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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> roids anyone? a new treatment
        
(Message started by: maria9 on Nov 5^th, 2005, 10:18pm)

Title: roids anyone? a new treatment
Post by maria9 on Nov 5^th, 2005, 10:18pm

OK here is one I haven't seen posted here:

Pain. 2005 Sep 30; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links

Suboccipital injection with a mixture of rapid- and long-acting steroids in cluster headache: A double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Ambrosini A, Vandenheede M, Rossi P, Aloj F, Sauli E, Pierelli F, Schoenen J.

Headache Clinic, INM Neuromed, IRCCS, Via Atinense, 18, I-86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.

Oral steroids can interrupt bouts of cluster headache (CH) attacks, but recurrence is frequent and may lead to steroid-dependency. Suboccipital steroid injection may be an effective 'single shot' alternative, but no placebo-controlled trial is available. The aim of our study was to assess in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial the preventative effect on CH attacks of an ipsilateral steroid injection in the region of the greater occipital nerve. Sixteen episodic (ECH) and seven chronic (CCH) CH outpatients were included. ECH patients were in a new bout since no more than 1 week. After a one-week run-in period, patients were allocated by randomization to the placebo or verum arms and received on the side of attacks a suboccipital injection of a mixture of long- and rapid-acting betamethasone (n=13; Verum-group) or physiological saline (n=10; Plac-group). Acute treatment was allowed at any time, additional preventative therapy if attacks persisted after 1 week. Three investigators performed the injections, while four others, blinded to group allocation, followed the patients. Follow-up visits were after 1 and 4 weeks, whereafter patients were followed routinely. Eleven Verum-group patients (3 CCH) (85%) became attack-free in the first week after the injection compared to none in the Plac-group (P=0.0001). Among them eight remained attack-free for 4 weeks (P=0.0026). Remission lasted between 4 and 26 months in five patients. A single suboccipital steroid injection completely suppresses attacks in more than 80% of CH patients. This effect is maintained for at least 4 weeks in the majority of them.

PMID: 16202532 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Good results? Yes, but only available in Italy. And about steroids, yes to the dependency and shall I say brief interuption of the attacks as well as all the other deliterious side effects which many of you here can speak of.

Marsha

Title: Re: roids anyone? a new treatment
Post by floridian on Nov 6^th, 2005, 2:41pm

Thanks, Marsha.

This was discussed a while ago - nerve blocks are available in the US, any doctor can perform them. They commonly include injections of steroids and/or a local anesthetic, and botox probably works the same way (if it works) ... one set of nerves is blocked for a few days or few weeks, which sometimes provides relief.

Not sure if the location of the nerve block cited in this article is 'new' or better than other procedures - they claim a high sucess rate, but sometimes it is the skill of the injector.

Title: Re: roids anyone? a new treatment
Post by Jasmyn on Nov 6^th, 2005, 5:42pm

Marsha done in South Africa also.

Quote:

They commonly include injections of steroids and/or a local anesthetic

Works for me only for about a day but then still shadowing badly.