New Help for Menstrual Migraines
Posted on: Friday, 4 April 2003, 06:00 CST
HealthScoutNews -- The drug Frova may help prevent the monthly menstrual migraines experienced by millions of American women, says a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital study.
The nationwide study of 545 women with an average 12-year history of menstrual migraines found that about half of the women taking the drug for six days a month were migraine-free.
The results were presented this week at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in Honolulu.
The women were treated with either a once daily dose of Frova, two daily doses of Frova or a placebo.
The study found that 50 percent of the women who took 2.5 milligrams of Frova twice a day over six days had no headache. The same was true for 39 percent of the women taking a single daily dose of the same amount of the drug, compared to 26 percent of the women taking a placebo.
Frova is in a class of drugs called triptans. These drugs reduce inflammation of certain blood vessels in the brain believed to cause pain.
"We're excited about this study because this is the first time we've seen a triptan actually prevent these headaches in such a large number of women before they experience pain," study author Dr. Stephen Silberstein says in a news release.
About 9 million women in the United States suffer from migraines. About 60 percent of them, 5.4 million, report they have an increased number of headaches in association with their menstrual periods.
---
On the Net:
More science, space, and technology from RedNova
Copyright © 2003 HealthScoutNews. All rights reserved. The information contained above is intended for general reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment. Medical information changes rapidly and while Yahoo and its content providers make efforts to update the content on the site, some information may be out of date. No health information on Yahoo, including information about herbal therapies and other dietary supplements, is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.
Related Articles
- Quebec Women With Breast Cancer Genes Less Likely to Take Preventive Steps
- Study Shows Hypertension Drug Protects Against Parkinson's
- High-Deductible Plans Hit Women Harder, Study Says
- Study: Scios Heart Drug is Safe
- HIV Study Whittles Down Drug Cocktail
- Monthly Tablets Help Women Persist Longer With Osteoporosis Drugs
- Studies Say New Drugs Effective Against Cancers
- Study Finds Heart Drug Can Cause Kidney Failure
- Studies Find Statin Drugs Dont Cut Cancer Risk
- Job Stress and General Well-Being: A Comparative Study of Medical- Surgical and Home Care Nurses
User Comments (0)


RSS Feeds