Migraine Blog

MAGNUM Nearly Loses Its Founder, A Life Long Migraineur, to a Major Heart Attack

 © Michael John Coleman 2009.

  “Attack On Freedom"  If you ever wondered what a heart attack looks like through the eyes of an artist, look no more!  In an effort to keep my cool while I was fighting to breath and stay calm--no small feat—so I deployed the only trick I knew-focus on my art and tried to get the perfect image of the new Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom on her first Deployment, with the National's Capitol Dome in the far background or the right on the waterline horizon!
 
While International News Agencies MSNBC & Others Point Out Studies Support  Migraineurs have Twice the Chance of Heart Attacks & Strokes!
 

 WASHINGTON, D.C.; FRIDAY MAY 9th, 2009-Updated MONDAY MAY 25, MEMORIAL DAY-Special By Michael John Coleman, MAGNUM Executive Director and Founder.
 
When I was a young man I was employed as an Art Director working for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) down the road from MAGNUM's current offices in a beautiful place called Crystal City, Virginia.  It was the pulse of the Cold War ship design and innovation which helped to win that forty year conflict. With that little tale of how history touches all, a lesson all too often retold on Memorial Day.
 
So let me tell you a personal story related my possible Migraine induced heart attack (Ouch!) echoed in a recent study which reported some Migraine sufferers have twice the chance of heart attacks and, or strokes.  Many readers we know have seen the MSNBC TV broadcast "Killer Headache: Migraines Hike Stroke Risk" which originally aired last March, and again recently this month.  MAGNUM, both here at www.MigraineBlog.com  and www.migraines.orghave been receiving anecdotal evidence that MAGNUM for purposes of discussion find statically provocatively significant. In other words we constantly hear  stories about friends or family member who has suffered Migraines for decades only succumb to an unwelcome cardiovascular event regardless of a total lack of risk factors such as poor eating habits, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, abuse of alcohol, abuse of drugs, obesity, and lots of Kielbasa AKA Polish sausage & eggs every morning for decades!
 
The fact is scientists agree Migraine disease is a risk factor for life threatening cardiovascular conditions such as Stroke and heart attack.

Recent studies show those who suffer from Migraine disorder with aura have double, perhaps triple, the risk of stroke or heart attack, compared with non-Migraineurs (people who don't get Migraines).
 
In a study of 175 people completed last year, University of Toledo neurologist Gretchen Tietjen - who treated Leslie after her stroke - found that nearly a third of those with migraines had signs of blood vessel damage, almost five times higher than the controls.

In the Kurth T, et al. "Migraine and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Men." Published in the respected medical journal "Archives of Internal Medicine" a couple years ago settled the argument as far as I was concerned. [2007;167:795-801]

For more on some of the current national press on Migraines and cardiovascular disease check select press filtered out by our partners at MyMigraineConnection.  How about an excellent article by a reporter I have been interviewed by many times over the years by health reporter Amanda Gardner who's story 'Migraine Frequency Influences Heart Attack, Stroke Risk' covers all the bases about Migraine and heart attack risk.

 

No one enjoys the experience of gazing into the ICU wondering how long the surgery will be in the morning, and if it will work and repair my heart?  Will there be any complications?  All those years of avoiding certain foods--will they really pay off or will that have not even made any difference?  When you loved ones leave after visiting hours are over you are beyond alone surrounded by (in my case) caring strangers.  Yes my nurse stealthily checks my BP and other fluids every hour--so just when you fall asleep--you are up again hurting now wondering if the surgery will aggravate your Migraines post op?  Next stop the operating room!  © Michael John Coleman 2009.

If this experience has done anything for me it has hardened my resolve for more NIH research in more directions regarding Migraine than just disease treatment.  We need to have the best understanding of this complex neurological progressive disease, to have the best knowledge of how to improve quality of life for the suffering millions of Migraineurs. 

End of Part One!
 
Of a Multi Part Series

 

FINAL CALL FOR MIGRAINE POETS! Its Almost Midnight Do You Where Your Poem Is?

WASHINGTON, DC—(Friday, APRIL 17th, 2009)—Anyone who has suffered with Migraines or disabling headaches in addition to be very handy with a pen or keyboard we may be talk to you! If you processthe ability to use those tools to create beautiful poems now is your time.  No really now, RIGHT NOW is your time as this is the FINAL CALL for entries to the HealthCentral Network’s ever popular “Putting Our Heads Together” Poetry Contest.  This unique Migraineuos Poetry Contest is the brainchild of nationally renowned Health Advocate Teri Robert. But hurry you only have a few hours left to enter!

FINAL CALL!

If you follow blogs popular in the pain and headache communities such as MigraineBlog, HelpForHeadaches, or MyMigraineConnection then you might remember all had posted nice stories about the upcoming “Putting Our Heads Together”  Poetry Contest.  We need you to participate in this popular on-line event designed to coincide with National Poetry Month and is painstakingly  produced by HelpForHeadaches and MyMigraineConnection.
 
According to the Academy of American Poets; “Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.”

So for those of you who are Migraine or headache knowledgeable and have unpublished poems relating to those conditions tonight is your night to act!  So you say you have between one and three of these unpublished poems at the ready?  You are thinking you have been writing poems about Migraines for years too?    Then after years of writing poetry it is take for you to take a minute and quickly locate those files!  No more procrastination!  Armed with those poetic files go visit the HealthCentral Network right here and we will be looking for you last minute entries next week.

  For those of you who have not heard about MAGNUM's judging a major Migraine disease and headache disorder inspired poetry contest now is you chance to get involved.  Please note the contest rules for the “Putting Our Heads Together” Poetry Contest are right here—pretty standard stuff for a seasoned poet:

Ready to enter? Click HERE to enter.

Contest Rules

• Subject must be headache or Migraine related, but may be metaphoric or abstract.
• Form: Rhymed, free-verse, any form of poetry, but not prose.
• Poetry must be original and written by you. Submission of poetry written by someone else will result in disqualification.
• All poems must be unpublished work, never before published anywhere.
• Length: Maximum of 60 lines, no more than 80 characters per line (including spaces and punctuation).
• Number of entries: Please limit entries to no more than three poems per person.
• Age: Poems written by persons under 18 years of age must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
• "Family-friendly" language required. No profanity or other potentially offensive language
• Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2009. Submissions received after this date will be deleted.
• Decisions of the judges are final.
• You do not need to live in the U.S. to enter, but all poems must be written in English.
• Entries must be presented complete with spacing, punctuation, and correct spelling. Do not enter in all caps. We cannot retype entries.
• We reserve the right to disqualify, without notification, any entry not complying with these rules.

