News

12 June 2007

Ask and ye shall receive (migraine art revisited)

Not long after I posted my lament that I couldn’t find a decent migraine art book, I read this post about a migraine art book from Jackie at Life in the Canadian Desert. I was excited to read it, but I wished it had been posted a little sooner! 😉

Jackie is writing about a project from editor Betsy Blondin. Betsy describes herself as a "migraine overcomer" (I love it) who wants to publish a coffee table type book with migraine art of various kinds. She mentions the reasons I mentioned, but also that she wants us to "consider submitting works that illustrate positive, uplifting, or even humorous moments and events in your life – what you do and accomplish without or in spite of your migraines" (from her website).

Betsy Blondin is looking for art, photographs, poetry, and pretty much whatever else you can think of (that could be published in a book). If you have anything to contribute, visit her page describing the Migraine: EXPRESSIONS project.

Incidentally, be sure to check out the art that Jackie herself has submitted. I’m impressed, and I don’t say that lightly. Nice work!

I look forward to seeing the finished project – you can bet the book will be on my wish list.

24 April 2007

Doctor found guilty of killing patient

James News 0

Michael Stevenson, a doctor from Cumbria, England, has been sentenced. Stevenson was charged, and pleaded guilty, to accidentally killing a migraine patient.

It happened like this. Dr Stevenson was a doctor with 25 years of experience behind him. He got a call in January, 2005 from the daughter of Mrs Marjorie Wright. It seemed that her mother, a widow of 58, was suffering a migraine. She regularly had migraine attacks.

The doctor came to the house that morning and injected her with Diamorphine, a strong opioid. He had actually given her 30mg – 6x the normal amount. To make matters worse, he didn’t stay to monitor her condition – to see if she would have any adverse reactions to the drug. Minutes later, she was dead.

In the court’s opinion, Stevenson was guilty of negligence and overwork (although there is some disagreement about just how overworked he was). He will not go to prison, but he won’t be practising medicine again.

It’s the policy of Cumbria Primary Care Trust, which oversees doctors making house calls in the area, that a doctor only carry one strength of Diamorphine with them.

Judge Richard McComb said,"I have before me statements from Mrs Wright’s daughter and from one of her brothers testifying to the devastating loss that Mrs Wright’s death has meant to them and her young grandson. A court cannot fail to be moved by such clear expressions of grief. Nothing the court can do can repair their loss. No punishment inflicted on you will ever seem adequate to expiate their sorrow."

Read more from the BBC – Overdose killing GP spared jail.

16 April 2007

Trexima (and the problem with a double-drug)

James Medications, News 0

You might have heard about Pozen’s migraine product, Trexima, which is currently under review in the USA. I know I’ve heard about it – a lot about it. I’ve written about Trexima before, more than once.

Trexima is a combination drug. Its key ingredients are sumatriptan succinate (otherwise known as Imitrex) and naproxen sodium. Both of these have been a lot of help to migraine patients. But the amazing combo seems to do the job better than either of these individual drugs. And Trexima is more than just a combo. It uses RT Technology, which is supposed to get it into your system faster, a key aspect for migraineurs. Read more on Trexima here.

But there are problems with the two-drug approach. Headache specialist Dr Christina Peterson asks,"Do you need a naproxen dose every time you need a triptan dose?" Of course, the answer is most often no, and that raises a lot of questions. There are mild questions like, am I spending more than I need to? But there are more serious questions as well.

For example, will your doctor actually prescribe Trexima and another drug, such as Imitrex, in the same month? Would your insurance cover that?

But the worst questions have to do with simply taking more drugs than you need to, which could lead to rebound headache, actually making your symptoms worse.

This is a great discussion, and it brings up issues related not just to Trexima but many other drugs. And there are likely to be more drugs like Trexima showing up at the drugstore in the years ahead. Thanks to The Daily Headache for writing on this issue and continuing an important conversation. I recommend you read the post on Trexima and rebound there as well.

In the USA, the FDA review may come to a conclusion in August, meaning Trexima still may be available later this year.

10 March 2007

A happy ending – this time

James News 0

It happened in Florida this past week. 16 year old Rachel Malcolm was driving her 8 year old sister and 7 year old brother to school, down I-95. They were going 70m/h (113km/h).

Rachel started seeing double, and went to pull over. And passed out.

Her sister Jessica moved fast, climbed onto the front seat and grabbed the steering wheel. Rachel’s legs were blocking the brakes. They were in danger of smashing head on into the trees, or ending up on an exit ramp. John reached forward and grabbed the emergency brake, and they finally got the car stopped, far enough to the right to avoid the ramp and far enough to the left to avoid the trees.

Rachel was suffering from a migraine. Naturally, the news story didn’t say whether or not Rachel already had a migraine when she started the trip. But this should be a good reminder to all of us – be cautious about driving with a migraine. Use your best judgement.

Also, be cautious if you have a severe headache unlike anything you’ve had before. You should be on your way to the doctor – but get someone to drive you or call a taxi. If you know your own symptoms well, be responsible and if in doubt, don’t get behind the wheel.

It’s great that this story ended so well, thanks to the quick thinking of Jessica and John [link no longer available]!

21 February 2007

Live Webcast about migraine – today!

James News, Resources 0

Thanks to The Daily Headache for pointing this one out to me. Today at 7pm Eastern time there will be a broadcast on the topic “Why Do Women Get More Migraines Than Men?” There are the common answers to this question, but it’s worth digging a little deeper, because in the end a lot of questions remain.

Two experts will be on the panel. The one I’m most familiar with is Christina Peterson, MD, the author of the very popular book The Women’s Migraine Survival Guide, which I know many of you have found helpful (it’s one of the current winners of our Reader’s Choice Awards).

The other is Dawn Marcus, MD, a specialist in the treatment of chronic pain in general, as well as migraine.

I might miss this one, because I’ll be watching my kids (speaking of family responsibilities), so I’d be interested to hear your comments about the broadcast. If you register, you can ask questions – go! Ask! Hopefully we’ll all learn a little more that can help women specifically who are dealing with migraine disease.

Register for the webcast on women and migraine here. I imagine you’ll be able to watch a replay of the broadcast if you miss it.