headachedrugs
April 27, 2012 | 
Author Research on food and addiction is in its infancy. New studies however are suggesting that overeating may dampen your dopamine response, which can make you overeat even more.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that motivates us to eat (and enjoy other “rewarding” behaviors). In 2001, Nora Volkow and her colleagues at the Brookhaven National Laboratory published a groundbreaking study called “Brain Dopamine and Obesity.” The study found that very obese people had lower levels of dopamine in the “reward” areas of their brains than did people who were normal weight. ”These brain scans were game-changers,” according to Pamela Peeke assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Because this is precisely the same thing that happens in meth heads, cocaine addicts, alcoholics, and other addicts.” So, if dopamine makes you want to eat or take drugs, why then do obese people or drug addicts have less of a dopamine response? ”We used to believe that people were addicted because they were more sensitive to rewarding effects,” says Volkow. ”We thought they had more dopamine release, that it would be more pleasurable.” ” However, it’s the opposite.”
Researchers have wondered if some people overeat because they are born with a dopamine system that does not respond. Or, is it possible that obese people have a low dopamine response because they overeat and overstimulate their dopamine? It may be both. In a study of 26 overweight and obese young women, those who gained weight over six months had less response in the brain targeted by dopamine when they drank a milkshake than they had six months earlier. The young women also showed a reduced dopamine response compared to the overweight women who had not gained weight. A lower dopamine response may not only make it more likely to overeat, but to dampen the dopamine response even more.
So which foods can be addictive? According to Kyle Burger, a researcher at the Oregon Research Institute, those foods that are sweet, fatty and have a lot of calories – no surprise. ”It looks like the habitual consumption of food – specifically calorie – dense food – can elicit changes in brain responses that mirror drug addiction,” ways Burger. However, as humans we all crave certain foods…. and craving is not addiction. Craving is an intense desire to eat a particular food. Some studies show that among college students, approximately 60% of women crave sweet foods that are usually high in fat, while men’s sweet cravings are at about 40%.
Food addiction research is in its early stages. The hope is to continue following people over a long period of time. Says Burger: “The take – home message is that the frequent consumption of calorie – dense food may be altering your brain responses in a way that’s going to make you consume more.” Nutrition Action May 2012
The relationship between migraine and childhood periodic syndromes including abdominal migraine and cyclical vomiting has been acknowledged, and such syndromes have been seen as precursors of migraine in children. Some researchers have suspected that the crying and pain linked to colic may be an expression of migraine in infants who are genetically predisposed to it.
A new study has shown that moms with a history of migraine were more than 2.5 times as likely to have a colicky baby as those without a history of migraine. Dr Amy Gelfand, a child neurologist at the University of California Headache Center in San Francisco who led the study suggests that infants with colic may also face a higher risk for developing migraine as they grow older. ”Since migraine is a highly genetic disorder, our study suggests that infant colic may be an early sign that a child may be predisposed toward migraine headache later in life.” Gelfand believes this research may be helpful in more accurately identifying children who have childhood periodic syndromes by asking about a history of colic. ”In addition, this study helps to advance our understanding about the different expressions of migraine across a person’s lifetime.” Migraine.com April 2012 Jonathan Simmons Ph.D.
There is a large number of children and adolescents with headache disorders, and consequently unique issues affecting them. Like adults, children with headache can be anxious and depressed. They may not get the amount of sleep they need each night, and may be struggling with obesity. Adolescent girls may have menstrual irregularities. Spending 6-8 hours a day at school however sets them apart from adults. Dealing with the struggle to be academically successful, brought on by the child or the parent can add stress, whether they have headaches or not.
Bullying and peer pressure, both publicized more often in the media lately are still issues many kids are confronted with on a daily basis. For some children and adolescents, an undiagnosed learning disability can add complications to academic and social issues.
So, how do kids and adolescents deal with the normal challenges of life, when they have headaches as well? It helps to employ some positive steps, which hopefully will become life-long habits. Having breakfast, getting consistent sleep, and exercise are important. Seeking methods to cope with stress, such as biofeedback can make a difference.
Insisting that the child go to school even with a headache will avoid the secondary gain of missing classes. Encouraging the child to follow through on family chores and responsibilities can also help. Most importantly though, acknowledging the child’s pain can make a world of difference for the child. Often, they are told by friends, teachers and others that their pain can’t be that terrible, or that there is no pain at all. A child who has a “village” of family, healthcare providers and teachers surrounding him will be better able to deal with headaches than a child who feels isolated. Adults with headaches get the same benefits from a supportive network…….Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain February 2012
More and more we are confronted at the grocery store with “functional foods” that manufacturers claim will enhance our chances for optimal health, or reduce our risk of disease. These products represent the fastest-growing category in the food industry. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics believes scientific research linking a good diet to a lower incidence of disease, as well as rising health-care costs are driving the demand for these foods. The FDA does not identify functional food as a food category. In fact, the FDA’s Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act states that products with claims that they treat or alleviate disease must be considered drugs with proof they are effective and safe. Manufacturers who want to tout their products for their health benefits must have plausible science to back it up.