Survivor

By Marie Kaddell

The road is a rough satin ribbon.
Music runs through my head like torn lace.
The air beats,
too hot to handle,
against my window panes.
I am dressed in the woven fabric
of winter
cold and past.
I stand armored
against the possibility
of one cold day
amidst the
warm light
of spring's deceptive bower.
Safe and stifled.
I am an invalid
to my ravaging fears.
The sun is hot.
The air is honey.
And hard pain is like
a paper cocoon.
A flutter of wings will smash it.
My guard,
tarnished and dulled by long and sudden battle,
will fall with my woolen coat -
victim
to my victory.

 

Some Migraine Meds Increase Risk of Transformed Migraine

 Washington, DC (January 4th, 2009)--As if it's not hard enough to manage Migraines, research is now proving that any use of opioid or barbiturate medications increases Migraineurs' risk of developing transformed Migraines.

Triptans -- you know the triptans, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, etc. -- increase the risk of transformed Migraine ONLY when they're used too frequently.

NSAIDs, similarly, increase the risk only if used too frequently. When used in moderation, they may actually protect against episodic Migraines becoming Transformed Migraine.

There's more you need to know about this award-winning research, but rather than inventing the wheel and writing another article about it, we suggest you visit MAGNUM board member and advocate Teri Robert on MyMigraineConnection and read her article, Transformed Migraine Risk - Increased by Some Medications.

The Gift of Migraine Truth from MAGNUM!

 

MigraineBlog.com Recommends a New Migraine Blog in the Spirit of Christmas!

WASHINGTON, DC—(Thursday December 18th, 2008)—(Updated December 22nd)  We all know the holiday song ‘Santa Claus is Comin' to Town’.  It is one of those songs we hear playing in a store, mall, or the radio and we are instantly transported to our childhood with memories of holiday seasons past. But Santa is actually a real person!  (‘Was’ not ‘is’-- we know but children may be reading this…) Now it might shock some people in this sometimes intolerant country we live in.  But just like there are those who don’t realize Santa was a real person, we still have those that don’t believe Migraines are real either! 

The legend of St. Nicholas came to America via the Netherlands when they settled New Amsterdam here in the new world, which was of course renamed New York City back when Americans where all British subjects many years ago.  In case your kids ask you; the Dutch called Saint Nicholas -- Sint Klaes, which our multi ethnic non-Dutch population back then heard as Santa Claus!

St. Nicholas was born in 280 AD, in Patara, a city in the ancient nation of Lycia, located not in Europe, but in Asia in modern day Turkey and if he were alive now he might be running a blog like MigraineTruth.com.  That’s right, if the real life Santa Claus was born in 1958 AD he might be giving us the gift of the truth about Migraines to help Migraineurs around the world navigate all that is naughty and nice on the internet regarding Migraine disease.

“He’s making a list,
Checking it twice;
Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.
Santa claus is coming to town
Santa claus is coming to town
Santa claus is coming to town”

  
So when we ask golly Saint Nick what could MAGNUM give our readers for the holidays he suggested we give you the truth about Migraines!  So we would like everyone to know there is a new blog out there for Migraine and headache sufferers that we highly recommend.  There is an excellent new blog called Migraine Truth and you can visit them at http://migrainetruth.wordpress.com.  Yes yes, what is so special about yet another headache or Migraine blog or website, aren’t there a million of them anyway?  Which is exactly why we want you to visit our new friends at ‘Migraine Truth’ today.
You see one of the things that MAGNUM and for that matter MyMigraineConnection as well is those websites or blogs out there that offer so called Migraine or headache “cures” need constant monitoring. So we welcome our new ally to the Migraine advocate family. To that fact, websites that are selling or promoting even effect treatments as “cures” does harm to Migraine sufferers.  Migraine disease is at this point an incurable disease, and that is a cold hard scientific fact.  It is down-right mean spirited to taunt any disabled person facing an incurable illness with false hope.  What we Migraine sufferers simply want is to have our disorder given parody with any other ‘respected’ illnesses in the national psyche.

Migraine Truth is a website that is helping Migraine advocates from MAGNUM to Helpforheadaches to MyMigraineConnection keep an eye out for new or existing webpages that due harm by putting out inappropriate Migraine or headache disorder information.

You will find Migraine Truth taking on sites with incorrect information, people who have unsupported theories and spend their time commenting on other blogs and attacking people who won't buy into their theories – such as Glenn Stewart Coles, Barry Spencer.  As well as weeding out the internet of articles with outdated or incorrect information about Migraine.

An example is one of Migraine Truth’s articles taking on a very misleading website selling something.  They note that a web site brazenly promises a long list of amazing things to a Migraineur.  Everything from “Headache Stay Gone will cure your headaches; even migraines…” to “Headache Stay Gone is formulated using all-natural herbs and vitamins. To date; we know of no side effects after thousands (uses)…” to ““Even migraines are cured.”  This horrible site even notes: “ …After  you have been headache free for 3 months, you can stop taking Headache Stay Gone and still be headache free."  Yea, right, that is how most medications work…for infections!

 After reading the claims our intrepid Migraine Truth reporter goes on to take apart the offending website, and not just with a ‘shame on you scolding’; but with a breakdown of the fallacies with the offending website’s claims compared to everything from FDA guidelines to counter intuitive ingredients.  In fact many even being Migraine triggers or could be dangerous if mixed with even basic Migraine medications a reader would most likely be using.  Just great stuff her at Migraine Truth!

So if you want to open your gift under the Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush just do so by and click here!  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a wonderfully Migraine free happy holidays from all of us at MAGNUM, The National Migraine Association and MigraineBlog.com!

Can You Control Your Migraines for The Holidays?

All I Want for Christmas

is NO Migraines!

