   |
|
          |
International
Migraine, Topamax Study
|
|
One of the Migraine presentations has resulted in major international publicity. Dr. Stephen Silberstein, Director of the Jefferson Headache Center, presented the results of a study and his experience using topiramate/Topamax as a preventive Migraine medication.
Dr. Silberstein reported on a Phase
III study involving 469 Migraine sufferers. The participants were
given varying doses of topiramate or placebos. Approximately 50%
of the participants showed a 50% reduction in frequency and duration
of their Migraine attacks.
MAGNUM's
Executive Director, Mr. Michael John Coleman, spoke briefly with
Dr. Stephen Silberstien in London Monday advising him that the American
Congress has sent official letters supporting the Migraine's agenda
of improving the quality of Migraine and pain sufferers worldwide
to the Migraine Trust. Coleman spoke very highly of Dr. Silberstien
and referred to him as one of America's top medical thought leaders
in the area of Migraine disease. In addition, Coleman was thrilled
with the high profile of preventive treatment as a key part of Migraine
disease management. "Migraine is due to a more sensitive brain," said Silberstein. Research released in 2000 revealed that Migraineurs have abnormally excitable brain nerve cells (neurons). When a trigger is encountered, these neurons fire across the brain, across pain centers, awakening nerve pain and inflaming blood vessels. He went on to say, "When migraine episodes start occurring once or more a week, as it does for about one out of every five sufferers, the disability is significant. At that point, it's time -- for the sake of the patient -- to start taking serious steps to prevent the attacks from coming on, rather than rely only on acute treatment when an episode has already begun. But there is only so much a patient can do through lifestyle changes, and few medications have shown efficacy in prevention."
The manufacturer, Ortho-McNeil, reportedly halted clinical trials testing Topamax to treat obesity while it reformulated the drug in February because of its side-effects, including memory problems, fatigue, sleepiness, difficulty in concentration and tingling in the fingers and toes. In early September, testing of topiramate for bipolar disorder because it was not effective enough. Topiramate/Topamax is a neuroleptic medication in the same drug class as Depakote and Neurontin, which are also prescribed for Migraine prevention. Standard protocol with these medications is to start at a low dosage, tapering up to the target dosage. If a patient discontinues these medications, that also should be accomplished by tapering, taking it down gradually, by steps, from the current dosage. This should always be accomplished with the assistance of a physician.
|
