seeking joy in a life with chronic migraine, chronic daily headache and chronic illness
Allergan has released details of its Phase II Botox study, the findings of which researchers presented at today’s AHS conference.
Based on these findings, the FDA has approved Allergan to progress to the Phase III study. This study, scheduled to begin late this year, will investigate how safe and effective Botox is for migraine patients with chronic daily headache.
The American Headache Society’s 47th annual scientific meeting began today. Press releases are now available for some of the key conference presentations. There’s some good stuff here!
2/9/10: These press releases are no longer available from AHS.
A 2003 study found that more than a third of patients treated for rebound headaches from analgesics begin overusing that medication again within a year. This is greater than the percentage who return to using triptans or ergots.
Considering that painkillers are pretty effective when people first start taking them, this makes a lot of sense. Over time, they become less helpful and lull you into rebound. Sounds a lot like the trap of caffeine.
Vioxx and Bextra made big news this spring when they were pulled off the market for increasing a patient’s risk for heart attacks. A recent study indicates that OTC painkillers containing ibuprofen and naproxen also raise heart attack risks.
In the forum post I referred to yesterday, both Jane and her adviser are female. This article about comforting skills in relationships indicates that “it is worse for women than men to be inept when providing emotional support, especially to other women.”