WASHINGTON, DC—(November 28th, 2008)—Thanksgiving is over and we are off to the holiday season races!  This article has the idea to clearly show which things people could change (or try to) that may alter the outcome of their having or not having Migraines during the holidays.  Furthermore they may never have associated risks with past holidays because of lack of Migraine disease awareness.  We don't want people to be so distracted by events that they put their health on the back burner only to go up in flames later with a Migraine attack that ruins those very events for lack of planning/awareness. 

As Susan Denny, MAGNUM's Information Services Advisor said; "It's like going into battle.  Know the enemies (and I don't mean the relatives you don't want to see)!"   But Susan is so very right when she highlights we need to understand our illness before going into battle and how it effects us most directly.  Knowing the main areas of Migraine disease awareness with a focus on such areas as 'Know Thigh Triggers!'

Such as...

• Change in sleep patterns (staying up late with relatives or holiday parties, and getting up early to cook or be with kids opening presents, tending to guests, etc.).  Of course, if you're a parent and have family visiting, this may seem impossible to do....  Try to keep to your usual sleep schedule as much as possible.  For the married Migraineurs let them know you will need a bit of help keeping to a more normal schedule.  If they are a Migraineur too then lucky for us misery enjoys company. More realistically you both will not put any pressure on on another nor will you two mind NOT overdoing it and understanding you are in the spirit of the season.

• Alcohol - choose white wine, not red. Stay away from the beer. Stay away from most diet drinks, as aspartame is an aggressive Migraine trigger for most of us. Don't overindulge, etc.

• Food - know what your triggers are.  Likely triggers at holidays may be ... fruit cake, citrus drinks (punch?),  ;) that sausage, pickled fish and aged cheese on the party platter, (other examples... could be funny like things you only see on the table at the holidays)--if it triggers a Migraine every time you eat it...don't eat it!  Also, don't eat a big meal and go for the rest of the day and evening without eating.  Hypoglycemia may be a trigger unknown to you.

Read those labels if you have any control over the preparing of the big holiday meals.  Cut our MSG, nitrites, vasodiliaors in food preservatives, salt heavy canned anything, and aspartame.

• Caffeine let-down - you may drink many more cups of coffee than usual and wake up and try to be "good" the next day and have none... until it's too late and the Migraine has come roaring on.

• Travel (specifically flying) - remember if you're flying to take an abortive shortly before boarding the aircraft .  For example, one "tactic" MAGNUM Executive Director Michael John Colemanhas learned from years of air travel is... he takes half a Maxalt® tab or a whole Amerge® (naratriptan)  before taking off which usually heads off a Migraine and if I don't I can expect a Migraine on the other side of the flite" .Director Coleman points out advising you attending physician you will be using your abortive preemptively just in case you might has another health issue that may make that "trick' less effective... if you don't have a abortive in your Migraine arsenal, ask your doctor.

"I always got a severe Migraine on any jet flite that went above 25,000 feet or so.  I had to pay out of my own pocket for an extra day in the hotel when I was flying overseas or cross county when I was serving on the World Headache Alliance Boardof Directors." recalls Michael John Coleman, MigraineBlog reporter & MAGNUM director.  "That first day was spent admiring the porcine & marble in the hotel bathroom rather than admiring the marble columns of some ancient Roman structure!  But one I began early intervention with abortive Migraine medications I enjoyed a much more productive trip--not to mention spent more time taking in the local fair rather than losing a bit of my life's experiences to a disease."

• Stress let-down Migraine - Having a better understand of how stress plays a roll in Migraine disease as opposed to headaches, which are profoundly impacted by stress.  But Migraineurs tend to notice that under some of the stressful events in their lives they will be Migraine free!  Seeing how all FDA approved anti-Migraine medications defeat the Migraine attack by chemically inducing the physiological effects of stress down to the brain chemicals and vaso-constriction. 

Having said that, stress is bad for all of us, in addition Migraine sufferers should be cautious of a post stress let down Migraine.  Ahh, the sudden absence of stress can ironically induce a Migraine.  Yet another unfair life issue faced by we Migraineurs. How do we address this situation?  After a very stressfully few days or week when that deadline is over or the the ten things you have been taking care insuring the holiday are done and you can put your feet and and kick back--don't get to comfortable!  That is don't sleep in Saturday, skip breakfast, fail to have those three Starbuck caffeine enriched drinks by lunchtime and otherwise try to maintain your normal sleep schedule and don't miss meals.  Most important don't feel bad if you feel as if you want jump right into the next project right after a stressful week and you might be surprised NOT to wake up with a terrible Migraine!

Hopefully, you have some food for thought to cope with Holiday Migraines.  However, remember not to be too hard on yourself if you still find yourself reaching for the Imitrex®.......  Some things are truly out of your control such as weather changes, menstrual migraine, etc. 

Check out 'Your Migraine and Headache Support System - Thanksgiving' an article by Migraine Advocate Teri Robert over at MyMigraineConnection.  She offered a plan to survive Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and if you are still at your in-laws feeling bloated from all the leftovers you just might want to lift up that mouse and surf over to the HealthCentral Networks Migraine page and see how Ms. Robert can help you a bit more.

For more information on Migraine Triggers, visit ...www.migraines.org.  The idea is to be on guard and ready so they can enjoy the holidays as much as possible and hopefully Migraine-free!

We know for some MAGNUM readers all of this has been said before, but for those new to MigraineBlog or this is their first foray into learning about their challenging illness, this is a current event for them.  Unfortunately you know other articles will be out there telling people to stay away from caffeine and chocolate and to do yoga to prevent their stress... etc.  MAGNUM hopes to be the voice of reason and another voice out at the same time with a better explanation on the common mistakes other articles will make.  Some of this may be news to you while other new visitors may never have seen things worded this way before.  Either way MAGNUM wishes to make your holiday season a more healthy and enjoyable one for all. 

 

Iraq War Veteran Talks About Using Exercise to Improve Pain Care Plans

American Pain Foundation Online Chat with Derek McGinnis, Pain & Amputee Advocate

WASHINGTON, DC—(November 16th, 2008)—Please join our friends at the American Pain Foundation on this Friday, November 21st at 8:00 pm ET in APF’s PainAid Chat Room for this Live Chat with Derek McGinnis, the American Pain Foundation’s Amputee Advocate.  APF will be discussing the importance of exercise as part of your pain care plan.  Something many Migraineurs will find both interesting and helpful with their pain management plan.

