Discoveries & Stats

8 April 2005

Botox and CDH

James Discoveries & Stats, Medications 1

A new study published in the Headache journal is suggesting a still wider use for Botox. The makers of Botox, Allergan Inc, sponsored a study using Botox in patients with Chronic Daily Headache and migraine. The controlled study involved 355 patients, about 85% women. Each patient had at least one migraine attack during the trial period, so all of them had migraine with chronic daily headache as well. Patients had a Botox treatment every 90 days for 9 months. The patients that got Botox (rather than a placebo) did seem to get fewer headaches. However, Dr David W. Dodick from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (who was involved in the project) warns that results are difficult to interpret. More studies are needed.

There is very little treatment actually designed for those with chronic daily headache. Research in this area as a whole is needed, although the causes no doubt vary from person to person.

21 March 2005

Butterbur for kids

James Discoveries & Stats, Treatments 0

Back in January I told you about the new research on the herb butterbur. A regular dosage of butterbur reduced headache frequency by almost 50%.

Now, butterbur is being tried with children, and the results are encouraging. In this month’s issue of Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, German researchers did a study with children (ages 6 and older) and adolescents. Now the researchers admit that the results of the study may be influenced by the fact that the children knew what they were taking. However, they were encouraged by two factors. First, the butterbur was tolerated well, and second the study results were similar to the studies that have been done with adults (which were controlled).

About 77% of the children in the trial had at least a 50% drop in migraine attacks.

As you probably know, when you buy any herbal formula at the store the ingredients can vary drasticly, and so can the results. So the research team used Petadolex, which is a reliable standardized and safe form of butterbur. The dosages were between 50-150mg per day. Click on the Petadolex link for more on this butterbur extract.

So far, it seems that similar dosages are effective in children, teenagers and adults. Check here for more herbs for headache.

17 March 2005

No-pain clusters?

James Discoveries & Stats 0

You knew that you can have migraine and yet no pain. But did you know that you can have cluster "headaches" without pain too? That was the news from Neurology, in a report from Neurologist Dr Rolf Salvensen in August 2000. The report follows a man who experienced other symptoms of clusters – a stuffed up nose, drooping eyelid, and pupil contraction on one side, and yet no pain.

This is important to know, because first it will help us better diagnose clusters. Second, it will help us better understand them. Many have theorized that the other symptoms are simply a reaction to the pain. Now it seems that this isn’t true – the other symptoms have a life of their own! This is old news now to the neurology world, but clusters themselves are still a mystery being investigated.

25 February 2005

The poll so far – you’re not alone

James Discoveries & Stats, Website news 0

It’s been a rough few days headache-wise for me! If it’s been that way for you, you might like a little reminder that you’re not alone. After a few weeks online, the results of our poll are starting to come in. For those with chronic headaches, how long have you had them? With over 200 responses so far, here are the results:
2.5% I don’t know
5% 1 year or less
14% 2-4 years
19% 4-10 years
20% 10-20 years
40% Over 20 years

I’m probably in the "I don’t know" category, but it’s probably been 10-20 years. Hopefully, as research continues, those on the low end of the scale will never have to get to over 20 years! Let’s keep looking for answers!

10 February 2005

Genetic defects and serotonin

James Discoveries & Stats 0

Problems with serotonin in the body can cause a wide variety of problems. Research into some of these other disorders (such as depression or ADHD) may help us understand what’s happening in migraine sufferers. In the body, serotonin must first be produced using certain enzymes. It then acts as a messenger, and once the message has been delivered, the signal is dampened to prepare the cell for the next message.

We now know that at least two slightly different enzymes are involved in creating serotonin (TPH1 and TPH2). Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center reported in December that they had discovered a genetic defect in some people that causes a decrease in serotonin production, due to a defective TPH2 enzyme. This defect seems to increase the risk of some forms of depression, and may also explain why some people are resistant to, or even react to some serotonin related drugs.

The research team believes that they may discover other similar defects relating to serotonin levels. These may lead to a better understanding of how to specifically treat migraine or even different sub-classes of migraine. Read more about serotonin and its role in migraine here.