Consumer Reports OnHealth says that Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal was warned by the FDA in 2009 that its claim the cereal was “clinically proven to help lower cholesterol” was illegal… only a drug maker could claim such health benefits. This matter is still pending. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice has claimed scientific proof that its product prevents or treats heart disease, as well as other conditions. The FTC came down on the company for making what it called false claims. ”Any consumer who sees POM Wonderful products as a silver bullet against disease has been misled” said David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Another example of functional food catching the attention of the FTC is Activia yogurt by Dannon. Dannon claimed that a single serving of Activia can help with constipation. While Dannon said it had scientific proof, studies by regulators found that Activia was no better than a placebo. Also, the probiotics found in Activia which may help with digestion were found to be beneficial only if the yogurt is eaten three times a day… not mentioned by Dannon either on the packaging or in ads. Eventually, Dannon settled with the FTC, but did not admit to wrong-doing.
When Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994 new promises by manufacturers began sprouting up. It became easier to put health claims on vitamins, minerals and herbal products. ”We expected to see nutritional supplements or dietary supplements making health claims ” says Mary K. Engle, director of the FTC’s Advertising Practices. ”But then, about five years ago, we started to see those kinds of claims on foods – claims like ‘metabolism-enhancing’ and ‘immune-boosting’, or something having to do with brain health or heart health.”
Food that is healthy for us does not need to have labeling on it telling us it’s nutritious. In fact, Marion Nestle, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University says “I always advise buying real foods, not products, and stay away from foods that overstate their health benefits.” Consumer Reports ONHealth May 2012
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 …..
Poster seen in Robbins Headache Clinic
It was a little over a year ago that I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Robbins. Like most headache/migraine patients I had spent many years bouncing around between Family Practice doctors, Internists, Allergists, Neurologists, all to no avail. At the time I walked into Dr. Robbins clinic, I had little expectation that I was going to find any answers, let alone any actual treatments that would reduce the frequency or severity of my migraines. I was haggard, depressed, hadn’t slept well in weeks, and was tired of going through the same routine with doctor after doctor. I’m sure he was glad to see me too.
My wife (who is an Anesthesiologist) received a recommendation to the Robbins Headache Clinic from asking several colleagues if they had any idea of who might be able to help me with my migraines, and Dr. Robbins was mentioned. As we reside in Arkansas, the prospect of traveling all the way to Chicago for treatment did not sound appealing, at all, and I was reluctant to commit to an appointment with a physician I had never heard about, especially if it included flying across the country. In all honesty, I was jaded, and felt at that time that there was no one who could help me. Like most of you reading this blog, I was already convinced that this would be a waste of time and money. However, being a curious creature, I decided to do what everyone does these days when they want to start an investigation into a person’s expertise and character, and I was very methodical in my Google search. (I actually have a black-belt in Googlefu, so I was confident I would find an excuse not to make the appointment.) Once I began reading his hundreds of articles and several books, my doubts began to diminish. Then, I came across his curriculum vitae (CV), (which to a layperson such as myself, I knew to be a Latin word meaning, “much smarter than you will ever be.”)
I began pouring over the CV for obvious signs that he was not the doctor for me (e.g. majored in Bowling during college, or perhaps spent 9 years doing “magnetic therapy” in a foreign country that I couldn’t locate on a map. The problem was, Dr. Robbins has the longest and most extensive CV I have ever read in my life. Matter of fact, not only had he authored at least two books, but also had written over 200 peer reviewed articles that had been published in every reputable medical periodical in existence. As I began to analyze his CV like a forensic detective surveying a crime scene, I began to realize that even for a person with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Philosophy, this was going to take an extensive amount of time, and coffee, in order to absorb all the information contained therein. I got through half of his CV before I conceded defeat. Joyce’s Ulysses took less time for me to read, and I think I even understood more of that book than all the letters attached to Dr. Robbins’ name, except the MD.
I began to realize that this doctor was better trained in headaches, pain management, and preventative medication than all the other doctors I had ever seen, combined. So without admitting to my wife that she was right about scheduling an appointment with his clinic, I reluctantly scheduled an appointment, and began planning for another horrible experience with a doctor that didn’t understand my migraines. As I stated above, I arrived looking like a walk-on for the TV series The Walking Dead.