LIMITED SPACE - MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY!!

Derek is an Iraq War Veteran who served in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman for 11 years.  After being involved in an IED explosion in Fallujah, Iraq and losing his leg above the knee, Derek focused on physical exercise and triathlon training to help him cope with the mental and physical stress associated with pain during his recovery.  Please join APF and be inspired by Derek’s story to involve exercise in your pain care plan.

There is limited space for this chat, so please go to Military/Veteran Section of PainAid ASAP for reservation instructions. If you do not already have a login name and password for PainAid, please click here first to register for access to PainAid. If you have previously registered with PainAid and have forgotten your password, click here. If you have difficulty accessing PainAid or have any questions, please email Chats@painfoundation.org for assistance.

This Friday, November 21st at 8:00p.m. EST

This program by the American Pain Foundation is just another reason why small non-government organizations (NGOs) work together to improve the quality of life for pain sufferers.  APF has also worked with MyMigraineConnection on the APF and HealthCentral’s Pain & Creativity Exhibit, useing art in disease awareness and education, something MAGNUM has been promoting for over 15 years now.

So tune in Friday or better yet join in and chat with a top health advocate.  MAGNUM would also wish to thank Derek McGinnis for his service to our country, and his continued service to the public with his advocey.

Top American NGO Educates Doctors About Migraine Disease In the Arizona Desert

  © Michael John Coleman 2008

American Patients Benefit from Physicians Learning the Latest in Migraine Disease Care from AHS in Scottsdale

WASHINGTON, DC: (November 9th, 2008)—(Updated November 21st, 2008)—We all benefit when the American Headache Society (AHS) holds one of their medical conferences focusing on the latest understanding of Migraine disease and headache disorders.  This month something wonderful happened under the painted fall skies of Arizona when AHS offered needed Migraine disease (& headache disorders) continuing medical education for our doctors and medical professionals.
 
MAGNUM has been attending or monitoring them for nearly two decades now, and we can tell you the size and amount of more advanced medical knowledge gets better every year thanks to extraordinary leadership at the American Headache Society.  ASH is a medical NGO operating out of New Jersey, and this is their fiftieth year of service to the American people.  No to mention their international medical leadership, that is another story for another time.  To that fact, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals need to take some time to visit the AHS website, especially if your Migraine disease or headache disorder education is based much of what you learned in medical school.  MAGNUM and AAN can tell you so much has changed, even in just the past half of a decade that you will greatly benefit from AHS's continuing medical education.  Your Migraine patients will thank you!

Educational Objectives: at the end of this conference the attendee shall be able to understand about a half dozen key concepts about Migraines and headache disorders.  From diagnosing and evaluating patients with disorders including Migraine and common headache disorders such as cluster, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, and chronic daily headaches such as medication overuse headache

Attending physicians should have learned the basic mechanisms and pathophysiology that underlie Migraine and headache disorders such as, post-traumatic headache, and hormonally triggered headaches.  Attending medical professionals will develop an appropriate, multidimensional treatment plan—what MAGNUM has been promoting for 15 years--that includes abortive, preventive, and bio-behavioral treatment (trigger management), and pain management strategies for patients with Migraine and common headache disorders. In addition they will come to appreciate current areas of controversy and recent breakthroughs in Migraine disease and headache medicine, including exotic treatments such as patent foramen ovale to post-traumatic headache. If you attended all the seminars you set out to, each day you such develop a better understanding of secondary headaches such as high and low CSF pressure headaches, medication overuse headaches, post-traumatic headaches, among others.

Lastly, attendees had the opportunity to explore areas of special interest in Migraine and headache medicine including the use of nerve blocks, drug adverse effects, pediatric headaches, refractory and intractable headache syndromes, and topics of special interest to all medical professionals including but not limited to nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

MAGNUM & The Health Central Network had boots on the ground behind Camelback Mountain with our favorite Migraine advocate Teri Robert in attendance.  So make sure your visit our partners at MyMigraineConnection for her insightful report on the event.  There was much for her to cover mind you too!  Such as….

Such as our good friend leading international Migraine & headache expert, the eloquent Joel Saper, MD, of the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan, he delivered a paper on “Medication Overuse Headache”.  A problem many intractable Migraine sufferers can run into when their attending physician fails to properly treat their Migraines, such poor care often leading to patient augmenting their pain management with so called safe over the counter medications.  Medication Overuse Headache is now actually an IHS recognized form of headache!  Sometimes even prescription meds can lead to complications, which is why we are fortunate to have the truly passionate Dr. Saper help educate other doctors wanting to learn more on how they can better help us.  He also spoke about “Intracranial Pressure: High Pressure Headaches” in Arizona.

Dr. Joel Saper seen here is not only a Migraine expert but a world renown pain advocate who Michael John Coleman & Terri Burchfield can tell readers has been working relentlessly for the whole Decade of Pain, speaking at an earlier Scottsdale Symposium. Photo © Michael John Coleman.

That is the true beauty of what the American Headache Society does so well at these events.  MAGNUM can tell you we have countless telephone calls & e-mails about poor Migraine care, so many it is frightening.  In Scottsdale, this year’s conference covered many other areas important to Migraineurs.  The dynamic and dedicated Elizabeth Loder, MD, MPH, from the John R. Graham Headache Center, Boston, MA covered “Recent Insights into the Diagnosis and Epidemiology of Migraine, Chronic Migraine and Migraine Variants”.  Speaking of intractable headaches, Dr. Sheena Aurora lectured about “Mechanism of Intractable Headache”.

Whereas MAGNUM Chief Medical Advisor and current Present of American Headache Society (& ACHE), the ever talented Dr. Fred Sheftell took on a difficult subject of plaguing headache sufferers -- “Post-traumatic Headache: Clinical Features and Management”.  Dr. Sheftell has a talent for speaking about Migraine and/or headache disorders in public, as we all know some medical lectures can be a bit dry, not when Sheftell talks to his audience. He delivers a paper as if it were a Tom Clancy novel whereas even the lay person's in the hall are learning about complex Migraine and headache care issues with a true enlightenment.  With all the headache misinformation still out there, you can see why these AHS Symposiums are so important to national Migraine awareness.  

