Stress yourself out!
February 6, 2007 9:18 pm
Are you feeling calm, cool and collected? Sure, you may still be getting migraine attacks, perhaps a few less tension headaches...but did you ever consider that you could make things worse with a little stressful living? With a lot more poorly handled stress, you can enjoy those attacks so much more. And if you're going to get a tension headache, might as well make it a BIG one, right? We've got to help all the big drug companies earn their profits.
In light of all this, I thought this would be a great time for us to enhance our stressful living skills. You think you're tense now? Just wait until you give these 5 Ideas for Stressful Living a try.
(Obviously I write tongue-in-cheek here, but it's worth checking out this article (which is also tongue-in-cheek), even if you don't agree with every point. And be sure to check out the comments people left.)
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New tool studies in-between-migraine issues
February 15, 2007 8:58 pm
We're always looking for new ways to measure exactly what kind of impact an illness has on someone's life. This is important because most treatments come with some kind of risk, and we need to decide if the risk is worth it.
Various methods have been used to study the impact of headache and migraine. Take for example the Headache Impact Test (HIT), developed by QualityMetric Incorporated.
Yesterday, at the National Headache Foundation's Fourth Annual Headache Research Summit, a new tool was unveiled to measure the impact of migraine on an individual. To develop the tool, questionnaires were mailed out to 2500 migraine patients (though I have no idea how many actually answered the questionnaire). Based on the answers, a 16 question tool was developed, called the Migraine Interictal Burden Scale (MIBS).
Ok, I know what a migraine is...and a burden scale...but interictal? Yes, it's a word and it's spelled right. It's actually a very important word. You see, the researchers were trying to do something different.
Most tools are designed to discover how often you have migraine attacks, and how your life is impacted during those attacks. But most of us know that migraine can impact quality of life in between attacks as well. So the MIBS attempts to measure the impact on your life at all times. Good idea.
Hopefully the tool will help migraine patients understand the importance of treatment, but a shorter, quicker version is also being developed to make it easier for doctors to make treatment decisions. Treatment is not just about reducing attacks - it should be about improving quality of life overall.
For more, read the press release on MIBS from Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc.
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Actiq for migraine
February 20, 2007 3:21 am
The controversy and debate surrounding the painkiller Actiq is actually pretty typical. In the United States, the drug has been approved for specific cancer pain, known as "breakthrough pain". This would include sudden and severe pain in a cancer patient that is already on strong painkillers. But the drug is also used (legally) for other kinds of pain, including migraine. This has caused some concern, which has caused some migraine patients to roll their eyes and insist that if it helps it should be considered as an option.
Migraine patients with severe pain are used to such controversy - drugs being denied them because some people abuse them. And Actiq does have the potential to be abused - it's a very strong opioid that's found its way to the streets as "perc-o-pops". It can be very addictive, causing rebound headache and worse.
Doctors can prescribe Actiq for things other than cancer pain. There has been concern because of two things - 1. It seems that 90% of prescriptions have been for other things and 2. It was often used before less dangerous and better options. In the case of migraine, there's a large arsenal of options, and Actiq should be a long way down the list.
So please do be cautious about Actiq. There have been some small "pilot" trials for its use with migraine, but it's still very new and untried. The official information from Actiq warns not to use for short term pain, among other cautions. This doesn't mean it's wrong or irresponsible for your doctor to prescribe Actiq. However, before your doctor writes out a prescription for Actiq, she should know your medical history and she should have tried a host of other options.
It's also worth mentioning that there have been accidents with children taking Actiq. The drug is taken like a "lollipop", and your child may think it's candy. Keep it out of reach.
Read more about Actiq concerns here.
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Live Webcast about migraine - today!
February 21, 2007 3:41 pm
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.
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