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Antidepressants & Migraines – A Potentially Dangerous Drug Combination

COMBINING ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND MIGRAINE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Taking antidepressants, like Pristiq, along with certain migraine medications can lead to dangerous and even life-threatening side-effects. Many people who suffer from depression also suffer from migraine headaches. Unfortunately, the mechanism of action of many antidepressants is to increase serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter) levels in the brain. Triptan drugs like Imitrex, which are used to reduce or end the pain of a migraine attack also work by stimulating serotonin receptors.

This combination of antidepressants and triptan migraine drugs can lead to too much serotonin in the brain. This is not a good thing and can result in a potentially life-threatening condition known as “serotonin syndrome.”

Though not approved for migraine prevention by the FDA, some physicians recommend antidepressants like Pristiq, for this purpose. There is very little data supporting this recommendation and not insignificant risk if they are also used with the triptan drugs like Imitrex or Zomig.

In some people, just the use of triptans alone can result in unhealthy levels of serotonin, leading to serotonin syndrome. This risk increases substantially if these people are also taking an antidepressant like Pristiq or any other of several antidepressants known either as SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRI (serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors).

The symptoms of “serotonin syndrome” are:

  • Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure
  • Agitation or restlessness
  • Confusion
  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of muscle control or twitching muscles
  • Heavy sweating
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Goosebumps
  • Shivering

woman with head pain

 

In severe cases of serotonin syndrome life-threatening symptoms can occur:

  • High Fever
  • Seizures
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Unconsciousness

If you and your physician decide to use this combination of drugs, you must be monitored very closely for any of these signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome.

If your migraines are bad enough, your physician may decide to stop the antidepressant so that you can use the triptan drugs with less risk (though as mentioned above, they alone, in some users can cause serotonin syndrome).

Many migraine sufferers benefit from a nutritional approach with the combination of magnesium, riboflavin and Puracol® feverfew.  Learn more at  MigreLief.com

 

MIGRELIEF

Trusted for over 2 decades:  The original multi-patented, physician recommended nutritional supplement for either men, women, or children who suffer from chronic migraine.

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FDA Warning: Topamax Increases Risk of Birth Defects

 

FDA WARNING: TOPAMAX SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS IN PREGNANT USERS

Topiramate (brand name Topamax) an anti-seizure prescription drug that is also used for migraine prevention, has been found to significantly increase the risk of birth defects when used by pregnant women.

Infants who were exposed to Topamax while in the womb had a 1.4% prevalence of oral clefts (cleft palates) compared to just .38-.55% with other antiepileptic drugs.

Dr. Russell Katz of the FDA states – “Before topirmate is prescribed, health care professionals should warn patients of childbearing age about the potential hazard to the fetus if a woman becomes pregnant while taking this drug.”  “Alternative medications that have a lower risk of birth defect should be considered.”

For those women of child-bearing age, who are also suffering with chronic migraine headaches, and don’t want to expose themselves to this risk,  MigreLief   the well-known, safe and very effective nutritional medicine for migraine relief, is a great alternative.

More Common and Serious Side Effects of Topamax

 

Best Hope for Migraine Sufferers, No Matter How You Spell It.

  • In the search for migraine prevention and relief, migraine sufferers often overlook the power of nutrition. 

The leading name in nutritional support for men, women, and children with migraines is spelled, M-I-G-R-E-L-I-E-F.  For over 25 years, MigreLief remains the #1 recommended dietary supplement by neurologists and headache specialists for  providing comprehensive and targeted nutritional support. 

“MigreLief”  is the most highly searched migraine supplement on the internet, including its many misspellings!

Whether searching online for  “MigreLief (correct spelling),” “Migra Lief,”  “MigreRelief,” “Mig Relief,” “Migraleaf,” “MigreLieve,” “MigreLife,” etc., migraine sufferers are hoping to be directed to the best migraine supplement available – – making a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of migraineurs worldwide.

According to Google, there are many misspellings, nevertheless, this has not kept migraine sufferers from finding www.MigreLief.com the official website of AKESO Health Sciences’ popular non-prescription nutritional supplement crested just for migraineurs.

