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Migraine Prevention News
Non-Opioid Drug More Effective for Migraines: Study
Posted 19 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 – The drug prochlorperazine is more effective than the opioid hydromorphone in treating emergency room patients with acute migraine, a new study reports. Acute migraine – an intense, throbbing headache that may be accompanied by visual disturbances and sensitivity to light and sound – is a disabling condition that results in 1.2 million visits to U.S. emergency rooms each year. The opioid painkiller "hydromorphone is given in about 25 percent of all emergency department visits for acute migraine. However, it's well known that the use of prescription opioids can lead to serious risks of addiction, abuse and overdose and adversely impact treatment of migraine," said Dr. Peter Goadsby, chairman of the American Headache Society's Scientific Program Committee. The new study was led by Dr. Benjamin Friedman of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. The ... Read more
Related support groups: Headache, Migraine, Dilaudid, Benadryl, Migraine Prevention, Hydromorphone, Diphenhydramine, Tylenol PM, Migraine Prophylaxis, Compazine, Prochlorperazine, Exalgo, Advil PM, Benadryl Allergy, ZzzQuil, Itch Relief, Aleve PM, Sominex, Nytol, Simply Sleep
Video Call May Be as Good as Doctor Visit for Headache
Posted 14 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 – Seeing a neurologist via video conference may be as effective as an in-person visit for people with headaches, researchers say. The new study included just over 400 headache patients in Norway who were referred by their primary care doctor to see a neurologist. Half of the patients had an in-person appointment with a neurologist, while the others consulted with the specialist via video conference – also known as "telemedicine." At the study's start, three months later and again after a year, the patients completed surveys about their pain and the impact of their headaches on daily life. No differences were found between people who had traditional office visits and those treated through video, the researchers said. "Headache is the most common neurologic disorder, yet is often not diagnosed or people don't receive adequate treatment," study author Dr. Kai ... Read more
Related support groups: Headache, Migraine, Migraine Prevention, Cluster Headaches, Migraine Prophylaxis, Imitrex, Sumatriptan, Maxalt, Cafergot, New Daily Persistent Headache, Relpax, Zomig, Midrin, Treximet, Ergotamine, Frova, Rizatriptan, Maxalt-MLT, Migranal, Amerge
New Drugs Show Promise as First to Prevent Migraine
Posted 9 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 – A host of new drugs that appear to prevent migraine headaches are in the final stages of testing and approval in the United States. "What's really exciting about this is that until this development, we have not had a migraine-specific preventive at all," said Dr. Peter Goadsby, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. These are the first drugs to prevent migraine made specifically for migraine patients, said Goadsby. He led a research trial, with findings scheduled for presentation Saturday at an American Headache Society meeting, in Boston. The new injectable drugs work by blocking a migraine-related protein called the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or the receptor it acts on. "CGRP is a small molecule that's released from pain nerves in the head, and is a key part of the process of migraine," said Goadsby. Migraine is a ... Read more
Related support groups: Headache, Migraine, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis, New Daily Persistent Headache, Diagnosis and Investigation
Migraine Warning Signs May Differ in Kids, Adults
Posted 8 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 – Fatigue and mood changes are the most common symptoms that occur before children develop migraines, a new study finds. These symptoms were seen in 41 percent of 185 children, aged 5 to 18, diagnosed with migraines. The two symptoms are also common in adults with migraines. But four other common pre-migraine symptoms in adults were insignificant in children: yawning, neck stiffness, food cravings and urinary changes, according to the Nationwide Children's Hospital study. "Migraine treatment is based on treating as soon as possible," senior study author and headache specialist Dr. Howard Jacobs said in a hospital news release. "Knowing which of these premonitory signs a child experiences before a migraine can lead parents and physicians to early recognition and treatment of an impending migraine attack." The study also found that children with chronic migraines ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Fatigue, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis, Imitrex, Sumatriptan, Maxalt, Cafergot, Relpax, Zomig, Midrin, Treximet, Ergotamine, Frova, Rizatriptan, Maxalt-MLT, Migranal, Amerge, Migergot, Zolmitriptan
FDA Approves Device to Help Curb Cluster Headaches
Posted 20 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 – Cluster headaches, though rare, are among the most severe forms of headache a person can face. But there's new hope for at least some patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has approved a hand-held device to treat these attacks. The noninvasive device, called gammaCore, works to reduce cluster headache pain by transmitting mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the skin on the neck. This is a large nerve that runs from the brain to the colon. One headache specialist said effective therapies are needed. Cluster headaches "can be devastating to a person," said Dr. Noah Rosen. "Although they are uncommon, affecting about 1 in 2,000, they are severe, disabling and poorly understood," said Rosen, who directs Northwell Health's Headache Center in Great Neck, N.Y. While certain medications such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) are used to ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Migraine Prevention, Cluster Headaches, Migraine Prophylaxis, Diagnosis and Investigation, Cluster-Tic Syndrome
