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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
        
(Message started by: Lizzie2 on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 1:51am)

Title: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by Lizzie2 on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 1:51am

My neuro just had me start taking Petadolex as he's had some chronic daily migraine sufferers who've done quite well on it...also patients with 'allodynia.' He said there wasn't any info on how it helps CH one way or the other, but figured it couldn't hurt to try.

I just got it yesterday (have to order the trademarked Petadolex brand - it's the only one patented that gets rid of some potentially deadly toxins!) Instead of starting right off with 3 pills, my neuro is having me taper up to 3 pills over a week. Then, I'll take 3 pills a day (one with each meal) for a month, and then drop to 2 pills a day. Supposedly have to take a break after 4-6 months. It can be rather rough (putting it mildly) on the liver, so it's important to monitor!

Has anyone ever tried it? It's tough because some of the meds I try are really oddball - not used for cluster, but we hope that it'll help the daily migraine. However, my neuro always has me report on whether or not they helped the CH as well. I keep on searching!

Will let ya know how my trial of this goes...

Carrie :)

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 2:20am

Nerver heard of Petadolex [smiley=huh.gif]

Let us know how it goes.

Goodluck :)

Unsolved

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by floridian on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 10:17am

Good luck and keep us posted.

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by nani on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 10:21am

Carrie, the Jefferson med student in Dallas was conducting tests on us for allodynia. It appears that it's common in vascular headache sufferers. I was pleased as punch to know that I'm not the only person whose skin and hair "hurt".
Let us know how it goes. Good luck and PF wishes. hugs, nani

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by Lizzie2 on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 11:30am

Nani,

Allodynia has been a big research project at Jefferson since the time I worked there even (and probably even longer)! Several of the med students who were there when I was were working on a couple of allodynia projects.

I think Dr. Young and Dr. Ashkenazi wrote an article on allodynia and cluster headache. Dr. Young is my neuro, and he's tested me for allodynia several times (brush of gauze on the forehead), but I always thought I didn't experience it.

However, when I was there recently, he did the test again. It was odd - the left side of my forehead (usually the non-headache side, but not always!) felt the brush more than the right side - it was dull in that spot right above my eye. So then, he tested the cold sensation. Under the cheekbones, it felt the same on both sides as well as on the left side of my forehead. On the right, the sensation was decreased.

It was odd! That's kind of like reversed allodynia it seems! However, I do know that I don't wear makeup unless forced because it isn't pleasant to put on! I also cannot stand my hair to be touching my face - I have it back in some form or another most of the time as it is quite long now. I also become hypersensitive to EVERYTHING on days when I have bad hits or bad migraine. I can't stand if someone touches my skin, and I just feel like light, sound, and smells 'hurt' that much more. So - that definitely qualifies.

We'll see how the petadolex ends up helping! It takes awhile to kick in from what I understand, but I've waited this long - guess I can wait a little longer! ;)

Allodynia was a big topic at the American Headache Society conference in June. It's also my neuro's big topic of interest at the moment. He's really into the topic - done several research studies on it! I was just explaining it to my mom 2 nights ago because when I was a kid, I always used to say that my hair hurt. We always laughed about it - and so I told her that it really was a real phenomenon! :)

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by nani on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 11:38am

LMAO! I called my husband the night I participated in the study... he's always made jokes like "Only a dork's hair could hurt." When I told him about allodynia and CH sufferers he said..."Well, maybe you're ALL dorks.: LOL When Brian used the gauze on the back of my neck on my CH side, I almost fell out of my chair. Interesting stuff...

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by Lizzie2 on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 11:48am

:)

Quote:

1: Headache. 2004 Nov-Dec;44(10):1010-2. Related Articles, Links

Dynamic mechanical (brush) allodynia in cluster headache.

Ashkenazi A, Young WB.

Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5092, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the occurrence of dynamic mechanical (brush) allodynia (BA) in patients with cluster headache (CH). BACKGROUND: Cutaneous allodynia was described in migraine. It was related to sensitization of neurons in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). This phenomenon has not been previously described in cluster headache. METHODS: We examined adult patients with episodic or chronic CH for the presence of BA. Demographic data and the characteristics of CH were obtained through a questionnaire. Allodynia testing was performed by repetitively applying a 4x4-inch gauze pad to skin areas in the trigeminal and cervical dermatomes. Degree of allodynia was measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). The relations between the location and severity of headache and allodynia were assessed. RESULTS: Ten patients (all male, mean age 39.3) were included in the study. Seven had episodic CH (ECH) and 3 had chronic CH (CCH). Two patients were in acute attack when tested for BA. In total, 4 (40%) of the 10 patients had BA (2 [28.6%] of the 7 with ECH and 2 [66.7%] of the 3 with CCH). Median disease duration was 22 years for patients with BA and 12 years for patients without BA. Of the two patients in acute attack, one had BA, ipsilateral to the headache, which was reduced 20 minutes after treatment, along with reduced headache severity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the occurrence of cutaneous allodynia in CH. The presence of BA in CH may be related to CH type (episodic vs. chronic) and to the duration of disease. These results support the concept that allodynia in CH may result from a time-dependent process of neuronal sensitization.

PMID: 15546264 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Title: Re: Petadolex (Butterbur extract)
Post by Lizzie2 on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 11:51am

My neighbor across the hall at Jefferson told me he'd looked into doing research at the headache center, but once he found out they were studying allodynia, he decided not to do research there! Hmph!!

I've never been tested for allodynia on the back of my neck - I think Dr. Young has done the brush test on my forehead, cheeks, forearms, and shins. Seriously, I used to just laugh.

When I told him before how that didn't bother me but lots of other unusual things did, he didn't really seem to take note. However, this last time, he did pick up on it more when he repeated the test. Interesting, it is! :)