Putting Our Heads Together

Topamax Generic In Canada, Not U.S. What's the deal?

Editorial: Why does it make some of us angry when a medication is released in the less expensive generic formula? Not too long ago, a couple of people who live in Canada were quite excited to let their fellow Migraineurs in the U.S. know that generic Topamax (topiramate) had become available. At first, I thought she had to be mistaken. Topamax was first approved by the FDA in December of 1996 and still has a few years left on its patent. We won't see generic topiramate in US pharmacies until that patent expires. There are a couple of issues that come into play here...

What is... Abdominal Migraine?

What is abdominal Migraine? Abdominal Migraine is a form of Migraine seen mainly in children. It's most common in children ages five- to nine-years-old, but can occur in adults as well. Abdominal Migraine consists primarily of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting...

Feature article...

Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest 2006

Whether you've never written a word in your life or write every day, we invite you to enter our Putting Our Heads Together Poetry Contest 2006.

Writing can be very therapeutic, as can reading what others have written. Migraine disease and headaches can impact our lives more than many other people could ever imagine. Thus, we'd like you to combine writing with your experience with and feelings about Migraine disease and headaches to produce poetry that you can share.... Call for Entries.

"Migraines, What a Pain!" on the Radio

Dr. John Claude Krusz will be Helen Dearman's guest on the VoiceAmerica Radio Network for her show, "Pain Tamers: Living with Chronic Pain," on Thursday, February 16, at 5 p.m., eastern time. The show will also be broadcast online live on the VoiceAmerica Web site. Tune in for an hour of great information from a top headache and Migraine specialist!

Clinical Trial Opportunities

Dr. John Claude Krusz has openings in new clinical trials beginning soon at his clinic, the Anodyne Headache and PainCare Center, in Dallas. Participants within a 50- to 75-mile radius of Dallas are needed for the following trials:

• Adolescent Migraine Headache Study- adolescents between ages 12-17 years old with at least one year of migraine headaches. It is a daily medication and adolescents will be required to keep a headache diary. This is a year long study.
• Aricept for mild cognitive difficulties after traumatic brain injury. There must be documentation of traumatic brain injury. This is a 12 week study. Ages 18-65.
• Frova for perimenstrual migraines. 4 month study. Ages 18-45.
• Investigational medication for post herpatic neuralgia. This is a 10 week study to investigate the treatment of pain after shingles. Ages 18 and over.
• Botox for Migraine. Patients must be between 18-65 with at least 15 Migraine days a month. This is a year long study.
• Niravam for anxiety or panic disorder. This is a 8 week study. Ages 18-65.

For more information, contact Stephanie Hall at 214-750-4727.

Heart and Migraine Connection? MIST II Begins

One of the biggest topics of discussion amongst Migraineurs today is that of PFO, "the hole in the heart" that may contribute to Migraines. Migraineurs are asking their doctors to test them to see if they have this condition. Many of those who do want to have the hole repaired -- immediately. However, questions remain and the closure procedure is not yet being performed on the basis of Migraine disease because it has not yet been proven effective.

NMT Medical, Inc. has now initiated enrollment in its PFO/Migraine clinical study in the United States. The study, named MIST II (Migraine Intervention with STARFlex® Technology), will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of NMT's proprietary STARFlex® implant technology for the treatment and prevention of Migraine attacks in patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The MIST II Clinical Trial has been specifically designed to investigate Migraine sufferers with a PFO and demonstrate if PFO closure can offer an effective treatment for this type of Migraine sufferer. Feature article

New Dosage Imitrex® STATdose Now Available

December 28, 1992, marked a new era for Migraine and cluster headaches sufferers when the FDA approved the first of a class of medications that many would come to call "miracle drugs." That drug was the injectable form of sumatriptan (Imitrex®, Imigran®), the first of the triptans. Now, the FDA has approved a new Imitrex® STATdose in a 4mg dosage. This is the same STATdose injection system patients have been using; only the dosage has changed. The 4mg STATdose provides a new option to patients for whom the 6mg was "too strong" or may have produced uncomfortable side effects. Feature article.

Love Your Heart - Go Red for Women!

When addressing headaches and Migraine disease, it's critical to also address other issues that can affect headaches and Migraine disease as well as those that impact our overall health. Especially given the fact that 18% of women have Migraine disease (6 - 7% of men), women's health initiatives are of great interest. Heart disease and stroke, which is also an area of focus for the American Heart Association, can both significantly impact Migraine treatment. For example, Migraine abortive medications are quite often not recommended for use by patients with a history of or high risk factors for heart disease and / or stroke. Thus, it becomes even more important to learn about our hearts and how to take the best possible care of ourselves... Feature article.