Author Archive
April 23, 2012 | 
Author Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is named after the famous Lewis Carroll novel. The condition was first noted in 1955 by John Todd, a psychiatrist. Todd named it for Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is believed that Lewis Carroll suffered from severe migraines and the disorder as well.
AIWS is a neurological disorder that disturbs signals that are sent from the eyes to the brain, causing a distortion in perception. People with the syndrome describe visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations and altered perceptions which can be confusing and terrifying. Typically, they may see the sizes of body parts inaccurately, and often view the sizes of other objects in a distorted way.
While facts about AIWS are still not clear, there are some common factors linked to the syndrome. Typical migraine is an important cause, as well as a trademark symptom of it. Other neurological conditions can also trigger the syndrome. It is also relatively common in children
AIWS has no proven effective treatment, but treatment programs for the probable causes are used to bring about relief.
To see and hear a patient with AIWS describe her experiences go to www.webmd.com/migraines …..
We have a medication supply problem in the US, and Midrin is no exception..Midrin(generic is the only form available) is a combo drug of a mild sedative, a mild pure migraine med, and acetaminophen…Prodrin takes out the sedative(which is good) and adds in a small amt of caffeine. Only the generic Midrin is available, and that supply goes off and on..Prodrin is usually available, but the pharmacy has to order it. These meds fit the bill as being milder, no opioid, do not hurt the stomach, and relatively inexpensive(altho Prodrin can cost $2.00 per tablet). Midrin(generic) can certaily cause tiredness, but Prodrin does not. Midrin/Prodrin are not “triptans”, such as sumatriptan(Imitrex), Maxalt, Zomig, Relpax, etc.. Some people cannot tolerate triptans, but can tolerate Midrin or Prodrin. These meds can increase the blood pressure, at least for a # of hours, so if you have high(or borderline) blood pressure, we use these with caution. Of course, consult your physician about any med. and side effect.
A study of nursing home residents with dementia found that those who took an average dose of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (Zoloft and generic) had triple the risk of falls compared with residents who did not take the drugs. In fact, taking even a low dose was linked to a higher rate of falls according to a report in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Looking at the other side of the coin however, SSRI’s also have positive aspects. Quality of life can be enormously enhanced for people suffering from depression. SSRI’s provide the catalyst for many in their ability to feel better. They are also good for the heart. Studies have shown that after a heart attack, those people who begin taking an SSRI had subsequent less heart attacks. SSRI’s act like mild blood thinners which can protect the heart. As with any drug there can be positives and negatives. Depression and anxiety diminish quality of life.
The journal Neurology recently published results from a study that a higher level of activity is linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, even in people over eighty years old. What makes this study different is the belief that an increased level of physical activity… not just exercising is associated to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. While very old individuals may not be able to take part in a fitness program, “protective” activities such as washing dishes, cleaning or playing cards can make a difference.
Of the 716 study participants, 71 developed Alzheimer’s during the four year study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Participants who scored in the bottom 10% of physical activity were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Lead author Dr. Aron Buchman sees the implications as “astounding.” ”Exercise is good, without a doubt, but this study is about more than exercise. Older people who might not be able to exercise can tailor activities that are right for them.”
A recent study looked at the stress and health behavior triggers in children with headaches. Twenty-five children used electronic dairies three times a day for two weeks. They recorded their headache occurrences, stressors, sleep and wake times, and sleep quality. Type and timing of food and drink intake were also noted. While nights when a child had less than his or her standard amount of sleep time tended to predict a headache, changes in stress level most often predicted one.
As in adults, daily stressors are a genuine trigger for children with headaches. Helping children reduce and manage daily stressors may help them to sleep better as well as have less headaches. Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain April, 2012 Connelly M, Bickel J.
A new study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry demonstrates that a blood test can make the distinction between teens who are depressed versus those who are not. By diagnosing a person with depression using objective data, scientists hope to identify it as reliably as cancer or diabetes are diagnosed. ”Once you have a measurable index of an illness, it’s very difficult to say, ‘Just pull yourself together,’ or ‘Get over it,’ ” said lead researcher Eva Redei, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral studies at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Researchers hope testing for depression will eliminate the stigma that often stops people from seeking medical help. Close to two-thirds of the country’s 2 million depressed teens are too ashamed or embarrassed to get help according to a federal report released last year. Additionally, being able to diagnose depression in adolescents can significantly improve the likelihood of long-term positive results. Dr. Andrew Leuchter, a UCLA psychiatrist sees the results as promising. ”Depression early in life can make repeat episodes more likely, and as a result, more urgent to treat.”
