• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Migraine Impacts Family Life, Relationships and Sex for Nashville Migraine Sufferers, Families and Friends, Survey Finds

Posted on: Friday, 12 November 2004, 21:00 CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people who know someone with migraine are aware that the condition, which affects an estimated 28 million Americans, can cause severe, disabling pain, disrupting sufferers' lives. Yet a recent survey of Nashville migraineurs, their family and friends, conducted as an extension of a national poll, reveals that the toll of migraine extends far beyond sufferers, stealing cherished family time and interfering with daily activities and even sex.

"Being less able to spend time with my spouse" is the most frustrating aspect of migraine for Nashville migraine sufferers (61 percent). In fact, 74 percent of sufferers frequently or sometimes have to cancel plans due to migraine, and 68 percent say migraines disrupt their sexual relationship with their spouse. Other activities disrupted by migraine include playing with children, performance at work, and household tasks. Nine out of ten Nashville friends and family members say that the sufferer's migraines have a major impact on cooking and homemaking. Despite the enormous impact of migraine, 65 percent of sufferers say they feel hopeless or helpless during a migraine attack, and 61 percent of family/friends acknowledge feeling helpless about moments stolen due to migraine.

Vanessa Simmons, a 27-year-old Nashville resident, says that migraines caused her to have to work in virtual darkness in her office, affected her productivity and led to many missed family functions. "When I would get a migraine, I shut down for the whole day. This caused a lot of frustration for my husband because I'd have to cancel our social plans," Simmons says. "After years of not getting the relief I needed, my doctor prescribed Relpax and I try to take it at the first sign of a migraine. Since I've been taking it, my pain and symptoms go away quickly so that I can function throughout the rest of the day."

Book Reading Helps Foster Understanding For Sufferers and Families

As part of a migraine education program sponsored by Pfizer, children's book author Alden Carter will conduct a reading of his book, Mama Lion's Migraine, on November 13th from 3:10 to 3:30 p.m. at the "All About Kids" event at the Opry Mills Mall, 433 Opry Mills Drive. Written for children five to seven years old, the colorful book explains migraine through the experience of a lion cub whose mother can't play with him when she has an attack. Dr. Jesus Eric Pina-Garza, associate professor of neurology and pediatrics at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, will be available to answer questions about migraine and its effects on family.

Alden Carter has written several books explaining various medical conditions to young children and believes telling a story is one of the better ways to start family discussion about health conditions. "I was delighted to work with Pfizer on a children's book to help parents explain migraines to children," says Carter. "Seeing a parent suffering with a migraine can be very frightening for young children, who are often unable to understand a complicated, clinical explanation. In Mama Lion's Migraine they will find friendly animals, simple explanations and ideas for how to help their family through the migraine."

The book is part of a new kit, "Understanding in a Box," created by Pfizer to help spark and improve communication among sufferers and their loved ones. The kit offers tools to encourage discussion about the impact of migraine and ways to manage the condition. In addition to Mama Lion's Migraine, it includes a comprehensive informational brochure about migraine and treatment, and pocket tips for spouses/partners, friends and sufferers. The free kit is provided by Pfizer, makers of Relpax(R) (eletriptan HBr), prescription medication for the acute treatment of migraine, and can be ordered by calling 1-866-519-0300 or visiting http://www.migrainerelief.com/.

Taking Control of Migraine Pain

"It is not uncommon for patients to talk to me about their migraines because the condition is causing such a significant disruption in their lives and affecting their ability to function. They can't make plans and they are losing quality time with their loved ones," says Dr. Pina-Garza. "The good news for sufferers and their families is that there are migraine-specific medications available that can stop the cycle of disability."

About the Survey

The national survey of 300 migraine sufferers, 224 spouses/partners of sufferers and 315 female friends/family members of sufferers was conducted by NOP World/Roper from April 19 - May 14, 2004. The national sample was augmented with a survey of 164 sufferers, 125 spouses/partners of sufferers and 178 female friends/family members (combined total) in five cities: Columbus, Birmingham, Nashville, Charlotte and Charleston, conducted from April 19 - May 14, 2004. In Nashville, 35 sufferers, 35 friends and family, and 35 spouses/partners were polled. Both surveys were sponsored by Pfizer.

About Migraine

It is estimated that 28 million Americans suffer from migraine, including almost one in five women and one in 15 men. Migraine is a severe, throbbing pain usually on one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine usually lasts from a few hours to several days, impairing the most routine activities.

One study published in 1999 estimated that migraines cost American employers about $13 billion a year due to missed workdays and impaired work function. Migraine is most prevalent among people 25 to 55 years of age - the peak productive years.

Despite the impact and prevalence of migraine, the condition remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. Less than half of sufferers are diagnosed and about 40 percent treat their pain with prescription medication. In addition, surveys of migraine sufferers have found that about two-thirds are dissatisfied with current treatment.

About Relpax

Relpax(R) (eletriptan HBr) is a product in the class of drugs known as "triptans." It has been studied in clinical trials involving more than 9,000 patients and more than 70,000 migraine attacks and shown to provide relief of migraine pain and its associated symptoms of nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. For some people, Relpax starts to work in as little as 30 minutes and most people get relief within two hours. Two clinical studies have also shown that more people experienced relief with one dose of Relpax than those taking Imitrex(R) (sumatriptan).

The most common side effects reported in clinical trials with Relpax compared with placebo included dizziness (6 percent vs. 3 percent), nausea (5 percent vs. 5 percent), weakness (5 percent vs. 3 percent), and tiredness (6 percent vs. 3 percent). The adverse events seen with Relpax are similar to adverse events reported with triptans as a class.

As with other triptans, it is strongly recommended that Relpax not be given to patients in whom unrecognized coronary artery disease (CAD) is predicted by the presence of risk factors, unless a clinical evaluation provides evidence that the patient is free of underlying cardiovascular disease.

Relpax should not be used within at least 72 hours of treatment with the following potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: Nizoral(R), Sporanox(R), Serzone(R), TAO(R), Biaxin(R), Norvir(R), and Viracept(R).

Full prescribing information for Relpax(R) (eletriptan HBr) can be found by visiting http://www.relpax.com/ or calling 1-866-4-RELPAX.

Relpax and TAO are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc. Imitrex(R) is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline. All other brands are trademarks of their respective owners.

Pfizer Inc.

CONTACT: Suzanne Haber of Marina Maher Communications, +1-212-485-6800,for Pfizer Inc.

Web site: http://www.migrainerelief.com/http://www.relpax.com/

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category