A Healthier Weight May Mean Fewer Migraines
Posted 12 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 – Your weight just might influence your risk of migraine headaches, a new review finds. "Those with migraine and [their] doctors need to be aware that excessive weight and extreme weight loss are not good for [migraine sufferers], and that maintaining a healthy weight can decrease the risk of migraine," said study corresponding author Dr. B. Lee Peterlin. She is director of headache research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. "Healthy lifestyle choices in terms of weight management and diet and exercise are warranted," she added. Migraines affect about 12 percent of U.S. adults, according to background information from Johns Hopkins. These debilitating headaches are often accompanied by throbbing, nausea and sensitivity to light and sounds. Peterlin's team evaluated 12 previously published studies with nearly 300,000 people, a process ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, Migraine, Weight Loss, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis
Study Ties Some Migraines to Artery Tears in Neck, Raising Stroke Risk
Posted 7 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, March 6, 2017 – Some younger adults who suffer migraines may be at risk for tears in their neck arteries, which can increase the chances of a stroke, a new study suggests. Exactly what triggers these vessel tears is not clear, the researchers added. However, study author Dr. Alessandro Pezzini stressed that the probability that migraine sufferers would develop this condition – called arterial dissection – is still quite low. "Overall, migraine is a benign condition in the great majority of affected individuals," said Pezzini, a professor of neurology at the Universita degli Studi di Brescia in Italy. Of the nearly 2,500 stroke patients studied, aged 18 to 45, only 13 percent had strokes related to neck artery tears. This group was more likely to have high cholesterol, diabetes or be current smokers. When the researchers looked closer at the pattern of migraines linked with ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Intracranial Hemorrhage, Trochleitis
Nasal 'Nerve Block' May Help Ease Kids' Migraines
Posted 5 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, March 5, 2017 – Kids and teens who suffer with migraines may find relief from a nasal "nerve block" that's commonly used in adults with the debilitating headaches, a new study suggests. During the procedure, a catheter is placed in each nostril and inserted until it reaches a bundle of nerves at the back of the nose. At that point, an anesthetic is released that deadens those nerves, thus relieving the headache pain. "The treatment does not require needles and often gives relief in just minutes, and relief can last for up to months," said lead researcher Dr. Robin Kaye, from Phoenix Children's Hospital. "Migraine headaches are really common in the pediatric population, and affect up to 12 percent of kids over the age of 12," she noted. These headaches can be debilitating for kids, and especially for teenagers, Kaye said. "When kids have these, it prevents them from ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis, Maintain, Lidoderm, Orajel, Anbesol, Pramoxine, Emla, Phenol, Xylocaine Jelly, Caladryl, Lanacane, Bactine, Nupercainal, Caladryl Clear, Lidocaine Viscous, Zilactin Toothache, Solarcaine, Boil Ease Pain Relieving
Wireless Arm Patch May Blunt Migraine Pain
Posted 1 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2017 – A wireless arm patch may be a promising new treatment for migraine headaches, researchers report. Rubber electrodes and a chip in the patch produce electric impulses that block pain signals from reaching the brain, the study authors said. When a migraine starts, you can control the intensity of the electric impulses using a smartphone app, explained lead researcher Dr. David Yarnitsky, chair of neurology at Rambam Medical Center, in Haifa, Israel. "You can use skin stimulation at an intensity which is not painful and be able to stop or substantially diminish the development of a migraine attack, as long as you do it early enough in the migraine attack," he said. "There are no side effects," Yarnitsky added. "You feel a tingle in your upper arm." Before, when stimulation devices had been tested on migraines, they needed wires and were attached to the head, ... Read more
Related support groups: Pain, Migraine, Neuralgia, Migraine Prevention, Neuropathic Pain, Migraine Prophylaxis, Imitrex, Sumatriptan, Maxalt, Breakthrough Pain, Cafergot, Relpax, Zomig, Midrin, Treximet, Ergotamine, Pain/Fever, Rizatriptan, Frova, Maxalt-MLT
Migraine Linked to Higher Stroke Risk After Surgery
Posted 11 Jan 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 – Migraine sufferers may face a slightly higher risk of stroke after an operation, a new study suggests. The risk appears greatest among those who experience migraine with aura, where the headache also includes a visual disturbance, such as the appearance of flashing lights. People with these types of migraines have more than double the risk of stroke after surgery compared to people without migraines, the study found. And the odds that someone who has migraines without aura will have a stroke after surgery are still 75 percent higher than people not afflicted by migraines, the study found. However, experts stressed that the absolute risk of anyone suffering a stroke after a surgery is still very low, so people with migraine shouldn't be alarmed. Even with the increased risk, only about six out of every 1,000 patients with migraines with aura will experience a ... Read more
Related support groups: Headache, Migraine, Ischemic Stroke, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis, Imitrex, Sumatriptan, Maxalt, Cafergot, Relpax, Zomig, Ischemic Stroke - Prophylaxis, Midrin, Treximet, Ergotamine, Rizatriptan, Frova, Maxalt-MLT, Migranal, Amerge
Migraine and Stroke Risk Linked Again