President of AHS & Board Medical Advisor for MAGNUM Dr. Fred Sheftell (L) with our MAGNUM Executive Director & MigraineBlog Reporter Michael John Coleman (R) pictured here earlier this summer in Boston at AHS's 50th Anniversary Congress.   © MAGNUM 2008

Another Board member of MAGNUM, our At Large Support Advisor Teri Robert got to listen to one of her favorite Migraine experts Dr. William Young, MD, of the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who talked about a subject often in the national news “Botulinum Toxin”.  Dr. Young was a busy man this conference, as he also spoke on “Neurologic Adverse Events” and a with a group panel on “Practicum: Hands-on Experience with Injection Techniques”.  Teri Robert has a report on the 2008 American Headache Society Scottsdale Headache Symposium® in which you can read in her column at HealthCentral’s MyMigraineConnection.com.

Woman’s Migraine health issues were well represented with such national experts such as Christine Lay, MD, from the The Headache Institute, New York, NY, Dr. Lay talked to the issue of “The Estrogen Controversy: Is Estrogen Therapy Safe for Female Migraineurs?”  She also took on “Treatment Options” as related to all Migraineurs.  Back to female head-pain we had "Doctor, I'm Pregnant": Pregnancy and Lactation Issues in Migraine” which was covered by Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD.   Susan Hutchinson, MD, of the Orange County Headache and Migraine Center, Irvine, California with Sheena Aurora, MD took on the ever difficult area of “The Nuts & Bolts of Common Migraine Comorbidities in Women: Interactive Case Presentation, Demonstration & Clinical Pearls”.  So after years of woman being overlooked with, well an overlooked disease, we have come a long long way in the 50 years AHS has been on the job.

Children’s Migraine and headache issues are also well represented with author and headache leader Paul Winner, DO, from the Palm Beach Headache Center, West Palm Beach, Florida lectured on the “Unique Aspects of Adolescent Headache Management”  While “Headache Patients Becoming Young Adults” was covered by Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, practicing at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

While MAGNUM has worked hard with Michigan Dr. John Halmaghi on the need for a Migraine Dental liaison due to the well documented issues related to Migraines & dental problems.  In Scottsdale “Oral and Dental Causes of Headache” was covered by Los Angeles, California dentist Steven Graff-Radford, DDS, from the The Pain Center.   Other areas often overlooked are covered such as the problem of most sinus headache are misdiagnosed Migraine, to that fact Scott Litin, MD, from the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota addressed “Nasal and Sinus Contributions to Headache” to illuminate this concern.

Dr. Scott Litin also lectured on “Non-neurologic Adverse Events” which leads us see AHS did a very good job covering the wide range of head-pain disorders, as many Migraineurs have other headache issues which need to be addressed.   A treat was one of Europe’s top Migraine disease doctors  Jes Olesen, MD from the University of Copenhagen, Glostrup Hospital, in Copenhagen, Denmark as he pulls it all together with his lecture on the “Human Models of Migraine”.

So MAGNUM and MyMigraineConnection.com will be reporting on breaking news from these sessions at Scottsdale for months.  That is the great thing about these major medical get-togethers for ‘our’ disease issue, they are a wealth of information about Migraine disease, but what is more important MAGNUM believes that this highlights the aggressive nature in which Migraine is now being investigated by the scientific community.   Which in its self is major news for those of who have been struggling with Migraines for decades.

For doctors who missed the 2008 American Headache Society Scottsdale Headache Symposium®, you can get transcripts of each talk for $25.00 from the AHS website here and all 41 sessions are available in these formats:
 
SAV - Audio recordings from the course SYNCHRONIZED with all available PowerPoint presentations.
MP3 - Audio files playable on your computer or MP3 device.

Special thanks to MAGNUM's Board Advisor & HealthCentral Network reporter Teri Robert who was kind enough to allow MAGNUM to publish her wonderful photography of the campus area of this year's 2008 American Headache Society Scottsdale Headache Symposium®.  All of the landscapes with the exception Michael John Coleman's coverpage image with the yellow border of distant Camelback Mountain.  Teri's photographs illustrate the almost healing quality of that part of the nation with its rugged beauty in central Arizona. Those landscapes photos are © Teri Robert 2008.   Yes that is Teri Robert (L) with MigraineBlog's (& MAGNUM) Terri Burchfield at one of Teri's book signing events for "Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need to Know."  A great Christmas and holiday gift which you can order today here!

Generic Imitrex First Hits the Market from the Subcontinent

Genericsmed Is The First Company To Market A Generic Triptan As Sumatripan's Patent Begins To Expire

WASHINGTON, DC—(October 31, 2008)—Genericsmed Inc. is a major name in the field of online medical and drugs providers in Mukilteo, Washington north of Seattle. Operating in many parts of the world through its website http://www.genericsmed.com/, the company offers quality medicinal products at fair market prices to its customers.

The website deals with a wide array of medicinal products and has successfully introduced IMITREX in one of its varied online assortment of drugs. This medicinal product is highly recommended in the treatment of acute Migraine. IMITREX is a definite and selective 5-hydroxytriptamine1-like [5HT 1-like] receptor agonist with very less or no effect at a diversity of other receptor category. It fabricates dose related condition in the cerebral movement. It does not connect to alpha adrenergic, beta adrenergic, muscarinic, dopaminergic or benzodiazepine receptors.
 
The company owner seems optimistic at the success of the product. According to Mr. Jamie Turner, the director of the company, “Migraine is the most common cause of headache that affects approximately 15% of women and 6% of men. It is a vascular headache, which means that migraine is a chronic disorder of headache, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms of neurological dysfunction in changeable admixtures. Migraine can be acknowledged by its activators like red wine, menses, hunger, lack of sleep, glare, estrogen, worry, perfumes and let-down periods. Its deactivators include sleep, pregnancy, exhilaration and triptans”. “Stern headache attacks, despite of cause, are more expected to be expressed as throbbing and are connected with vomiting and scalp tenderness” he continues.
 