(Most common misspellings according to Google)

  • MigraLief
  • MigreLeif
  • Migra Lief
  • MigraLeaf
  • Mig Relief
  • MigraLeif
  • MigraRelief
  • MigReleif
  • Migraleif
  • Migrilief
  • Migre Lief
  • Migra Life
  • MigreLeaf
  • Migrailief
  • MigreLif
  • MigraLif
  • Migrarelif
  • Mig-relief
  • Migrelieve

For a faster direct link to the MigreLief formula you seek, visit …..www.MigreLief.com

Migraine or Stroke? Symptoms May Be Similar

By now, many of you have probably heard about or saw T.V. reporter Serene Branson experiencing an unsettling on-air inability to speak while covering the Grammys last night.  She lost the ability to form words, and spoke gibberish for 10-20 seconds.

Branson’s physician has stated that she experienced a “complex migraine” and not a stroke.  It was also reported by the Associated Press that Branson has been a migraine sufferer since childhood.

The symptoms of a complex migraine, can in fact, mimic a stroke.

  • Weakness on one side of the body or face
  • Slurred speech
  • Mental confusion
  • Blindness in one eye
  • See only parts of objects
  • Numbness and tingling in the fingers, toes, face, or limbs

Since several of the symptoms could be quite dangerous when outside, or driving a car, medications that can prevent these types of migraines are important to use.  One would not want to be taking a medication after these symptoms had already occurred.

About 20 to 30 percent of people who experience complex migraines have symptoms or feel sensations before an attack but most people have no warning at all.

Many complex migraine sufferers have found that MigreLief has helped to keep their complex migraines under control.

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

Study Finds That Migraines Do Not Cause Cognitive Damage

Really Good News for Chronic Migraine Sufferers!

Though it is known that frequent migraine attacks cause lesions in the small vessels of the brain, a recently completed 10 year study at the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, in Paris, following over 800 adult migraine sufferers over the age of 65, found that the cognitive scores of the people with migraines were the same as those without migraine. It was feared that the lesions caused by the migraines would affect cognitive function but fortunately, they don’t.

These results are good news for the migraine sufferers, who were concerned about the effects of these lesions on their brains. There seems to be no negative consequences of migraine on the brain.

Of course the ability to think, read and work during a migraine is severely compromised and supports the need for safe and effective prevention.

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

 

The Connection Between Bipolar Disorder & Migraines?

Researchers have found that between 51-82% of Bipolar II patients also suffer from migraines.

Conversely, patients with migraine had a higher frequency of affective disorder (47% versus 22% in patients without migraine) (affective disorders are emotional disorders like depression that occur with no visible abnormality of the brain) and a higher number of anxiety disorders. They were more likely to have panic disorder (51% versus 24%) and agoraphobia (58% versus 27%) than the patients without migraine.

Magnesium has been shown to help calm the mania of some bipolar patients. Magnesium as it is found in MigreLief, has also been shown to help prevent migraine headaches.

For migraine sufferers who also suffer from bipolar disorders and for bipolar patients who are also experiencing chronic migraines, a safe and effective, magnesium containing, supplement like MigreLief may provide benefits for both conditions.

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

Menstrual Migraines Hard to Control… Until Now!

If you think that your menstrual migraines are difficult and hard to control… you’re right!  At least until now!

A study recently published in a well-respected medical journal named Cephalalgia found that menstrual and non-menstrual migraines differ in women who suffer from both kinds.

Non-menstrual migraines are those migraines that do not occur within a few days before or after menstruation.  The menstrual migraines occur either a few days before the start of menstruation or a few days after menstruation has stopped.

The study found that menstrual migraines lasted longer than non-menstrual migraines.  On average, the menstrual migraine lasted 23.4 hours vs 16.1 hours for non-menstrual migraines.

It was also found that menstrual migraines cause more disability and inability to function in daily tasks than non-menstrual migraines.

Medications to treat the pain of migraines were 50% less effective when used to treat menstrual migraines.  Furthermore, even when the pain medication did work, the risk of the menstrual migraine reoccurring was much more likely.

The authors of the study concluded by saying – “Menstrual migraines may require a treatment approach different from that of non-menstrual migraines.”

We agree!  And that is why we created MigreLief+M for the treatment of hormone-related menstrual migraine headaches.  MigreLief+M is the first product specifically formulated for women suffering from hormone-related menstrual migraines as well as women suffering from the symptoms of PMS.

For more information please go to MigreLief.com

Quality science and information empower good health!

