Posts Tagged ‘Migraine Prevention’

Medication Overuse Headache- (MOH) - A big dilemma.

The following comment is from Stephen Silberstein, M.D.,  director of the Jefferson Headache Center and professor of neurology, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia

“One of the greatest bugaboos we see every day in headache centers is patients with chronic daily or near-daily headache, who are overusing medication. It is our most common problem. These patients have often not responded to treatment and in an attempt to treat themselves, actually make the problem worse. This is not addiction or an attempt to get ‘high’; rather, it is motivated by the patient’s desire to relieve pain and dysfunction. Migraine preventive therapy is grossly underused.”

Do you find yourself taking more and more medications to try to keep your migraines/headaches under control? Do you find that one or two days after taking your medications that your headaches return?  Do you use more than three triptan drugs a week?  Are you taking OTC drugs 15 days or more out of every month?

If your answer to any of the above questions is “YES”, then you may very well be suffering from Medication-Over-Use-Headaches.  The drugs you are taking are actually causing you to experience more headaches, even if they temporarily help the headache at hand.

Triptans, ergot drugs, opiates (morphine, codeine, meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (Oxycontin) (Butorphanol) and OTC pain pills can all cause medication over-use headaches (MOH). If people use 3 or more triptans a week they will probably get rebounds, the same for opiates and if they are using Excedrin or other OTC pain pills 12-15 days a month or more, they will definitely get rebound headaches as well.

TIME TO DETOX

Research has shown that withdrawing (detoxing) from these drugs can in many cases reduce the total number of headaches you experience as well as the intensity of those headaches.  Withdrawal is not easy and the symptoms of withdrawal can be challenging, but the results are definitely worth it for most sufferers.

For triptans, the detox period during which there may be withdrawal symptoms, like continuing headaches, nausea, vomiting, and disrupted sleep will last about 4-5 days on average. 

The symptoms may last up to 8-10 days for withdrawing from opiates, ergots or OTC drugs.

The literature and research states that it is important to start taking a preventive treatment product prior to or at the same time you start the detox program. (see www.MIGRELIEF.COM) We recommend starting MigreLief one week before withdrawing from the drug that is being over-used.

There seems to be little difference in the ultimate results and success whether people withdraw “cold turkey” or gradually.

Keep a rescue pain medication available that is different from the medication that has been over-used, for emergency situations, only!

So if you are withdrawing from triptans or opiates, keep ibuprofen or Excedrine Migraine available, BUT JUST FOR EMERGENCIES WHERE THE PAIN CAN NO LONGER BE TOLERATED.  USE THE RESCUE MEDICATION VERY SPARINGLY; YOU DON’T WANT TO SWITCH FROM OVER-USING ONE DRUG FOR A NEW ONE. (THAT WILL GET YOU NO WHERE!).

If withdrawing from OTC medications, keep a triptan or opiate drug available for an emergency rescue situation only. 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY VERY WELL HYDRATED. DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE.

At the end of 5-10 days, depending upon what medication you are withdrawing from, you should find that your rebound headaches have significantly diminished or disappeared.

Your use of the offending medication should be either eliminated or substantially reduced.  Be sure to keep taking MigreLief daily because preventive products are very important to the success of this program.  Continue to take  MigreLief to maintain the benefits you have achieved.  

45% OF SUFFERERS WHO GO THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE MAY RELAPSE.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE USE OF THE PREVENTIVE AND KEEP THE USE OF RESCUE MEDICATIONS TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM TO PREVENT RELAPSE.

To the Best of Health,

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

The brain of migraineurs likes consistency. Many factors change with the seasons and influence migraines.   Changes in sleep patterns, light, air-pressure, temperature, humidity, and fragrances, can all increase the the frequency and tendency of migraines.

Beware of hotter days. A team of researchers at Harvard found that an increase in temperatures occurred 24 hours before increases in admissions to emergency rooms for treatment of migraines.   There is not much a patient can do to control the weather or avoid warm temperatures or changes in barometric pressure, therefore it is important to be vigilant about managing other triggers such as sleep and diet.  Avoid well known food triggers, and drastic changes in your sleep pattern if you can.  It  is also very important to stay well hydrated and to avoid strenuous outdoor activities or exercise during times of the day when it’s excessively warm or humid.