Posted 15 Nov 2016 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Nov. 15, 2016 – Women who experience migraines have more than double the risk of suffering a stroke, new research shows. The finding adds evidence to the suspected link between these two conditions. Although it's not yet clear why this connection may exist, study lead author Dr. Cecil Rambarat said it's important for health care providers to be aware of the link. "This is important since migraine is generally not considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease," said Rambarat. He's a resident physician at the University of Florida Shands Hospital in Gainesville. "Maybe providers need to factor in migraine headaches as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease among women," he said. "This is not being done currently." Previous research has linked migraines – especially the form known as migraine with aura – to stroke. Migraine with aura is estimated to affect one ... Read more
Related support groups: Plan B, Migraine, Mirena, Nexplanon, Depo-Provera, Provera, NuvaRing, Sprintec, Implanon, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Tri-Sprintec, Microgestin Fe 1/20, Yasmin, Heart Disease, Plan B One-Step, Loestrin 24 Fe, Smoking, Ortho Evra, TriNessa, High Cholesterol
Scented Rooms, Products? Many Health-Conscious Americans Say 'No Thanks'
Posted 2 Nov 2016 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 2, 2016 – Lavender, lemon or lilac: Whatever the artificial aroma, more Americans are avoiding scented spaces and products, a new survey shows. Fragranced products such as soaps, candles and air fresheners cause more than one-third of U.S. adults to suffer ill health effects, including headaches, dizziness and breathing difficulties, researchers said. Surveying a nationally representative group of more than 1,100 Americans, the research team also found that more than 20 percent of people quickly leave a business place if they smell air fresheners or other scented products. Led by Anne Steinemann, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Melbourne in Australia, the research is believed to be the first to examine many aspects of exposure to fragranced products and their effects in the United States. "What I found was that half the reports of adverse health ... Read more
Related support groups: Headache, Migraine, Cough, Asthma, Sinusitis, Migraine Prevention, Asthma - Maintenance, Cold Symptoms, Dyspnea, Cluster Headaches, Migraine Prophylaxis, Asthma - Acute, Cough and Nasal Congestion, Rhinitis, New Daily Persistent Headache, Sinus Symptoms, Respiratory Tract Disease, Allergic Asthma, Minor Skin Conditions
Study Questions Use of Migraine Meds in Kids, Teens
Posted 28 Oct 2016 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Oct. 27, 2016 – A new study raises questions about the effectiveness of medicines commonly prescribed to prevent migraines in children and teens. The 24-week clinical trial involving 328 patients found no significant differences between the drugs amitriptyline (Elavil), topiramate (Topamax) and a placebo sugar pill in reducing the number of days with a migraine or migraine-related disability. Fifty-two percent of those taking amitriptyline and 55 percent of those taking topiramate saw the number of days they had a headache drop by 50 percent or more, while 61 percent of those taking a placebo pill saw the same benefit, the findings showed. The patients taking the prescription drugs also had much higher rates of side effects, such as fatigue, dry mouth, mood changes, and tingling in the hands, arms, legs or feet. "The study was intended to demonstrate which of the commonly ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Topamax, Amitriptyline, Migraine Prevention, Elavil, Topiramate, Qsymia, Migraine Prophylaxis, Endep, Phentermine/topiramate, Amitriptyline/Perphenazine, Trokendi XR, Amitriptyline/Chlordiazepoxide, Limbitrol, Triavil, Limbitrol DS, Topamax Sprinkle, Trochleitis, Qudexy XR, Vanatrip
Mouth and Gut Germs May Be Linked to Migraines
Posted 18 Oct 2016 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 2016 – People with migraines have higher levels of certain microbes, or germs, in their mouths and digestive systems, new research suggests. Specifically, the analysis of data from the American Gut Project found that migraine sufferers had significantly higher amounts of nitrate-reducing microbes than those without migraines. The project included over 170 oral samples and almost 2,000 fecal samples, the researchers said. "There is this idea out there that certain foods trigger migraines – chocolate, wine, and especially foods containing nitrates," said lead author Antonio Gonzalez, of the University of California, San Diego. "We thought that perhaps there was a connection between someone's microbiome and what they were eating," he explained. Although the researchers found a link, they didn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Further research is needed to learn ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Oral and Dental Conditions, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis
For Migraine Sufferers, Is a Chiropractor's Touch All in the Mind?
Posted 11 Oct 2016 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Oct. 11, 2016 – People with migraines sometimes seek a chiropractor for help, but a small study suggests that any pain relief they get might be a placebo effect. When researchers pitted real chiropractic manipulation against a "sham" version, they found both were equally likely to ease patients' migraine pain. On the other hand, both tactics worked better than patients' usual pain-relieving medications. Experts in pain management stressed that no firm conclusions should be drawn from one small study. But they also said the findings raise some interesting questions: What exactly causes, and relieves, migraine pain? And even if a therapy works by placebo effect, so what? "Ultimately, patients got better, on average," said Dr. William Lauretti, an associate professor at New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, N.Y. Traditionally, he noted, doctors have "looked down" on the ... Read more
Related support groups: Migraine, Migraine Prevention, Migraine Prophylaxis
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