Curt Hendrix  B.S. M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S

A Breakthrough for Menstrual Migraines, PMS & PCOS

A Breakthrough for Menstrual Migraines, PMS and PCOS!

MigreLief+M

LOS ANGELES,  /PRNewswire/ — In a world where millions suffer daily from the debilitating pain of migraine headaches, one name stands out as the definitive leader in natural, safe and effective treatment. MigreLief by Akeso Health Sciences.

Now, patients are raving about the amazing results of the new breakthrough product from Akeso. MigreLief+M (Menstrual) is the first of its kind supplement aimed at preventing migraines and other symptoms associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle.

“There is a direct relationship between hormones and headaches,” explains Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N., C.N.S., scientist and creator of MigreLief+M. “Headaches in women, particularly migraines, have been related to changes in the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone before, during and after a woman’s menstrual cycle. These hormone levels fluctuate dramatically and are associated with a large percentage of migraines in women.”

The release of MigreLief+M is life-changing news, not only for migraine sufferers but also for women who experience PMS symptoms such as cravings, breast tenderness, bloating, cramps, depression and irritability. The active ingredients in this menstrually targeted MigreLief have been shown to not only balance the hormonal fluctuations that lead to menstrual related migraines, but also significantly decrease PMS symptoms as well.

 

What is the secret to the success of world renowned MigreLief? “The ingredients that are used are continuously monitored for quality and integrity by independent analytical laboratories throughout the manufacturing process. These ingredients are then used in the exact form and dose proven effective in human clinical studies. Our supplements are of higher quality than those currently on the market because of this exacting scientific attention to purity and potency.”

MigreLief+M is no exception and promises to be another winner with a multitude of added benefits:

  • Same reliable migraine treatment as MigreLief original formula with additional compounds to treat Menstrual migraines and alleviate many PMS and PCOS symptoms.
  • May be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of premenstrual acne.
  • Can be taken with your prescription migraine drugs and has no side-effects.
  • Regulates blood sugar balance that is a migraine trigger in many patients.
  • MigreLief Facebook and Twitter interface directly with consumers to support their ongoing health questions and needs.

All MigreLief products are available in select pharmacies and online at www.migrelief.com. For more information and product samples contact sales@akesohealth.com.

About Akeso Health Sciences

Founded by Curt Hendrix in 1992, Akeso is a family company dedicated to continuing research and breakthrough technologies for the development of patented supplements that have helped tens of thousands find the joy and peace of a new life without migraines. The company consistently delivers innovative, leading edge solutions for migraineurs worldwide.

Contact:  Steve Hendrix
sales@akesohealth.com
(800) 758-8746

DISCLAIMER: MigreLief™ is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Frequent use of this product may result in considerable weight loss. Please consult with your licensed medical practitioner if you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem.

SOURCE Akeso Health Sciences and PRNewswire.com

Find out more about MigreLief+M

Effective Nutritional Support For Kids Suffering with Migraines

At Last! Nutritional Support for Children’s Migraines!
The First Nutritional Migraine Supplement Just for Kids – Children’s MigreLief

 

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — MigreLief, the first name in migraine support, releases a safe and proven effective supplement for children of all ages:

 

One of the hardest things for a parent to do is to see their child in pain.  Yet every day millions of parents must watch helplessly as their children suffer from debilitating attacks.  About one out of every ten kids, or nearly 8 million children in the United States alone, are plagued by what has become the most common acute and recurrent headache pattern experienced by children today.

“Be it supplement, OTC drug or prescription drug, Children’s MigreLief is the first and only therapy developed specifically for children suffering from migraine headaches,” explains Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N, C.N.S., scientist and creator of Children’s MigreLief.  These often incapacitating experiences strike suddenly and often with accompanying symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Until now, the only option available was the use of side-effect prone prescription medications actually causing more migraines, known as rebound headaches. But Children’s MigreLief offers parents of children suffering migraines a safe nutritional option, with none of the potentially disruptive side-effects of prescription drugs.

Hendrix explains, “There is NOT one prescription drug approved by the FDA for use by children with migraines. The side-effects of these drugs are significant in adults and not an option most parents would want to subject a child to. Children’s MigreLief is the perfect solution… a vitamin, a mineral and a plant, all well known for their safety, efficacy and low side-effects to establish normal vascular function instead of a lifetime on pain killers and abortive drugs.”