Spring is allergy season, and for many people sinus or allergy headaches can lead to migraines.

Tips to avoid “Spring” migraines:

1.  To avoid airborne allergens in your home, clean or change A/C filters
2.  If you are allergy prone, make sure your allergy meds are handy.
3.  With higher temperature, dehydration occurs even if we don’t feel dehydrated. Dehydration is a big cause of migraines. Drink lots of water

4. Stick with a sleep schedule, try to got to bed at the same time as much as possible and determine what number of hours is best for you. Both too little and too much sleep can increase migraine risk.

5. Light (photophobia) is a major contributor to migraine risk. Purchase a polarized, high grade pair of sunglasses and wear a hat with a brim to keep out even more light.

6. Be careful of new fragrances that you introduce not only in perfumes but moisturizers as well.

Follow these tips, use your Migrelief and enjoy the fun and beauty of Spring.

To the Best of Health,

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

Related Article – “The Anti-Migraine Diet”

Some butterbur products may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), and that’s the major safety concern.

PAs can damage the liver, lungs, and blood circulation, and possibly cause cancer. Butterbur products that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are UNSAFE when taken by mouth or applied to broken skin. Broken skin allows chemicals to be absorbed into the body. Do not use butterbur products unless they are certified and labeled as free of PAs.

Short-term treatment with Butterbur 

 PA-free butterbur products are considered POSSIBLY SAFE  when taken short-term, by mouth appropriately. PA-free root extracts seem to be safe when used for up to 16 weeks in adults. There is some evidence that a specific PA-free butterbur extract (Petadolex, Weber&Weber, GmbH & Co, Germany) can be safely used in children who are 6-17 years old for up to 4 months.

Not enough is known about the safety of using PA-free butterbur products on unbroken skin. Don’t use it.

BUTTERBUR SIDE-EFFECTS

PA-free butterbur is generally well tolerated. It can cause belching, headache, itchy eyes, diarrhea, asthma, upset stomach, fatigue, and drowsiness. However, it seems to cause less drowsiness and fatigue than cetirizine (Zyrtec). Butterbur products might cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and other related herbs.

So please consult your doctor before taking Butterbur for migraine treatment. 

If you or one of your friends is a “prisoner” of chronic migraines, the information in this article could change your life.

1- Is your life or the life of someone you know, governed each month by the fear and anticipation of when the next migraine may occur?

2- Do you miss work because of your migraines?

3- Are your social plans or even vacations often disrupted by painful migraine attacks?

4- Do you take over-the-counter or prescription pain killers many times a month in an attempt to reduce the severe pain of your migraines?

5- Are you sensitive to light or noise?

6- Does your vision, speech or thinking get affected before an attack?

7- Do you find yourself often having to lay down in a dark, quiet room, perhaps even with an ice pack on your temples or forehead?

8- Do you have migraines 3 or more times a month?

9- Are you at the point where you are frustrated and stressed out by your chronic migraines?

If you have answered “yes” to 3 or more of the above questions, then you are most likely an excellent candidate for “Migraine Prevention” options that are proven to be very effective and completely safe.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RECLAIM YOUR LIFE AND MAKE MIGRAINES A MUCH MORE MINOR PART OF YOUR LIFE THAN THEY CURRENTLY ARE!

Few physicians or researchers who are experts on migraines would deny that “STRESS” is a major factor in the occurrence of migraines.

Recent research from Sweden has demonstrated that certain types of stress reducing exercise was just as effective as a major prescription drug named Topiramate for preventing migraine headaches.

MigreLief, the multi-patented natural medicine that has been used by tens of thousands of chronic migraine sufferers, helps the brain and its arteries to maintain already normal cerebrovascular tone that exists when you are not suffering from a migraine.

Combining the daily use of MigreLief along with the following stress reducing breathing exercise can literally help control your migraines to an extent you may never have thought possible.