“Generic IMITREX [Sumatriptan] is an effective medicinal product which is highly indicated in the acute treatment of Migraine with or without aura. The treatment should start as soon as possible after the inception of a Migraine attack. Around 70% of individuals report noteworthy Migraine relief from a 6 mg subcutaneous dose of IMITREX” the company spokesperson confirmed.
 
A spokesperson for Genericsmed adds, “The invention of sumatriptan is the first experimentally supported approach to recognize and develop a fresh therapy for the treatment of Migraine”. In 1972, Humphrey and colleagues began to work on a long-term project intended at recognizing the novel therapy for Migraine. The main object of this project was to build up selective vasoconstrictors of the extracranial circulation. They focused their project on the classification of 5-HT receptors in the carotid vasculature.  During 1970s, the theory of action of traditional anti-Migraine drugs was completely based on carotid vasculature. In 1992, Sumatriptan was approved by the FDA as it potently contracted the dog isolated saphenous vein which is believed to contain the novel 5-HT receptor positioned in the carotid circulation.

East Meets West With a New Migraine Treatment

China & Germany Win Titanium For American Migraineurs—New Pain Device Better Than The Gold!

WASHINGTON, DC; August 27th, 2008—Updated September 22nd, 2008-We are always looking for non drug Migraine treatments which is why when the Simmons Group contacted MAGNUM in the beginning of the year about if we wanted to evaluate a small TENS like unit it peaked our interest.  After several calls and e-mails with a DHL Express shipment tossed in for good measure we finally decide to meet in June in Boston at the American Headache Society's 50th Anniversary medical meeting in Boston Massachusetts.

Michael John Coleman, MAGNUM's Executive Director and one of the humble correspondents here at MigraineBlog scheduled a meeting with the company's product Manager of Business Development who would be flying in from China for the meeting.  Michael John could not help but recall the meetings he had with the company representative from China of this interesting German build medical device as we had the Beijing China Olympics playing on the TV here in the office day after day.  We are finally at a point where we can begin to start reporting on this interesting medical device.

Upon our request the Simmons Group was kind enough to issue both enough units for MAGNUM staffers and some of our volunteers to wear and evaluate.  In addition they also supplied enough units so MAGNUM will be sharing them with several top Migraine clinics.  Having said that, MAGNUM took the time while in Boston to meet with some of the nation's to Migraine medical experts and MAGNUM will be giving each doctor who expressed interest about a half dozen of the Titanium and stainless steel German built DE-KA Titan units, which retail at $699.00 each, to evaluate for us.  To put that in perspective for those readers who do know know the cost of treating Migraines with triptan anti-Migraine drugs of which the cost of 4-5 refills of say 100 mg Imitrex® four refills costing $579.00 (of 27 tablets total, 9 tabs per box) for an intractable Migraine suffer would be about a two month supply.  Having said that, the one time cost of a functioning as stated device would be something a Migraineur would easily consider.

It is already available here in the United States marketed as the Migraine Relief Pain Relief Device DE-KA Titan.  The DE-KA Titan is one among a passive self-treatment devices, is based on the DE-KA method, and what the manufactures calls a revolutionary invention in physical/physiological pain therapy.  While MAGNUM is turning over DE-KA Titans to the medical experts to take a look at we can tell you we have perused several international double blind studies that are impressive.  Having said that, according to the company the effectiveness of the DE-KA method has been tested in a number of clinical overseas studies by scientific medical assessments and has also been tested by medical experts. The company also said; "The DE-KA Pain Relief device is ready for use at any time, as no additional electrical or magnetic energy is required. Its ease of use and low weight mean it can be taken anywhere."

The Pain Relief Device DE-KA Titan comes with the wristband mounted unit, in a case with two cables that plug into the unit and attach to electrode pads which attach to the body to extend its capability, plus it comes with 25 free electrode pads.

The process of reviewing a product or device designed or marketed to the Migraine community can become quite involved for any patient advocate, just ask our friend Teri Robert over at MyMigraineConnection.  To that fact, this is where we left off last week with our visit from Teri.  In last week's article we told you she was here in DC, well what we didn't tell you was we took the opportunity to issue one of those pretty Titanium DE-KA Titan self-treatment devices to her for her perusal and personal use as one of MAGNUM's volunteers. 

So far one of the only complaints we had was there was no instructions on how to adjust the wristband.  Now maybe that seamed unnecessary, but oddly enough they just might have so well engineered the wristband so it would not come undone, that it tends to appear over-engineered when you first attempt to adjust it!  Lucky for MAGNUM we had already discovered this and created a diagram to add to the units we ship to the doctors for their reviews.  We also have advised the manufacture of the oversight due to the fact that how the device fits appears to be critical to its best outcome of benefit for pain relief.

So for now MAGNUM and our partners will be looking at this Neurological Pain Relief Device DE-KA Titan for Migraine and other pain issues co-morbid with Migraineurs.  So in stay tuned over the next few months for more about this interesting non-pharmaceutical treatment option we can add to our Migraine care regime.

More about the DE-KA Titan 

Migraine Neurological Pain Relief Device DE-KA Titan is now available for the first time in the U.S. a non-powered, FDA Approved and Patented device featuring the latest technology in pain relief for Migraines and many other chronic pain conditions.

DE-KA Titan - Available the U.S., FDA certified, U.S. Patented device is the latest alternative treatment for Migraines and other types of pain. The DE-KA Titan Pain Relief Device is now available in the US – for more information visit De-Ka web site at www.dekamed.com  (for English please change at top right corner!). This Medical Device is manufactured in Germany, using 100% titanium material for the capacitor device. Titanium material provides the unique characteristics to transfer pain signals from your body to the Titan’s capacitor. The capacitor reduces the electrical pain signal along the nerve pathway to the brain and modifies the incoming pain signal, thereby reducing the sensation of pain. The Titan requires no batteries or other power source, making the device easy to use and allowing mobility during use.

At the first sign of pain, simply wear the bracelet on your left wrist with the capacitor on your pulse point and place the electrode pads on top and lower spine for maximum relief. The greater the pain signal, the stronger the pain canceling effect. This neurological device is FDA certified, and can be used by all ages, with no side effects. The Titan is designed for many years of use and can be shared with your family. There are no moving parts and no maintenance is required. 