Dr. Robbins greeted me with a big smile, and so did his staff, and as I looked around the waiting room, I began to notice several things different about his clinic that I had never seen in other doctors’ offices. Covered from wall-to-wall was literature on headaches/migraines, including handouts of his most recent studies and published articles. As I sat in the waiting room, perusing the various literature, I noticed a sign on the entryway into the office, which simply read: “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
For reasons I still can’t express, that sign evoked a lot of emotion in me, like it was specifically put there for my benefit. Something about the words conveyed a sense of inequity that was recognized by all, especially the patients, and yet at the same time I conveyed a sense of not surrendering, to keep moving, to keep fighting, “to carry on” despite the onslaught of pain and suffering. I remember thinking that this sign was perfect for a migraine specialist’s office, as I think most of us feel a sense of unfairness about our disease, a certain injustice that we all share. From being unable to control the pain, to the misconceptions of doctors, employers, friends, and even family; a lot of times I think we feel we are fighting a losing battle against not only the medical establishment, but against society as a whole, and yet we continue to fight. We get up every day knowing that today we are very likely to experience the worst pain we have ever felt in our life; traumatic pain, devastating, and debilitating pain, which we have no ability to control. To me it feels like a great deal of the time I am at war, besieged and attacked by my own body and mind, and there is nothing I can do to stop it, nothing. Perpetual warfare, in any circumstance, is enough to drive even the most balanced person to insanity and hopelessness.
My appointment with Dr. Robbins did not go as I expected. He was compassionate, considerate, he listened to what I had to say, and for the first time in my life, I was actually invited to sit down in his office and talk about my migraines. I had never even seen the inside of an actual doctor’s office before, and to this day, it is the only time it has been offered. Not only did I leave his clinic that day with a better understanding of my migraines, but I had weapons (I use that word purposefully, because I am at war) to fight back against the perpetual onslaught of pain, and indignity suffered by all of us. And as it turned out, Dr. Robbins was the only doctor I have ever encountered that was able to help decrease my migraines.
A few months later, I was studying a legal case that surrounded around a set of facts of concerning trademark infringement. The plaintiff in the case tried to claim a copyright infringement against the defendant for the use of a slogan, none other than, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” The plaintiff, as I learned, lost the lawsuit. The poster pictured in the upper left corner had been created by the Ministry of Information by order of the British government in 1939, and was designed as a propaganda poster to increase morale among the British public during WWII. It was distributed around the city squares and government buildings to prepare the public for what was thought to be a certain invasion by the Germans. It was intended to display the unmitigated pride and fearlessness of the British population who were awaiting imminent destruction. The crown displayed on the poster was intended to remind the population that it was a direct message from their King, speaking to his people. The posters were intended to convey the message that no matter what happened: invasion, bombings, complete destruction of town and country, that it was the duty of the populace to remain strong, no matter what agony or suffering would be inflicted upon them. It was meant to invoke a sense of pride, courage, and calm dignity for which the British are commonly known. It was meant as a message for people that were under siege, facing an enemy that they had no ability to control or defeat.
As I sat there reading the case, I understood why I thought it was perfect for a migraine specialist’s office and why it had meant so much to me at the time. I had realized something innately in that poster that spoke directly to the way I was feeling, even though I didn’t realize it at the time, the poster really was meant for me and others like me. It is a message that no matter what happens to us, no matter how unfair the circumstances may be, or the pain inflicted, it is our duty to fight the good fight. As Churchill would later state, “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” I can’t think of a more apt saying to have in the office of a doctor dealing with people who are chronically ill, and are constantly under threat of bombardment at any second, for the worst pain they will ever experience or imagine.
Since the copyright on artistic works expires after 50 years in the UK, and the phrase was in such common usage, the image is now in the public domain, hence the many companies selling t-shirts, coffee mugs, hats, books, and posters- just like the one in Dr. Robbins’ office. It is amazing to me to think of the history involved in this one simple message, which after 73 years, found its way into my life at a time when I felt the weakest, and has indeed inspired me to fight, and to never, ever, ever, give up. The next time you feel hopeless, helpless, like everything is at its worst and you simply can’t take it anymore, I implore you to remember this story and the history that made it manifest, and to never give up. No matter what is happening, do your best, do your duty to your family and loved ones, and “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
I always welcome any thoughts, experiences, critique, or accolades in regards to my posts. Please feel free to share your stories and comments with me and others. The more we communicate the more we learn, and the sooner we will find better solutions to sustain the imminent bombardment. Thanks for reading, and may you have a pain free day.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a healthcare provider, and I do not provide any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information presented here is designed for general informational purposes and discussion only, and is not intended to replace a physician’s judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure, medication, product or diagnosis. Always consult your doctor about any medical questions or conditions you may have.
Posted in headachedrugs, Miscellaneous | 
Tags: chronic migraine, cluster headache, depression, disability, Headache, headache clinic, keep calm and carry on, migraine | 
6 Comments »
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.