1 – The depth and rate of our breathing respectively decrease and increase when we are stressed. This can deplete oxygen flow to the body and the brain. Please do this breathing exercise exactly as it is described at least 3 times a day:

Blow your breath out through your mouth and then seal your lips. Breathe in slowly through your nose for 10 seconds while expanding your chest. Hold it for 30 seconds while trying to think about “nothing”.

At the end of 30 seconds then slowly expel the breath you were holding, through your lips over a 15 second interval. Notice how your entire body relaxes throughout this breathing exercise especially during the exhalation segment.

Repeat this sequence at least 3 times in a row, working yourself up do doing it 5X in a row, three times a day.

Over time, as your body and brain relax and get used to this very effective breathing technique, you may want to increase the time you breathe in through you nose to 15 seconds, the time you hold your breath to 60 seconds and the time you exhale through your mouth to 30 seconds.

To learn more about how MigreLief works and the success so many chronic migraine sufferers, just like yourself, have experienced please go to www.MigreLief.com

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

There are 4 distinct phases to a migraine:  Prodromal (aka Premonitory), Aura, Pain and Postdrome. 

It is during the first two phases (prodromal and aura) that you get hints that a migraine is coming, and recognizing these hints (symptoms) may give you the edge you need to fight back and either prevent the migraine entirely or decrease the severity and or duration of the pain phase (which is obviously the most debilitating and problematic).

The Prodrome Stage – About 65% of migraine sufferers experience the prodrome phase. In the prodrome stage, sufferers experience emotional or physical symptoms two hours to two days before the pain phase starts.

These symptoms can occur in migraineurs with and without aura.

They are:

• Fatigue
• Yawning
• Appetite changes
• Altered mood – depression
• Muscle Stiffness – especially in the neck
• Appetite changes
• Digestive changes – (some sufferers vomit up food they ate quite a while ago)
• Irritability
• Euphoria
• Food cravings
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Sensitivity to odors, noise and light
• Increased urination

Physicians who specialize in migraine treatment find that only 30% of sufferers recognize that they have one or more of the “prodrome” symptoms until they are actually told what symptoms to look for. Once informed then up to 80% of sufferers report having one or more of them.

The Aura Stage – Less than half of migraine sufferers experience the aura stage. During this stage, about one-third of patients see flashing lights, wavy lines and blank spots in their field of vision (called scotoma) for a few minutes to a few hours before the pain stage begins. Some also have temporary trouble speaking or feel tingling or numbness on one side of the face or feet. (called parathesias). Others may develop a hypersensitivity to touch.

The Pain Stage – The onset of the pain stage can start within minutes or sometimes hours of the commencement of the aura stage. In addition to pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia) sound (phonophobia) and movement may also be experienced.

The Postdrome Stage – During this stage of migraine, even though the pain is gone, some sufferers can feel exhausted, depressed and/or, residual neck pain.

What to try when you notice any of the symptoms in either the “prodrome” or “aura” phases.

If you haven’t realized it already, it is advantageous to experience either or both of these stages because they can both serve as a type of “advanced warning” system that a migraine is imminent.

It is to your advantage to try to address preventing your migraine as early as possible, so focus on the 13 symptoms listed in the prodromal section.

If you don’t experience any of these, but do experience the symptoms listed in the “aura” section, then that’s when you can start trying the following techniques to prevent your migraine from occurring:

TECHNIQUES TO TRY:  (None of these techniques work for everybody. You will need to experiment to see which of them help you the most.)

1-   H2O – Drink plenty of room temperature water to make sure you are well hydrated.

2-   BREATHE  – If you feel stressed, try meditating if you know how, or try these breathing exercises:

Stress Reducing-Breathing:
The depth and rate of our breathing respectively decrease and increase when we are stressed. This can deplete oxygen flow to the body and the brain. Please do this breathing exercise exactly as it is described at least 3 times a day:

Blow your breath out through your mouth and then seal your lips. Breathe in slowly through your nose for 10 seconds while expanding your chest. Hold it for 30 seconds while trying to think about “nothing”.

At the end of 30 seconds then slowly expel the breath you were holding, through your lips over a 15 second interval. Notice how your entire body relaxes throughout this breathing exercise especially during the exhalation segment.

