HEADLINES

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7, JULY 1997

A Publication of the East Bay Headache Support Group

(The text of this newsletter has been simplified with all graphics removed to suit all users' browsers and computer speeds.)

July 8th Meeting:

We are pleased to have Robert E. Horwitz, Pharm. D., as our guest speaker on July 8th. Dr. Horwitz is the pharmacist and owner of Doc’s Pharmacy in Walnut Creek, and is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California School of Pharmacy, lecturing and instructing in the art of custom compounding medications to meet specific patient needs.

A compounding pharmacist is a medication problem-solver whose objective is to contribute to patient care by getting the correct drug in the right dose via the best dosage form into or onto the patient at the appropriate time.

As headache sufferers, most of us have tried various medications to alleviate the pain, and we may have experienced unpleasant side effects as a result. Through the art of compounding, perhaps we can discover the correct dosage and dosage form of a medication that will make a positive difference in our lives. For information, call (510) 938-5252.

Past Meetings:

August 12th: Dr. Nathan Schultz — Headaches related to allergies.
September 9th: Dr. Jerome Goldstein — New and experimental headache treatments.
October 14th: Dr. Roger Johnson — Stress and headaches.

Note: Notes from each of the above-listed meetings are available on line by going to the site directory and clicking on the date of the meeting.

CHILLING FDA REPORT: STADOL CAN HAVE ADDICTIVE EFFECTS

After hundreds of reports of patient dependence on Stadol, a popular drug used to relieve migraine headaches, the Food and Drug Administration has recommended that the drug be classified as a controlled substance, to curb how doctors prescribe it. New restrictions on both the injectable version hospitals provide and the nasal spray Stadol NS (which is 5 times more potent) will be in force within months.

The FDA has received reports of 41 deaths and 774 addiction-associated side effects possibly involving Stadol. Every week, Dr. Joel Saper of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurology Institute in Ann Arbor hospitalizes 2 to 3 Stadol addicts who seek help from around the country.

Very few abuse Stadol for the "buzz" it gives certain users. Instead, he said the problem is unique to migraines: The more painkillers some sufferers take, the more headaches they actually get. This "rebound syndrome" causes them to take enough Stadol to get hooked.

"Here is a drug that really works for some people," Saper said. "The problem is doctors were not aware of the physical dependency risks," which would have warned them to withhold Stadol from patients with frequent migraines.

The new DEA curbs will limit how often doctors prescribe Stadol and how many refills patients get. The FDA is also considering whether to warn doctors officially of the addiction potential.

If you have any questions about Stadol and its potential dangers, ask your physician.

(Excerpted from the Associated Press article in the June 16, 1997 issue of the Contra Costa Times.)

O-T-C MEDICATIONS

When was the last time you read the label on an over-the-counter medication? "Some people think because it’s over the counter that it’s completely safe and you can take as much as you want," says Linda Goldner, president of the National Consumers League, a nonprofit organization that works on drug safety issues. "But these are potent drugs and they definitely can cause harm," she told American Health.

Take for example the case of Dana Mastandrea, a 15-year old who had been fasting to lose weight and woke up with a headache. It was a school day and a headache was no excuse to stay home. By fourth period Dana had taken fourteen Extra Strength Tylenol. Hours later she found herself in intensive care being treated for liver failure. Fourteen extra strength (500 milligrams) tablets contain seven grams of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. That’s nearly twice the recommended dose of four grams over a 24-hour period.

Americans swallowed $2.6 billion worth of over-the-counter pain relievers in roughly 200 different brands. Take away everything but the essentials from these drugs and you’re basically left with just two types of pain relievers: acetaminophen (Tylenol® and Panadol®) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Aspirin is an NSAID, as are ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin IB®, Nuprin®), naproxen sodium (Aleve®) and, approved late last year, ketoprofen (Actron® and Orudis KT®).

NSAIDs work by blocking the body’s output of prostaglandins, which are hormone-like chemicals found in nearly all human tissues including joints and muscles, where they can contribute to inflammation and pain. NSAIDs also weaken the helpful prostaglandins in the digestive tract, the ones that form the mucous coating that protects against the eroding effects of stomach acid.

Moderate use of NSAIDs for occasional relief of headaches or other pain doesn’t present much of a problem. However, this does not make it totally risk free. Permanent liver damage can also occur in those consuming alcohol while exceeding the recommended dosage.

(Thank you for not wearing scented products to support group meetings. Strong scents can be headache triggers for some of us.)

THREE TIPS FOR A PRODUCTIVE VISIT WITH YOUR DOCTOR

• Be prepared.

• Know your medications; Note the strength, quantity and frequency of administration of prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications - even vitamins - you are taking.

• Expect the unexpected; You may hear terms unfamiliar to you or your physician may give you detailed instructions. Take a note pad and write down unfamiliar terms or key ideas. Ask questions about things you don’t understand. Immediately after visiting with your doctor, take the time to complete your notes in the waiting room before leaving.

East Bay Headache Support Group

The East Bay Headache Support Group is a nonprofit organization dependent on donations. A small group of volunteers organizes the meetings and publishes this newsletter, and our major operating expenses are printing and bulk mail postage. Consider making a tax-deductible donation to assist the group with its mission to provide education and support for headache sufferers. The Organizing Committee, which meets the third Tuesday of each month in Walnut Creek, needs new members with fresh ideas, also. Call the EBHSG at (510) 938-5252 to volunteer.

Do you ever forget birthdays, anniversaries, other important dates in the lives of your family and friends? For a one-time fee of $39, the LifeTime Reminder Service will make certain you never forget those dates again! We are selling memberships to this service—a significant portion of your membership will be a donation to the East Bay Headache Support Group. And, luggage tags with your name and address imprinted on one side and the support group advertised on the other may be ordered at $2 each. Please call the EBHSG if interested.

The East Bay Headache Support Group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a forum for headache sufferers. The support group meets the second Tuesday of each month in the Ball Auditorium (lower level) at John Muir Medical Center from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. It is open to all headache sufferers and their families; the meetings are free (however, donations to cover printing and postage costs are appreciated!). The support group meetings include lectures by guest speakers, question and answer sessions, and informational materials.

Directions to John Muir Medical Center: Take Highway 680 to the Ygnacio Valley Road exit in Walnut Creek; go East approximately 1-1/2 miles, and turn right onto La Casa Via. Turn left into the Medical Center parking lot, and enter at the Main Lobby. Take stairs or elevator to the lower level and follow signs to the Ball Auditorium.

We value your input! Call, fax, or write us if you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to help. The planning committee meets the third Tuesday evening each month and welcomes new members. Michael Stein, MD, Advisor; Leslie Davis, Editor.