Posted by Sotski on October 14, 1998 at 01:54:23:
Dear fellow sufferers:
It is important that you try to devote some time to searching the internet for info related to your condition.
There is a wealth of info out there, and answers to many questions (but not the ultimate ones: what causes cluster and what is the cure?)
The following is some info I came across tonight. I am especially concerned about the meds we take. Much of this stuff is hard on the bod. I'll try just about anything for relief, but let's be careful out there, ok?
Best wishes to all as we struggle to cope...
A new study concludes that several drugs used to treat migraine headaches may
be linked to an increased risk of heart attack in patients with heart disease.
- researchers at the University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, exposed coronary
arteries from organ donor who had died of conditions unrelated to heart disease
to the drugs ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methysergide, sumatriptan,
naratriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, and avitriptan, to collect data.
- found that all of the drugs triggered the contraction of coronary arteries, but
that only limited contraction was seen when the drugs were administered at
normally- prescribed doses.
- authors say arterial contraction from the migraine drugs would not be enough to
trigger heart-related problems in otherwise-healthy patients, but that such
contraction could trigger chest pain and/or heart attack in patients with
pre-existing heart conditions.
- the study notes that most migraine medications work, in part, by causing arterial
contraction in the brain and also that the drugs ergotamine and
dihydroergotamine caused more extensive and longer-lasting contraction than the
other drugs.
- the study is in the journal Circulation (1998; 98).
MedBriefs (INC inc.) 7/6/98
Approval of new drug for migraine treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval to two
forms of the drug Maxalt (rizatriptan benzoate) for the treatment of migraines
with or without aura in adults.
- Maxalt, from Merck & Co., will be available in regular tablets and in a pill that
dissolves on the tongue and does not need to be taken with liquids
(Maxalt-MLT).
- trial results submitted in support of the drug's application for approval are
reported to have shown that 67-77% of migraine patients taking 10 mg doses of
Maxalt, and 60-63% of those taking 5 mg doses, experienced significant pain
relief within two hour of treatment.
- the drug, a selective 5-HT receptor agonist, is contraindicated for use by
patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease, those taking
monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression, or who are pregnant.
- Merck estimates that Maxalt will sell for a 14.06 to $14.63 per tablet.
- data taken from a Merck & Co. release (July 1, 1998).
MedBriefs (INC inc.) 7/1/98
Zomig for the treatment of migraine
A recent report concludes that the drug Zomig (TM) (zolmitriptan) is effective in
treating acute migraine within two hours of use in most patients.
- researchers at the New York Headache Center report that studies involving
more than 49,000 migraine attacks have found that Zomig successfully treated
about 80% of migraines within two hours.
- authors further note that patients taking a second dose of Zomig for persistent
migraine experienced successful treatment response in 95% of cases within two
hours of taking the final dose.
- the report was presented at a meeting of the American Association for the
Study of Headache in San Francisco (June 29, 1998).
MedBriefs (INC inc.) 6/30/98