Repeat this sequence at least 3 times in a row, working yourself up do doing it 5X in a row, three times a day.

Over time, as your body and brain relax and get used to this very effective breathing technique, you may want to increase the time you breathe in through you nose to 15 seconds, the time you hold your breath to 60 seconds and the time you exhale through your mouth to 30 seconds

Perhaps have someone massage you (if massage relaxes you.) Try taking a warm (not hot or cold) bath.

3-   ESSENTIAL OILS – Try applying either essential oils of peppermint or lavender to your temples, forehead and or neck. 2-3 drops is sufficient.  The side of the neck behind and below the ear is a good spot.

4-   IBUPROFEN – I am hesitant to suggest you consider taking any OTC or prescription medicines for pain based upon the symptoms of the prodrome phase because I don’t want people to medicate unnecessarily. (If you are pretty sure that one of the prodrome symptoms is a reliable indication that you are going to get a migraine that would be an exception).  But I do suggest trying either of these meds if you experience the symptoms of the aura phase.  I have seen just 200-400 mg of Ibuprofen help many people not only eliminate the aura but prevent the migraine too. (Of course you should confirm that it is OK taking any medication with your physician.)

5-    INCREASE MIGRELIEF DOSE – Though not clinically substantiated, anecdotal reports of MigreLief users taking an extra pill or two upon noticing any of the symptoms, have reported some benefits.  This is not totally surprising because a few studies have shown both feverfew and magnesium to not only prevent migraines but actually help to eliminate the pain of some migraines.

6-    GET OFF THE COMPUTER – Stop working on your computer.  The flickering or flashing lights of a computer screen is a trigger to some migraine sufferers.

7-   WALK -  If it’s not too hot or cold, get out and take a walk at a moderate pace for 10 minutes.

Please remember that none of the above suggestions works for everyone. You will have to experiment to see if one or more of these techniques works for you.

To learn more about successful migraine prevention, visit MigreLief.com

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

FDA Warns on Mixing Antidepressants with Migraine Drugs (First released in 2010)

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 20 — Mixing common migraine drugs with antidepressants can trigger a life-threatening condition called serotonin-syndrome, the FDA has warned.

Serotonin-syndrome is characterized by rapid heart beat, sudden changes in blood pressure, and increased body temperature. Other symptoms include restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Options successful at preventing the occurrence of migraines would decrease the risk described above in patients taking anti-depressant and experiencing migraines.  

For warning signs of serotonin syndrome and more info on Anti-depressants and migraine drugs click on the link at the end of this article.  For information on your natural migraine control option recommended by doctors, neurologists and pharmacists, go to  www.MigreLief.com

MigreLief is a dietary supplement for the nutritional support of cerebrovascular function in migraine sufferers age 2 years and above.

RELATED ARTICLE:  ANTI-DEPRESSANTS AND MIGRAINES – A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMBINATION!   Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome etc…

Many of you who either suffer from chronic migraine headaches or have a close friend or loved one, who has them, are familiar with the visual disturbances that can occur prior to the migraine pain, known as auras.

Some symptoms of auras are bright flashing lights, zigzag line in your field of vision and areas in your field of vision that are blocked out, just to mention a few.

These auras are taken to a whole other level of intensity when migraine sufferers experience what are known as “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome” migraines. (AIWS)

Thought to be caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain which leads to irregular blood flow in parts of the brain that control vision, these “hallucinations” result in severe distortion and perception of what the sufferer is viewing.

Sufferers when viewing their own body parts may think that they look gigantic or extremely tiny. Their feet may seem to be a mile away from their knees. Rooms and walls may sway and look like they are bending and flexing.  Hallways can look much longer than they actually are and perception of both time and space can be totally disrupted.  Every day noises like the sound of a TV can sound incredibly loud. Children can complain that the blackboard in school looks very far away.

Episodes of AIWS usually occur without the pain associated with migraines.

These unusual perceptions are very similar to what Alice experienced in Wonderland when she fell into the hole and in fact may be in the story because Lewis Carroll was known to suffer with severe migraines and may have had these kinds of perception issues himself.

