Posted by Bob Johnson (12.19.49.2) on March 22, 2000 at 08:39:07:
In Reply to: Headache Book posted by Lawrence Robbins M.D. on March 21, 2000 at 23:00:07:
I read Robbins' book this week and found it the best single volume I've found. The relative lack of medical terminology makes it useful for the general reader. He covers all the usual meds, dosing, combinations, etc. but also has multiple warnings about potential side effects--information which of often is not part of the messages we post. He covers all major types of headache and has chapters on special issues of headache in children, adolescents, and "old" people (50+). What sets this book apart from others I have is a running commentary on his "medical philosophy" of treatment, i.e., how does the doctor make treatment planning decisions. (I don't want to overblow this idea but it's a minor, if useful, discussion which runs through out the book. There are several sections of case studies.)
There are two chapters on CH but the chapters on migraine are worth reading because he makes several references to treatments useful for CH which are not listed in the index under cluster.
There is a brief section on use of herbals, vitamins, and magnesium for headache but nothing very conclusive here.
The whole book is worth reading--at least a good scanning--because he offers insights into the difficulties of treating complex headache given the present state of medical knowledge. Robbins encourages realistic expectations about the degree to which both abortive and preventive medications can deliver what we want and, of course, keeps urging patience in running trials to find meds and combinations of meds which work.
Robbins has a chapter which is balanced and constructive on the role of acupuncture, meditation, and various forms of relaxation training. Like the Duckro book, which I recommended several months ago, he acknowledges that these approaches are not going to help an attack but that they can help cope with the higher levels of anxiety and depression which are common to people with chronic, debilitating medical conditions.
Bottom line: it's well worth the $50(U.S.) (at Amazon.Com).