Nonendoscopic Deactivation of Nerve Triggers in Migraine Headache Patients

Objective To determine the role of naratriptan in preventing migraine headache when administered during prodrome. Procedures Baseline phase: patients recorded prodrome symptoms and time of onset, time when patient knew that headache was inevitable, time of onset and severity of headache. Treatment phase: patients given naratriptan 2.5 mg to take at the time they knew headache was inevitable. Patients recorded prodrome symptoms and time of onset, time they knew headache was inevitable, time naratriptan administered, time of onset and severity of any headache. Patients treated three prodromes separated by at least 48 h. Findings Twenty patients completed both phases. During baseline phase, 59 prodromes were reported and all were followed by headache. Severity of headache: 5% mild, 51% moderate, 44% severe. During treatment phase, 63 prodromes were reported. Of these, 38/63 (60%) were not followed by headache. Among headaches that occurred, the majority occurred within 2 h of naratriptan administration, suggesting that naratriptan is more effective in preventing headache if taken early in prodrome. Severity of 25 headaches: 44% mild, 24% moderate, 32% severe. Conclusions Naratriptan 2.5 mg appears to prevent migraine headache when given early in prodrome. If headache occurs, severity appears to be reduced. □ Prodrome, premonitory, aura, naratriptan, migraine

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Migraine and Left-Handedness: Is There a Connection?

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1046/j.1468-2982.1988.0804237.x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 237-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Harley B Messinger ◽

Margaret I Messinger ◽

John R Graham

Keyword(s):

Cluster Headache ◽

Migraine Headache ◽

Tension Headache ◽

Scoring Method ◽

Left Handedness ◽

Male Sex ◽

Headache Center ◽

Headache Patients

In 1982, Geschwind and Behan reported an association between migraine headache and left-handedness. The present study was an attempt to test this hypothesis by comparing the frequency of left-handedness in migraine and tension headache patients at a headache center. Cluster headache cases were also included because Geschwind and Behan suspected that the association might be even stronger in this disorder. A special scoring method for handedness was devised by Geschwind and Behan to help identify a possible higher risk in mixed-handedness subjects. No significant associations emerged in any of these tests. A modest association of cluster headache and left-handedness disappeared when adjustment was made for the strong predilection of cluster headache for the male sex.

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Comparison of Pre-Headache Phases and Trigger Factors of Migraine and Episodic Tension-Type Headache: Do they Share Similar Clinical Pathophysiology?

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1111/j.1468-2982.2005.00880.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 444-451 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

N Karli ◽

M Zarifoglu ◽

N Calisir ◽

S Akgoz

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck ◽

Migraine Headache ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Study Analysis ◽

Trigger Factors ◽

Visual Aura ◽

General Signs ◽

Type Headache ◽

Headache Patients

Trigger factors, signs and symptoms of the preheadache phases of episodic tension-type headache (ETTH), typical aura with non-migraine headache (TANMH), migraine with (MA) and without aura (MwA) may show similar features. Our objective was to investigate the preheadache phases and trigger factors of these headache types. Questionnaires including trigger factors, signs and symptoms of preheadache phases were answered by all headache patients. A total of 96 patients, 31 ETTH, nine TANMH, 23 MA and 33 MwA patients were included in this study. Analysis of seven groups consisting of 18 individual trigger factors showed that only two groups and five individual trigger factors were significantly different between groups. Hunger and odour were significantly more common in MA, MwA and TANMH patients. Foods were a significant precipitant factor for headache in MA patients. Head and neck movements were important trigger factors in ETTH. In prodrome phase only one out of three groups differed significantly between headache types. Migraine and TANMH patients reported significantly more general signs and symptoms. Analysis of aura signs and symptoms showed that only two out of six groups were significantly more frequent in MA and TANMH patients. Visual aura symptoms were more frequent in MA and TANMH groups, where sensorial auras were reported to be the most frequent in the MA group. Our results showed that different type of headaches share common prodrome and aura signs and symptoms as well as the same trigger factors. We suggest that similar trigger factors may trigger similar mechanisms and may cause common preheadache signs and symptoms in all headache types.

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