Medications

18 April 2005

Keppra and migraine in children

James Discoveries & Stats, Medications 1

A small study has indicated that there may be a benefit from the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam in children with migraine. Levetiracetam, sold as Keppra, is being reviewed for epilepsy use in children, and recently the makers of the drug funded a study to check out its use for migraine. The study involved only 30 people, but most did have a decrease in the frequency of their headaches.

Although the study is too small to give a conclusive result, it does point to the need for more study, and it’s encouraging to see that children with migraine are starting to be "noticed".

Keppra is approved in many countries and is used to control seizures while it’s being taken regularly. It controls excessive activity in the brain. It’s different than other antiepileptic drugs and may help us understand what’s happening in the "migraine brain" as well.

13 April 2005

More help through the Cox-2 maze…

James Medications 0

If you’re still trying to sort through the Cox-2 maze, you’re not alone. What’s safe to take and what isn’t? What’s worth the risk? Are there alternatives? What should I take for what?

There’s a good overview of the current situation in the USA by Dr Eric Matteson, a Mayo Clinic specialist. Even if you don’t live in the USA, most of the information is still relevant. Dr Matteson gives information in Question and Answer format, and answers such questions as: Why was Bextra taken off the market?
Is Celebrex safe?
Aleve has also been in the news. Is it safe?
What if Vioxx or Bextra was the only medication that worked for you? What do you do then?

Read the article right at the Mayo Clinic website by following this link. [link no longer available]

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.

7 April 2005

Bye, Bextra…

James Medications, News 0

Today the US Food and Drug Administration announced that Bextra (valdexocib) would be removed from the market, because the health risks outweigh the benefits. Others, such as Canadian and European governments are also asking for Bextra to be taken off the shelves. As I heard on the radio this morning, part of the issue is that there are other drugs that can provide the same benefits with fewer risks. Also, the FDA wants clearer warning labels on Celebrex (celecoxib). Not only that, all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will have to include labels warning about potential cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health issues.

No matter what you may think about this decision, it is a reminder that these drugs are not simply "safe", end of story. In other words, you can’t just keep putting drugs in your body without an impact. The question is, is the benefit better than the risks and side effects? And, is there a better way to get the same results? Don’t be satisfied by the same treatment for 20 years. Stay informed! New dangers may come to light, and new solutions may be discovered.

Read the FDA press release here, or, if you want links to more in depth information, try this page on COX-2s and NSAIDs.

15 March 2005

Narcotics tip

James Medications, Tips 4

eyes in sleep Here’s a quick tip for those of you using some form of narcotic for pain relief. This would include codeine, an "opiate agonist" which is a component of Tylenol #1. Narcotics can relax the muscles, and perhaps help you sleep, which could be good for someone with a headache. But there’s a slight problem for some people – narcotics can make you itchy! There’s nothing worse than trying to get to sleep when you have an itch here and an itch there.

One way to improve the situation is to simply take your pills just before you go to sleep. Now I do say this with precautions – first, remember that with migraine it’s usually best to catch the headache in the early stages. For some people, if you wait until bedtime it may be too late to do much good. Also, remember that overall narcotics are generally a poor long term solution. If you find you’re taking them more than a couple of times a month, keep looking for a better solution.

For more on getting to sleep in general, check out the October 2004 issue of HeadWay, the free newsletter from Relieve-Migraine-Headache.com.