AIWS is most common in migraine sufferers and children.  AIWS in children even without migraine pain can indicate that the child might develop migraines as he/she ages.  The eyes are healthy upon examination and the abnormal perception is caused by brain malfunction in the areas of the brain like the occipital lobe that processes perception.

The altered visual images that sufferers perceive can also be coupled with changes in sensation, touch and hearing.  The first attack of AIWS can make sufferers think they are “losing their minds” or going crazy and can be quite upsetting and scary. These disturbances can make a person with AIWS afraid to walk or move.

Other than the fear caused by the strange perceptions caused by AIWS there is no known long-term harm caused by the condition. The episodes should be treated by whatever medical options the sufferer has found beneficial for their regular migraines. Though it is unlikely that there is anything structurally wrong with the brain, to be safe, if you do experience an episode of AIWS, getting an MRI of the brain is advisable.

Since AIWS is not very common, and occurs mostly frequently in children, it is not known if taking preventive medications or supplements known to prevent chronic migraines such as, prescription drugs or well-known dietary supplements like, MigreLief, will eliminate or reduce the occurrence of AIWS, though it is conceivable they might, because they do help to establish normal cerebrovascular function which goes “haywire” both during migraines and AIWS.

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N.  C.N.S.

Some people think of migraine headaches as being an adult health problem. Children of all ages suffer from migraine pain which can disrupt and impair their quality of life as well. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, about 5% of elementary school-age children may experience migraine headaches and the physical and emotional stress they cause. This statistic jumps to 20 percent by the time a child reaches high school.

Before age 10, an equal number of boys and girls get migraines but after age 12 during and after puberty, migraines affect girls three times more than boys. Migraine symptoms interrupt the normal activities of 65-80% of these young migraineurs.

(more…)

An article published in the 2012 March edition of the headache journal Cephalalgia, discusses a Taiwanese study that found a correlation between having erectile dysfunction (ED) and also having been diagnosed with migraines.

In over 5000 patients with ED, the odds of having also been diagnosed were 63% greater than in men without ED, and this was after adjusting for other risk factors that are associated with ED like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and alcohol abuse.

An interesting aspect of this research was that this increased risk of having been diagnosed with both migraine and ED increased from 63% to 98% in men between the ages of 30-39, an age group not usually associated with ED.

For men who suffer chronic migraines, the need to stop the pain and avoid a life of taking pain pills is enough motivation to explore options that prevent migraines. The possibility that migraines are somehow related to ED only provides another reason to explore all of the options

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

To learn more about safe, effective, non-drug migraine options please go to www.MigreLief.com

Prescription pain killers such as Vicodin (hydrocodone) OxyContin (oxycodone), Opana (oxymorphone) and methadone can cause significant rebound headaches in chronic migraineurs who use these drugs.

The over-use of these drugs is alarming. There were enough prescriptions written for these drugs in 2010 to medicate every adult in America, around the clock for a month. The drug companies are laughing all the way to the bank.

In 1999, 4000 deaths due to these drugs were reported. Just 9 years later that number increased more than 350% to 15,000.

We are the most medicated country in the world, yet our life expectancy is not even in the top 40 countries of the world.  Our medical insurance costs are the highest in the world, but we are nowhere near the healthiest people in the world.

Now additional studies are showing that triptan drugs like Imitrex, Zomig, Frova, Maxalt and Relpax, which are used to try to reduce the pain of migraines, are dangerous for people with heart disease.  The drugs constrict arteries which is a dangerous mechanism for people with heart problems.

Yet the study reports that physicians are prescribing these drugs to people with heart problems who shouldn’t be taking them. In fact the study reported that 22% of people with heart conditions were prescribed a triptan during one year.

A well-known headache physician, Stewart Tepper of the Cleveland Clinic reporting for WebMD states, “That figure is very upsetting, I never would have thought it was that high.”

Add this concern to the fact that if over-used, these drugs cause additional migraines to occur as rebound headaches due to medication over-use, and it becomes clear that getting off of these drugs and preventing migraines from happening in the first place, should be the goal of all chronic migraine sufferers.

Go to ww.migrelief.com  to start on your drug free pathway to finally controlling your migraines.

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.