The researchers added that they plan on testing adults for depression in the future. Chicago Tribune 4/18/12 Melissa Healy
Researchers recently studied patients with medication overuse headache to see if they experienced decreased quality of life, as well as increased depression and anxiety. These patients, who underwent an inpatient withdrawal program were asked to complete questionnaires related to depression, anxiety and quality of life. The questionnaires were filled out prior to the start of the withdrawal program, as well as six months after the conclusion of the program.
At the beginning of the study depression was present in over 65% of the patients, and anxiety in 71% of the patients. Quality of life was decreased when compared to normative data. After looking at the post-program statistics, the researchers concluded that inpatient withdrawal therapy led to a significant improvement of quality of life, depression and anxiety in the patients. It was also noted that poor mental quality of life, depression and anxiety seen in patients at the start of the program was associated with poor outcome in terms of headache frequency. Clinical Journal of Pain 5/12
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Tags: anxiety, depression, medication overuse headache, quality of life | 
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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become quite popular in recent years. TCM includes herbal medications, acupuncture, massage and exercise. While it may be considered alternative medicine in the western world, TCM is a common part of medical care in east Asia. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on TCM products, with much of it being spent on the Internet. Researchers have noted in the past however that some mixtures can also contain contaminants like heavy metals, as well as naturally occurring toxins. New studies “show very clearly how dangerous the products of TCM can be,” according to Fritz Sorgel, of the Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research in Nuremberg, Germany.
Researchers at Murdoch University in Australia analyzed samples of TCM seized by Australian border officials. The researchers found Ephedra and Asarum plants in some of the herbal preparations. Both can contain toxic chemicals such as aristolochic acid which can cause kidney disease and cancer of the upper urinary tract. The dangers of aristolochic acid is also reviewed in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers, led by pharmacologist Arthur Grollman of Stony Brook Unversity studied Taiwan, the country with the highest rate of upper urinary tract cancer in the world. Earlier research had shown that approximately one-third of the Taiwanese population consumed herbs likely to contain aristolochic acid. The Stony Brook study found compelling evidence that aristolochic acid is a primary cause of cancer of the upper urinary tract of people living in Taiwan.
Molecular geneticist Michael Bunce at Murdoch University and his colleagues also found DNA in some TCM that could pose risks when used in combination with other drugs. ”This just shows that the ingredients in these preparations aren’t accurately declared,” says Bunce. Adds Sorgel, “We just don’t know enough about it.” ScienceNow 4/16/12
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One View: A recent article in the New York Times suggests that drinking more water may actually help in managing your migraines, especially in the summer. For many migraineurs the increased heat and temperature spikes can precipitate headaches. An article in the journal Neurology suggests the risk of migraines jumps almost 8% for every 9 degree rise in temperature.
A simple step to stay hydrated is drink more water. Dehydration causes blood volume to drop, resulting in less blood and oxygen flow to the brain and dilated blood vessels. Some experts suspect a loss of electrolytes causes nerves in the brain to produce pain signals…. so taking in more water can help you stay more hydrated, which may possibly help in controlling your headaches.
On the other hand, it occurs to me that everybody always says drink more, keep well hydrated, etc…there are serious consequences to over hydrating, without getting in sodium(electrolytes)…in marathons, for instance, the people who have seizures or coma after are not ones who under hydrate, but rather those who drink too much, without drinking sports drinks or electrolytes.
I am just not sure as to whether hydrating a lot actually helps headaches; certainly in hot summer days, outside sweating a lot, of course we need to drink more…. but the jury is out as to whether or not daily drinking of a lot of H2O really does help..it is probably an individual case by case basis, where some do have decreased headaches, while with many folks it may not matter….
for many with back pain, it takes a complete program to really help..but it is worth it….for herniated discs, more invasive treatment may be necessary, but for those with the usual bilateral squeezing muscular/soft tissue pain, a few things you can do may help(first, see a doctor)….
1.Consider a new mattress…the ones that conform to your body (Temperpedic) are wonderful, but expensive…just a good, newer mattress can make a big difference..after all, we spend 1/3 of our lives on this mattress…
2.Pilates/Yoga(I like Pilates)..Pilates is core, balance, stretching…great for the back, and motivating to keep weight off..losing weight helps, of course…just a Pilates class once or twice a week(you do not need the reformer with a trainer), or a DVD or some cable outlets have Pilates…many park districts now offer it….Pilates is not all that easy, not all that fun, BUT..can be life-changing. Our core muscles are complex…many anterior(frontal,stomach) muscles, on the side, and the back..plus pelvic muscles, gluts, and hammies(hamstrings) and quads as well…..Pilates addresses all of these…..
