Chronic tension-type headache Archives - Page 2 of 2

Chronic tension-type headache

19 March 2009

Namenda Migraine Treatment

James Discoveries & Stats, Medications 18

It’s time to take a look at what’s new with Namenda migraine treatment. Namenda is actually just one brand name for memantine. It’s also sold as Axura, Akatinol, Ebixa and Memox.

Namenda is commonly used for Alzheimer patients, but is being tested for a number of other neurological disorders.

Technically known as a moderate affinity NMDA-receptor antagonist. In Alzheimer patients, excessive glutamate inhibits the normal sending of messages in the body. This drug blocks the effects of the excessive glutamate.

Namenda is being investigated for migraine, chronic tension-type headache, and various kinds of pain.

In one sense the news so far hasn’t been overwhelming. However, memantine may bring improvement to patients that are having difficulty finding other medications that work for them (Bigal, Rapoport, Sheftell, Tepper, Tepper 2008).

In Namenda treatment for migraine, small studies have shown some improvement in migraine patients who have significant disability and a significant number of attacks each month. The dosage is usually 10-20mg per day. Some studies saw over a 50% reduction in attacks (Krusz, Cammarata, 2005).

Namenda migraine treatment shows promise, but it’s still lacking the large, double blind trials that can really show us how well it works (and who it works best for).

I should also mention that there is some indication that Namenda may help with chronic tension-type headache. The results haven’t been as promising as with Namenda migraine treatments, but patients have seen a reduction in pain intensity, and some have seen a reduction in attacks (Lindelof, Bendtesn 2009)

Again, these are very small studies. But researchers are hopeful that memantine will be a good addition to migraine treatment, especially migraine that has been harder to treat in certain people. Since tension-type headache and cognitive problems often go along with migraine, there may be certain patients that see significant improvement with Namenda.

An interesting side note on the study of memantine is new light on the differences between men and women when it comes to migraine. Read more about Namenda, Migraine and cortical spreading depression

19 April 2005

Headache almost every day? What kind?

James Misc 0

Two types of headache that are similar, but usually should be treated differently: Transformed migraine and Chronic tension-type headache. The second type happens to many people from time to time. Every day or every other day you find yourself with a tension headache. It’s usually on both sides of the head and has that pressing pain. It doesn’t get worse with activity, and you’re usually not sick to your stomach – it’s just there. Still there.

Transformed migraine is now often called chronic migraine. It occurs in patients that have a history of migraine. Over the years, attacks become more frequent, until they end up with something similar to chronic tension-type headache. They may or may not have migraine attacks like they used to – just this daily or near daily background headache. If this is you, you probably actually are getting mild migraine attacks, not tension headache at all.

The causes of these headaches are different with everyone, but it’s important to know which you have in order to be treated. Generally, you won’t be "cured" of your headaches, but they can be very much reduced. In the case of transformed migraine, many sufferers have a form of rebound headache. This means that painkiller use can be tapered off and the headaches can taper off as well. But there can be other causes as well, such as a virus or a drug you’re taking or food you’re eating.

Other types of chronic headache include Hemicrania continua (a one sided headache usually treated with Indomethacin) and new daily persistent headache(typically in patients with no history of headache).

Both these headaches are of the kind that you need to see a doctor about. Make sure she knows your medical history so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.