Migraine Sufferers - This New Drug Might Help You

If you're one of the nearly 30 million Americans who suffer from migraines, you know just how debilitating they can be.  I don't get one very often, but last week I had a doozy.  You know one of those three day throbbers that refuse to go away.  Not only do you feel like someone is stabbing you in the eye, your stomach hurts and you walk around in a daze feeling nauseous. Not a pretty picture.

But now there might be a new way to fight migraines. This month, a new drug is expected to land in pharmacies that combines two existing migraine drugs. It promises to offer relief without the fear of addiction.  It's called treximet.

Apparently it works by combining two existing drugs that control two different aspects of migraine headaches. First, it prevents blood vessels in the head from narrowing. Second, it blocks the brain from releasing chemicals that signal pain.

If you are a migraine sufferer ask your doctor if treximet is for  you.  For online information on all types of headaches click here.

---

Comments

[Eileen]

Actually it's over 36 million Americans who suffer with migraine disease, not "almost 30 million" as your article states.

http://www.helpforheadaches.com/lwfiles/family-mig-letter.htm if you care to read the statistics.

[Pam]

Treximet is NOT the combination of two existing Migraine drugs. It combines a Migraine medication with an NSAID. The Migraine medication, Sumatriptan, is a Triptan (technical name is selective serotonin receptor agonists), and is the ingredient found in Imitrex. The NSAID is naproxen sodium, the same ingredient found in the over-the-counter medicine Aleve. This is used for many other conditions. You say "It promises to offer relief without the fear of addiction". Even though it's not very common, NSAID addiction can occur. Additionally, using these products separately and/or together can cause a serious condition for Migraine sufferers called Medication Overuse Headache also known as Rebound Headaches.

I know that all medications including vitamins and supplements have side effects but your article makes it sound as if there are no risks associated with using this medication. Yes, there are benefits of both medications but it should be noted that NSAIDs can be FATAL. It increases heart attack and stroke risk and can be harmful to the liver, kidneys and stomach. NSAIDs can also cause ulcers, bleeding, perforation and other gastrointestinal effects.

You're incorrect to say that this medication prevents blood vessels in the head from narrowing. Treximet does NOT prevent blood vessels in the head from narrowing. During a Migraine attack the blood vessels in the head DILATE. Sumatriptan causes vasoconstriction. This means that this medication does the exact opposite of what you said it does and constricts, or narrows, the blood vessels. You can verify this information on MAGNUM, the same site you cited http://www.migraines.org/treatment/treathis.htm

Treximet is misspelled "treximent" in you last sentence.

Using the phrase "Migraine Headache" is also inaccurate. Migraine is a genetic neurological disease. Migraines are NOT headaches. Headache is just one symptom of a Migraine and there are many other symptoms such as, aura, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia and vertigo. Some people don't have headaches during a Migraine attack so calling it a "Migraine Headache" is misleading.

I'm not asking you to publish my comment, I'd just like you to fix the misinformation.
Pam
http://pinkpurlgurl.blogspot.com