MigreLief contains a patented “Triple Therapy” approach to reestablishing normal cerebrovascular tone and function that is disrupted in children who have migraines.  Nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, and vasospasm can independently and together contribute to migraine occurrence, frequency and intensity.  Children’s MigreLief contains the same “Triple Therapy” ingredients as MigreLief but with dosages and pill sizes adjusted to meet the needs of children.

MigreLief’s ingredients; Puracol, a proprietary blend of two unique Feverfew sources, Magnesium from two sources and high dose, highly absorbable Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) have all independently been shown to be of significant benefit to migraine sufferers.

All MigreLief products are available in select pharmacies and online at MigreLief.com. For more information and product samples contact sales@akesohealth.com.

About Akeso Health Sciences

Founded by Curt Hendrix in 1992, the company now Akeso L.L.C. is a family company dedicated to continuing research and breakthrough technologies for the development of patented supplements. Akeso has helped tens of thousands control their migraines to find new joy and peace in life and consistently delivers innovative, leading edge solutions for migraineurs worldwide.

Contact: Brian Hendrix sales@akesohealth.com USA (800) 758-8746

DISCLAIMER: (MigreLief™) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness.  Please consult your licensed medical practitioner if you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem.

SOURCE Akeso Health Sciences and PRNewswire.com

 

RELATED PRODUCTS

 

Children's MigreLiefCHILDREN’S MIGRELIEF

For children under the age of 12 who suffer from migraine headaches.

» Buy Now

 

 

Have a MigreLief review? Post it on our Facebook page!

Many migraine sufferers new to the MigreLief community are looking for consumer reviews and feedback.  Facebook is an easy-to-access place to locate reviews.

We now have a review page on Facebook and would love it if you would stop by and post your MigreLief story or leave a quick review.  

Do you have a MigreLief Review or Testimonial? Click here for a direct link to the proper page.

This is the first review posted October 2010…

“I have had migraines for 25 years.  There are times when I get them I am out of commission for sometimes days… the pain is unbearable… can’t even hold my head up.  I started “MigreLief” about 3 months ago… I can honestly say I have not had one migraine. I know that you have to take MigreLief for a period of time to get results, I can’t explain it all I know is that the migraines have stopped. I was going through a stressful situation and forgot to take my MigreLief for about a week… all the sudden I was getting headaches daily… waking up with them. I went back on… no migraines. Flying usually gave me horrible headaches… since MigreLief – no more flying headaches… LOVE IT!!!!” – – – Colleen H.

Visit us on Facebook  and also follow us on Twitter

Does This PMS Make Me Look Fat?

Dieting and exercising – but still can’t lose weight?
Hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance could be the culprits.
Address the real problem and watch the pounds and bodyfat drop off!

Healthcare practitioners often hear women complain that they do exercise and try to watch their diet but their weight loss is very slow or non-existent, and they even gain weight and body fat.

How can this happen?  The answer is like the engine of a car, the body is a complex machine and many systems can malfunction.

If your car is getting poor gas mileage, a mechanic or an auto dealer may tell you to drive slower to get better gas mileage, but if your sparkplugs are fouled or mistimed, you will never see the benefit of improved mileage despite your efforts to drive slower. Knowing these differences can save you a lot of trouble, knowing if you need a jump starter or a new battery, for example.

Similarly, a lack of weight loss or even weight gain after dieting and exercise, can be explained and conquered, once disruptive hormonal imbalances and blood sugar irregularities (insulin resistance) are corrected.

Most women are familiar with the many pounds that some women gain during the time of the month while experiencing PMS. This is an example of how a simple hormonal fluctuation can cause weight gain – without you consuming one extra calorie.

Likewise, many of you have seen the middle age weight gain and body fat increase of many middle-aged women who are approaching menopause. This is yet another example of how hormonal changes can cause significant changes in your weight and body composition, without consuming extra calories (which are normally thought to be the reason for weight gain).

Studies show that 90% of women gain weight between the ages of 35 – 55.  Hormone changes and weight gain are directly related, and balancing your hormones is essential to prevent this weight gain. Weight gain during perimenopause is actually hormonal weight gain, and much of this weight may locate in the abdominal area.

