Marcelo E. Bigal, M.D., Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine to Present Lectureship at Conference
Chicago, IL – February 18, 2008 – The National Headache Foundation selected a paper authored by Marcelo E. Bigal, M.D., entitled “Excessive use of Analgesics is Associated with the Development of Transformed Migraine in the Population–Results from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study” as the recipient of the National Headache Foundation Lectureship Award, an award that recognizes the work of an outstanding physician in the field of headache.
The paper will be presented at the National Headache Foundation’s Fifth Annual Headache Research Summit in Scottsdale, AZ on February 19, 2008 running concurrently with the 21ST Annual Practicing Physician’s Approach to the Difficult Headache Patient post graduate course. Dr. Bigal is the Global Director of Scientific Affairs, Neuroscience at Merck Research Laboratories and assistant professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY.
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between analgesic consumption overall and the effects of specific classes of medications on the new onset of chronic migraine in a one-year longitudinal study. Chronic Migraine (CM), formerly known as Transformed Migraine, characterizes patients with a history of migraine who experience headache more than half the time.
Highlighted results:
Specific classes of acute medications, medications that are designed to either stop a migraine attack after it begins or alleviate the pain and symptoms of migraine, were seen to induce CM in this population. These medications include barbiturates, opiates and triptans. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs, seem to have a protective effect. Additionally, gender-specific differences may also be of importance.
Specifically, in women NSAIDs remained protective, and barbiturates but not opiates were a risk for CM. In men, opiates and triptans were associated with CM, while barbiturates were not.
According to Dr. Seymour Diamond, Executive Chairman and co-founder of the NHF, “Before medications such as triptans were introduced to the market, barbiturates were the most frequently prescribed medication to treat migraine. With this type of medication, patients are likely to build up a tolerance to barbiturates and according to the results of this study are also more likely to increase the risk of CM.”
“Furthermore, medication tolerance is less likely to occur when a patient is being treated with a triptan medication,” states Dr. Diamond. “The important point to keep in mind is that treatment options are available and individuals who suffer from migraine should speak with their healthcare provider to determine which treatment options are best for them.”
The National Headache Foundation Lectureship was underwritten by a grant from Merck and Company.
Interviews with Dr. Bigal are available upon request.
To receive a copy of the abstract, please e-mail Kellie Fagan at kfagan@voxmedica.com.
ABOUT CHRONIC MIGRAINE (CM)
Chronic Migraine (CM), formerly known as Transformed Migraine, best characterizes those patients with a history of migraine who experience headache more than half the time. Based on criteria put forth by the International Headache Society, CM is a headache, of either tension-type and/or migraine quality, that occurs on greater than or equal to 15 days per month for at least three months, on greater than or equal to eight days per month the patient experiences the pain and associated symptoms of migraine without aura and/or treats and experiences relief before the expected development of symptoms and medication overuse is not present. In the United States, CM affects approximately 2% of the population or 6,000,000 people.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL HEADACHE FOUNDATION
The National Headache Foundation (NHF), founded in 1970, is a non-profit organization which exists to enhance the healthcare of headache sufferers. It is a source of help to sufferers’ families, physicians who treat headache sufferers, allied healthcare professionals and to the public. The NHF accomplishes its mission by providing educational and informational resources, supporting headache research and advocating for the understanding of headache as a legitimate neurobiological disease. For more information on headache causes and treatments, visit www.headaches.org or call 1-888-NHF-5552 (M-F. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT).
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CONTACT:
Suzanne E. Simons
Executive Director
National Headache Foundation
(312) 274-2651
ssimons@headaches.org
Kellie Fagan
Vox Medica
(215) 238-8500, ext. 1142
kfagan@voxmedica.com
1 http://www.headaches.org/consumer/topicsheets/chronicmigraine.html
2 Rasmussen BK. Epidemiology of headache. Cephalalgia. 1995;15:45-68.
