – Older women who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – such as aspirin or ibuprofen – appear to have a lower risk of death from colorectal cancer than women who don't use these medications, a large new study suggests. Women who reported using these drugs, called NSAIDs, at the beginning of the study and three years later had a roughly 30 percent lower rate of death from colorectal cancer than women who did not take the drugs, or women who took them at only one of these two points in time, according to an American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) news release. "Our results suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is associated with lower colorectal cancer mortality among postmenopausal women who use these medications more consistently and for longer periods of time," Anna Coghill, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the University of ... Read more

Some Pain Meds Riskier for Cardiac Patients Than Others, Study Suggests

Posted 28 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com

From Canadian Press DataFile (September 27, 2011) By Helen Branswell TORONTO – A new study suggests some commonly consumed pain medications are riskier than others when used by people with cardiovascular problems. The research suggests a couple of the drugs carry the same level of risk as Vioxx, which was taken off the market in 2004 over heart health concerns. Senior author Dr. David Henry says the increased risk from this class of drugs is not significant for the average healthy individual taking the drugs occasionally. But he says the risk profile changes in people who have already had a heart attack or who are at risk of cardiovascular events because they have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease. "So we're really worried about people who might have an annual risk of maybe five per cent," said Henry, who is CEO of the Toronto-based Institute for ... Read more

Related support groups: Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex, Voltaren, Meloxicam, Advil, Diclofenac, Mobic, Aleve, Motrin, Indomethacin, Toradol, Etodolac, Flector

NSAID Painkillers Linked to Risk of Kidney Cancer

Posted 12 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Sept. 12 – The long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, Motrin and Aleve may slightly increase the risk for developing kidney cancer, Harvard researchers report. Millions of people use these drugs regularly for pain and they have been associated with reducing the risk of some cancers, the researchers added. "NSAIDs have been associated with a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including colorectal, breast and prostate," said lead researcher Eunyoung Cho, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "Our study raises a contradicting possibility that non-aspirin NSAIDs may elevate the risk of certain types of cancer." "If our studies are confirmed, risks and benefits should be considered in deciding whether to use analgesics, especially for long duration," she added. The report was ... Read more

NSAIDs May Raise Miscarriage Risk: Study

Posted 6 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Sept. 6 – Women who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen during the first stage of their pregnancy may be upping their risk of miscarriage, new research suggests. "We're seeing a 2.4-fold increased risk in spontaneous abortion following early use of NSAIDs during pregnancy," said Anick Berard, senior author of a paper published in the Sept. 6 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Although the study was not a randomized, controlled trial – considered the gold standard of science – Berard thinks the results are due to the medication and not some other, unrelated factor. "We went through a lot of pain and misery to make sure what we're seeing is due to the drug and not a consequence of symptoms [of an underlying illness] or risk attributed to rheumatoid arthritis, for example," said Berard, who is director of the Research Unit on ... Read more

Related support groups: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Voltaren, Meloxicam, Advil, Diclofenac, Mobic, Aleve, Motrin, Indomethacin, Toradol, Etodolac, Flector, Nabumetone, Ketorolac

Certain Painkillers May Raise Odds of Stroke, Heart Attack: Study

Posted 14 Jul 2011 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, July 14 – Heart disease patients with high blood pressure who take a class of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are at greater risk for heart attack, stroke or even death, new research shows. NSAIDS include popular medications such as such as aspirin, Celebrex, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). The results are published in the July issue of The American Journal of Medicine. "Among coronary artery disease patients with hypertension, chronic self-reported use of NSAIDs was associated with harmful outcomes, and this practice should be avoided where possible," Dr. Anthony A. Bavry, assistant professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in a journal news release. In conducting the study, Bavry and colleagues followed 882 long-term NSAID users and almost 22,000 people who used ... Read more

Painkillers May Raise Risk of Dangerous Heart Flutter

Posted 5 Jul 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, July 5 – A new study finds that painkillers widely used to treat inflammation are associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder connected with a raised risk of stroke, heart failure and death. Previous research has linked non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and newer anti-inflammatory medications known as cox-2 inhibitors to an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes, but this is the first study to link the painkillers with atrial fibrillation. Danish researchers looked at 32,602 patients who had a first diagnosis of atrial fibrillation between 1999 and 2008. Each of those patients was compared with 10 age and gender-matched controls from the general population in Denmark. The results showed that use of these medications was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. The link was strongest among new users of ... Read more

Health Tip: Painkillers May Cause Stomach Problems

Posted 16 May 2011 by Drugs.com

-- Certain painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause stomach problems, especially if you need to take them consistently over long periods. Examples of these medications include ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, including brand names such as Advil, Motrin and Aleve. The American Gastroenterological Association suggests how to reduce the risk of stomach problems if you need to take NSAIDs for a chronic problem: Talk with your doctor before beginning an NSAID regimen, especially if you've had side effects from these medications. Before taking an NSAID, take note of possible side effects mentioned on the product label. Be sure to take the medication exactly as directed. Don't take both a prescription and over-the-counter pain-relieving medication at the same time. Tell your doctor about all medications and supplements that you take. Don't drink alcohol while ... Read more

Related support groups: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Voltaren, Meloxicam, Advil, Diclofenac, Mobic, Aleve, Motrin, Indomethacin, Toradol, Etodolac, Flector, Nabumetone, Ketorolac

After Heart Attack, Certain Painkillers May Raise Risk for Recurrence

Posted 9 May 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, May 9 – People with a history of heart attack are at increased risk of suffering another attack or dying after even a week of taking certain types of prescription and over-the-counter painkillers, including Advil, Motrin or Voltaren, a large new study suggests. Danish researchers analyzed nationwide records of almost 84,000 heart attack survivors and found that those who used certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for one week faced a 45 percent heightened risk of another heart attack. Three months' use raised the risk to 55 percent. The results reinforce a 2007 American Heart Association statement advising doctors about the risk of NSAID use among heart patients and recommending the drugs be used only in the lowest dose and for the shortest duration necessary. "The present results indicate there is no apparent safe therapeutic window for NSAIDs in patients with ... Read more

Many Consumers Don't Know What's in Over-the-Counter Painkillers: Study

Posted 3 May 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, May 3 – Few Americans bother to read the labels on over-the-counter pain relievers, nor do they pay much attention to the drugs' ingredients, a new study says. This lack of awareness could be a main reason why acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States, according to the researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago. Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is in more than 600 over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines. Researchers interviewed 45 people in six focus groups and found that only 31 percent knew that Tylenol contained acetaminophen, 19 percent realized Advil contained ibuprofen and about the same number knew that Aleve contained naproxen sodium. About 75 percent knew Bayer contained aspirin and 47 percent knew Motrin contained ibuprofen. Fewer than half – 41 percent – said they read the ingredients on ... Read more

Related support groups: Percocet, Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, Tylenol, Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Advil, Fioricet, Darvocet-N 100, Endocet, Aleve, Tylenol PM

Common Painkillers May Blunt Antidepressants

Posted 26 Apr 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 25 – Common over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, according to a mouse and human study from The Rockefeller University in New York City. SSRIs – which are the most common antidepressants and are used by millions of people – include such popular drugs as Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. The potential interaction between these drugs and the painkillers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be a reason that some people don't respond to SSRIs, the researchers report. "In one study, we found that anyone who reported use of an anti-inflammatory or analgesic agent had a much poorer treatment outcome compared to people who didn't report any use of NSAIDs," said study lead author Jennifer Warner-Schmidt. One of the open ... Read more

Related support groups: Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Aspirin, Citalopram, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Paroxetine

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