Migraine Relief Pain Relief Device DE-KA Titan is the number one among the passive self-treatment devices, is based on the DE-KA method, a revolutionary invention in physical/physiological pain therapy. The effectiveness of the DE-KA method has been clearly confirmed by scientific medical assessments and has also been tested by medical experts. The DE-KA Pain Relief device is ready for use at any time, as no additional electrical or magnetic energy is required. Its ease of use and low weight mean it can be taken anywhere.

Phase 3 Clinical Trial Next Generation Dihydroergotamine With Advanced Inhaler Delivery Offer Migraineurs More Choice

MAP Pharmaceuticals Embarks On Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Patients With Migraine Disease

WASHINGTON, DC; August 14th, 2008—Football season is here again, and with it so are the weekend rituals followed by those Monday morning quarterbacking sessions with our co-workers and friends. 

This made us realize while advocating for Migraine disease over the years we have had the opportunity to meet some of the NFL’s greatest players!  Often this opportunity happened when Michael John had his art featured in MAGNUM Migraine Art Awareness Exhibits, or his photography was donated on behalf of MAGNUM at various Washington, D.C. fund risers for cancer to the victims of 911, which on occasion offered us the pleasure to meet many NLF football players in person.  Some of the most memorable were All-Pro Washington Redskins Darrell Green and John Riggins, both wearing their Super Bowl rings to boot!

But it is another NFL hero we met that comes to mind when Michael John saw several medical posters back in Boston earlier this summer at the American Headache Society 50th Annual Scientific Meeting.   Many years ago Michael John spent some time talking with the Denver Bronco’s All Star player Terrell Davis right after his MVP (most valuable player) award for his performance in Super Bowl XXXII.  Michael John was attending the AHS medical meeting in San Francisco back then and met Terrell at an AHS evening event.  The two talked about Migraines, Man-to-Man Coverage, and MAGNUM.  He has just signed a different kind of contract, one as a health advocate for Migraine awareness for a drug company called Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the makers of the drug that allowed him to get back in the game, the Super Bowl game that is—D.H.E. 45 also known as Dihydroergotamine.

“Davis shrugged off the onset of a migraine headache to accumulate 157 yards on 30 carries as the Broncos outrushed the Packers, 179-95, only the second time the AFC has outrushed the NFC in the last 14 years.”

By Paul Attner, The Sporting News
Originally printed in The Sporting News, February 2, 1998”

Now for those of you who follow your sports as well as love sports trivia, and who couldn't’t in the shadow of the 24/7 coverage of the China Olympics these days?  Well, have to tell you hundreds of sports writers just plain got part of the story of the Super Bowl XXXII’s MVP wrong!  The common sports page report of how “Denver Bronco’s Terrell Davis played with a horrible Migraine ‘headache’ to overcome and became the first player in Super Bowl history ever to score 3 rushing touchdowns.” Nope. Did not happen that way.  We should know, MAGNUM fielded dozens of calls during Super Bowl Sunday, days later even talking to the Denver Bronco’s team doctor to get the facts straight.

In fact it was not Imitrex® that broke Terrell’s monster Migraine as reported by most sports pages back then, rather it was a Migraine abortive medication called D.H.E. 45, a Dihydroergotamine ergot family drug which Terrell wisely had administered via injection during the prodrome phase of his Migraine.  So he was never in any pain because the D.H.E. 45 successfully aborted his Migraine about midway into the third quarter of the famous football game, after sitting out the second quarter of play and the extended Super Bowl halftime that is.  But the side effects of this older Dihydroergotamine such as numbness to the extremities (his hands and feet) would explain Terrell’s sluggish start and fumble in the beginning of the second half.  Anybody who has used D.H.E. 45 can tell you about their cold hands and feet with numbness and tingling, which can be annoying--but luck for most of us we are not catching any footballs.

But boy would have Terrell Davis loved to have had this new Migraine treatment about to go into phase three FDA clinical trials from MAP Pharmaceuticals.  They have created a new improved Dihydroergotamine and much better delivery system for the patient to take during their prodrome.  Remember sports fans, early intervention when it comes to our Migraines and our abortive meds.

So this MAP Pharmaceuticals company presented a poster summarizing the receptor pharmacology data entitled "Improved Dihydroergotamine (DHE) Pharmacology Following Orally-Inhaled Delivery." In addition to this study, the Company presented five posters relating to the MAP0004 program, including:

-- Newer Acute Migraine Specific Drugs May Provide Improved Sustained Relief and Freedom Over 24 and 48 Hours Post Dosing

-- Chronic Inhalation Toxicological Assessment of Dihydroergotamine in Dogs

-- Assessment of QTc Effect of DHE When Delivered Via the Lung by the Tempo Inhaler

-- MAP0004, an Orally Inhaled Formulation of DHE, Delivers Faster and More Consistent Blood Levels of the Drug Compared to Traditional Oral, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, and Intranasal Formulations of DHE

-- Systemic Pharmacokinetics of DHE When Delivered Via the Lung to Asthmatics by the Tempo Inhaler

Terrell Davis would have appreciated a new improved dihydroergotamine with improved performance to defeat his Migraines.   So let’s see the data MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. presented from an in-vitro study evaluating receptor pharmacology of a new drug that the industry is calling MAP0004, orally inhaled dihydroergotamine (DHE) for the potential treatment of Migraine, and compared to intravenous (IV) DHE.

In the receptor pharmacology study, MAP0004 stimulated receptors that relieve Migraine at levels comparable to intravenous injection (IV) DHE, but did not activate receptors associated with side effects frequently seen with IV DHE. In addition, MAP0004 did not affect receptors that have a role in regulating pulmonary (lungs) function.

According to MAP Pharmaceuticals Chief Scientific Officer; "The selective binding of MAP0004 at receptors associated with Migraine rather than those associated with side effects offers a mechanistic hypothesis for the favorable safety and efficacy profile of MAP0004 compared to IV DHE that we have observed in our initial clinical studies,"  Thomas A. Armer, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of MAP Pharmaceuticals went on to say: "The absence of negative effects of MAP0004 on pulmonary function in asthmatic subjects observed in a Phase 2 study is also important because migraine and asthma are frequently co-morbid conditions."