Cortisol is a hormone that we release when we’re under stress. Fat cells contain more cortisol than other cells. Fat cells located deep in the abdominal area that surround our organs contain the most cortisol. Cortisol increases the accumulation of fat in these cells and INSULIN RESISTANCE increases the abdominal accumulation of fat as well CAUSING SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT GAIN AND SUBSTANTIAL HEALTH RISK!

Estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone levels can fluctuate quite significantly a few days before and after menstruation leading to migraines and causing symptoms of PMS and PCOS such as:

PMS Symptoms:

  • Menstrual migraines
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Changes in libido
  • Overeating
  • Cravings, especially for salty or sweet foods
  • Acne
  • Hives
  • Abdominal and pelvic cramps
  • Bloating
  • Weight gain
  • Headaches
  • Breast swelling and pain

PCOS Symptoms:

  • Hair loss: similar to male pattern baldness
  • Obesity and inability to lose weight
  • Acne
  • Insulin resistance:  The body does not respond well to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels and can lead to Type II diabetes and abdominal weight gain

High insulin levels due to insulin resistance increase the production of the male hormone, testosterone. High testosterone levels cause symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods and weight gain (all of these are PCOS symptoms). The testosterone causes much of the weight women gain to be in the abdominal area, which is where men carry much of their excess weight. Thus, it can be seen that the “Terrible -Twosome” of hormonal fluctuations and insulin resistance can wreak havoc on a woman’s over-all health as well as her ability to prevent weight gain and lose weight.

This “Terrible-Twosome” is also directly related to the occurrence of menstrual related migraines.  The naturally occurring compounds that are added to MigreLief+M to balance hormones and reduce insulin resistance will even help women without migraines who:

1 – Suffer from debilitating symptoms of both PMS and PCOS
2 – Are having a difficult time losing weight even after dieting and exercising

Of course, for women who suffer from migraines that occur around their period, MigreLief+M may be the solution they have been searching for.  But the real breakthrough with Migrelief+M is it’s ability to address not only migraines, but also the accompanying symptoms listed above.

To learn how to couple the use of MigreLief+M with dietary and exercise advice and how to supercharge your weight loss efforts, please visit the MigreLief+M product information page.

Knowledge is power.

To your health,
Curt Hendrix B.S. M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

Do Migraine Medications Actually Increase Migraines?

REBOUND HEADACHES: Can Some Migraine Medications Increase The Number and Frequency of Migraines?

Rebound headaches from prescription and over-the-counter migraine headache medications – what you need to know!

Many chronic migraine sufferers resort to taking prescription medicines called triptans when a migraine gets out of control. These medicines are used “acutely.”  This means you take them when you already have a migraine you want to try to stop.  These drugs do not prevent migraines from occurring.

In fact, not only do they not prevent migraines, the general consensus amongst researchers and clinicians is that on-going regular use of triptan drugs like Imitrex or Zomig actually increases the total number of migraines. This phenomenon is known as “Rebound Headache” or “Medication Overuse Headache” (MOH).

If you suffer from migraines, you may recognize this pattern. A migraine develops that won’t go away and one of these drugs is administered. The current migraine either goes away or decreases in intensity to the point where it is manageable but a day or two later, another migraine occurs:  “The Rebound Headache.”

If users are not careful this can lead to increased drug use and a cycle of reoccurring migraines. This rebound cycle occurs not only with triptan drugs but with caffeine-containing over-the-counter medicines like Excedrin.

Caffeine can help reduce the pain of headaches and migraines in some sufferers. But unfortunately, it is caffeine that causes many headaches and contributes to the development of migraines in many people.

In fact, several well-known neurologists and headache specialists have stated that one of the most powerful ways to reduce the number of migraines that sufferers experience is to remove caffeine from their diets.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, because caffeine is addictive and many sufferers experience withdrawal-like symptoms and a temporary, short increase in their headaches or migraines when first attempting to wean off of the caffeine.  Fortunately, this will last only a short time, perhaps several days, and then a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of migraines should occur.

Preventing migraines from occurring is a much safer and more desirable short and long-term choice.

Never underestimate the power of nutrition.  Migraine sufferers often benefit from filling their nutritional gaps with vitamins, minerals, and herbs proven to beneficial for migraine sufferers.

Migrelief as been recommended by headache specialists for over 20 years and is a great nutritional approach to maintaining normal cerebrovascular tone and function.  You may learn more at MigreLief.com