MAP0004 is designed to be self-administered by patients at home via MAP Pharmaceuticals' proprietary Tempo(R) inhaler. In Phase 2 studies with Migraneurs and with asthmatics, treatment with MAP0004 was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. Drug-induced nausea was very low and Migraine-associated nausea also decreased with treatment.

About MAP0004

MAP0004 is a proprietary orally inhaled version of dihydroergotamine, or DHE, intended to treat migraine. In the Company's Phase 2 efficacy study, MAP0004 provided pain relief as early as within ten minutes of dosing, and this relief was sustained through at least 24 hours. The study also demonstrated efficacy trends in treating nausea, photophobia and phonophobia. Based on these results, as well as independent research who conclude that patients prefer migraine therapies providing fast onset, pain relief, sustained pain relief and safety, the Company believes that MAP0004 has the potential to be a first-line therapy for migraine patients. Historically, estimated onset of significant pain relief with oral triptans, the class of drugs most often prescribed for treating migraine, occurs between 45 and 90 minutes after dosing. In 2007, triptans generated sales of approximately $2.2 billion in the United States, according to data published by IMS Health.

MAP0004 is designed to be an easy to use, non-invasive, at-home therapy that patients self-administer using the Company's proprietary hand-held Tempo inhaler. DHE is currently available as an intravenous therapy which has been used in clinical settings for over 50 years for the safe and effective treatment of migraine, but requires healthcare intervention for administration. In the Company's Phase 2 clinical efficacy study, MAP0004 was shown to retain the rapid onset and long-lasting effectiveness of intravenous DHE while avoiding the nausea that intravenous administration can cause.

About Tempo Migraine

MAP Pharmaceuticals is developing a series of inhaled respiratory and systemic drug products delivered with the Tempo(TM) Inhaler platform. The first of these products is a systemic migraine treatment that is designed to provide faster and more consistent relief than current therapeutics. In early human studies, Tempo Migraine delivered therapeutic blood levels within minutes of inhalation, similar to those seen after intravenous injection. This performance will potentially allow Tempo Migraine to mimic both the therapeutic blood levels and efficacy of injectable therapy - offering fast relief without injections. By providing rapid onset with a novel formulation of a proven compound (dihydroergotamine mesylate), MAP Pharmaceuticals seeks to meet the treatment needs of the large, underserved population of migraine sufferers with Tempo Migraine.

Last month MAP Pharmaceuticals issued a press release about the fact that it has initiated its Phase 3 clinical program to evaluate MAP0004 as a potential treatment for migraine.MAP0004 is orally inhaled and self-administered at home using MAP Pharmaceuticals' proprietary Tempo(R) inhaler. In the company's prior Phase 2 efficacy study, MAP0004 provided pain relief in as fast as 10minutes, with relief sustained through at least 24 hours. The study also demonstrated efficacy trends in treating nausea, photophobia and phonophobia, the other key measurements in treating migraine.

What impressed MAGNUM was the improved rapid effect of the drug to abort a Migraine attract and looks to offer sustained relief to 24 and 48 hours.  Something we hope to see this final phase of the FDA clinical trial bare out.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MAP0004 in treating acute Migraine. The primary efficacy endpoints will be pain relief, and freedom from nausea, photophobia and phonophobia as measured at two hours after dosing. MAP will also evaluate earliest onset of pain relief and sustained relief to 24 and 48 hours. The multi-center efficacy trial will include approximately 850 patients, who will also be followed for 12 months in an open-label study to confirm long-term safety.

"We believe that MAP0004 has the potential to be a first-line therapy for Migraine patients," said Timothy S. Nelson, president and chief executive officer of MAP Pharmaceuticals. "Based on our initial clinical studies, we believe that MAP0004 offers an alternative to triptans that may provide patients with the benefits of rapid onset and long-lasting pain relief, in an easy-to-use, non-invasive, at-home therapy. In our Phase 2 trials, MAP0004 was well tolerated with no effect on pulmonary function, including in asthmatic subjects."

MAP Pharmaceuticals is initiating the first Phase 3 trial of its MAP0004 product candidate pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The SPA is intended to provide assurance that if pre-specified trial results are achieved, they may serve as the primary basis for an efficacy claim in support of a new drug application. In general, these assessments are considered binding on the FDA as well as the sponsor unless public health concerns unrecognized at the time the SPA is entered into become evident or other new scientific concerns regarding product safety or efficacy arise.

MAGNUM points out that there are Migraineurs who do not respond well to triptans and others who cannot use them, an improved dihydroergotamine mesylate administered with an improved oral delivery system in the Tempo® will be welcome in the Migraine community with open arms.  So we will be watching, and maybe even some new NFL players will too!

Regarding some of the benefits of the developmental medicine MAP0004 MAGNUM was talking about, here is a group of improvements the manufacture based on Phase 1 and 2 clinical studies, MAP Pharmaceuticals believes that MAP0004 may provide patients with the following benefits (when compared to existing therapies):

MAP0004 May Provide Patients With The Following Benefits

Rapid onset: Treatment with 0.5 mg of MAP0004 provided pain relief in as fast as 10 minutes of dosing.

Long-lasting: MAP0004 provided long-lasting pain relief with low incidence of recurrence.  Phase 2 studies support pain relief through at least 24 hours.

Broadly efficacious: Based on historical DHE use, MAP0004 may provide a higher response rate and has the potential to treat patients who have not previously responded to other therapies.

Convenient and consistent delivery: MAP0004 is non-injectable and easy to use, which results in increased patient comfort and compliance. Phase 2 studies were performed in the home, without clinical supervision and with minimal training.

Low incidence of side effects: Treatment with MAP0004 was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.

Note the MRI image with the lungs outlined in white, you can see limited coverage with the standard MDI 'puffer' design on the left and the unique and innovative design of the TEMPO (See the two blue illustrations of the TEMPO unit above.) to the right with the much better fuller disbursement of the dihydroergotamine seen here.

For more about other medicines under development or in clinical studies visit our partners at www.mymigraineconnect.com at the HealthCentral Network today.