By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.
The tendency to be a migraineur is inherited. And
a migraineur’s blood is known to be more coagulable than
other people’s blood. The latter fact becomes especially
significant in light of a new report from the UK on anti-clot
treatment being successful for migraine headaches
...which I'll tell you about a little further on
Heretofore, migraine headaches have been believed caused
by periodic cerebrovascular (brain blood-vessel) abnormalities
– usually beginning with vessel constriction and proceeding to vessel
dilatation – triggered by a vast variety of endogenous (internal) and
exogenous (external) triggering agents.** This vascular brain
syndrome (group of symptoms), not your ordinary headache, is
heralded in a certain percentage of sufferers by scotomata
(visualization of flashing lights in a jagged pattern, like a
lightning strike), right or left hemianopsia (partial vision loss in
one eye, usually first noticed upon the disappearance of some text
while reading), mild nausea, and a light-headed feeling.
– usually beginning with vessel constriction and proceeding to vessel
dilatation – triggered by a vast variety of endogenous (internal) and
exogenous (external) triggering agents.** This vascular brain
syndrome (group of symptoms), not your ordinary headache, is
heralded in a certain percentage of sufferers by scotomata
(visualization of flashing lights in a jagged pattern, like a
lightning strike), right or left hemianopsia (partial vision loss in
one eye, usually first noticed upon the disappearance of some text
while reading), mild nausea, and a light-headed feeling.
That "early warning system" is called an Aura.
When the migraine syndrome progresses to the headache
stage, there is photophobia – eye pain from light in a lighted
room, so the patient must rest with shaded windows in a room with
all lights turned off. Some migraineurs even wear sunglasses to
screen out as much light during these episodes as possible.
room, so the patient must rest with shaded windows in a room with
all lights turned off. Some migraineurs even wear sunglasses to
screen out as much light during these episodes as possible.
Migraineurs, lucky enough to have an Aura have about 20
to 30 minutes before a headache’s onset, enough time to take a
medication that aborts the migraine process and prevents the
headache altogether.
to 30 minutes before a headache’s onset, enough time to take a
medication that aborts the migraine process and prevents the
headache altogether.
Unfortunately, a large percentage of migraineurs do not have the
good fortune to experience the early warning of an Aura. So they will
progress to the headache
stage.
progress to the headache
stage.
Many drugs, some of which have therapeutically influenced
the "clotting cascade" – a complicated series of biological steps
that thicken the blood and promote coagulation – have been used to
treat migraine headaches. (Note too: Chemical components of the
clotting cascade also play a role in pain levels and pain perception
throughout the body.)
that thicken the blood and promote coagulation – have been used to
treat migraine headaches. (Note too: Chemical components of the
clotting cascade also play a role in pain levels and pain perception
throughout the body.)
Of course, the most famous drug used is
Aspirin (ASA, aka acetyl-salicylic acid) – the classic analgesic
(pain reliever) and a known anticoagulant (blood thinner).
Other, more expensive but similar-effect pain relievers have been
used, including naproxen, Advil and similar agents.
Even Inderal ® (propranolol), a Beta-blocker usually prescribed for
cardiac patients – and sometimes for stage fright – has been used
to treat migraine pain.
Aspirin (ASA, aka acetyl-salicylic acid) – the classic analgesic
(pain reliever) and a known anticoagulant (blood thinner).
Other, more expensive but similar-effect pain relievers have been
used, including naproxen, Advil and similar agents.
Even Inderal ® (propranolol), a Beta-blocker usually prescribed for
cardiac patients – and sometimes for stage fright – has been used
to treat migraine pain.
And recently, a class of agents known as triptans – technically
referred to as "serotonin receptor antagonists," serotonin
being known to play a role in nociception (pain perception) – of
which Imitrex ® (sumatriptan succinate) is a member, has been
used against migraine pain. Other drugs in this triptan class
include Zomig ® (zolmitriptan), Frova ® (frovatriptan) succinate,
Amerge ® (naratriptan Hcl), Axert ® (almotriptan maleate), and
Relpax ® (eletriptan Hbr).
referred to as "serotonin receptor antagonists," serotonin
being known to play a role in nociception (pain perception) – of
which Imitrex ® (sumatriptan succinate) is a member, has been
used against migraine pain. Other drugs in this triptan class
include Zomig ® (zolmitriptan), Frova ® (frovatriptan) succinate,
Amerge ® (naratriptan Hcl), Axert ® (almotriptan maleate), and
Relpax ® (eletriptan Hbr).
The triptans are believed to reverse the process of brain
blood vessel dilatation responsible for the migraine syndrome’s
headache stage and its accompanying severe symptoms.
Imitrex® has even been promoted in DTC (direct-to-consumer) ads
on television telling migraineurs it will relieve the disrupting effects
that the painful, nauseating, photophobic, and sound-sensitivity
symptoms have on their lives.
blood vessel dilatation responsible for the migraine syndrome’s
headache stage and its accompanying severe symptoms.
Imitrex® has even been promoted in DTC (direct-to-consumer) ads
on television telling migraineurs it will relieve the disrupting effects
that the painful, nauseating, photophobic, and sound-sensitivity
symptoms have on their lives.
Given this historical background on the migraine syndrome
...plus the fact that scientists still can’t account fully for the
migraine process, nor can they pinpoint the best way to treat it...
...plus the fact that scientists still can’t account fully for the
migraine process, nor can they pinpoint the best way to treat it...
Enter the London-based cardiologist John Chambers who
believes treating migraine sufferers with the anticoagulant
(anti-clot) drug Plavix ® (clopidogrel bisulfate) is justified.
This because, he hypothesizes, cerebral migraine syndrome is
due to minuscule cardiac clots pumped out from the heart to the
brain. Clopidogrel goes after the clotting propensity of the blood
cells known as platelets. So breaking up or causing dissolution of
these clot-inducing elements, he expects, will intervene positively to
bring relief to migraineurs.
believes treating migraine sufferers with the anticoagulant
(anti-clot) drug Plavix ® (clopidogrel bisulfate) is justified.
This because, he hypothesizes, cerebral migraine syndrome is
due to minuscule cardiac clots pumped out from the heart to the
brain. Clopidogrel goes after the clotting propensity of the blood
cells known as platelets. So breaking up or causing dissolution of
these clot-inducing elements, he expects, will intervene positively to
bring relief to migraineurs.
And because Dr. Chambers has experienced some success
against migraine headaches using Plavix ® (clopidogrel
bisulfate), almost 300 migraineurs are now being studied for this drug’s
anti-migraine efficacy. What is sought are results, from this extended
number of experimental subjects, in order to provide a possible new
future treatment option and a new avenue of research for the long battle
against this protean condition of human suffering.
against migraine headaches using Plavix ® (clopidogrel
bisulfate), almost 300 migraineurs are now being studied for this drug’s
anti-migraine efficacy. What is sought are results, from this extended
number of experimental subjects, in order to provide a possible new
future treatment option and a new avenue of research for the long battle
against this protean condition of human suffering.
**Migraine Triggers: These include various allergens, paint fumes,
cigar odors, weather changes, monthly female hormonal changes, some
foods, stressors, coffee, alcohol, and unknown others.
cigar odors, weather changes, monthly female hormonal changes, some
foods, stressors, coffee, alcohol, and unknown others.
© Copyright 2008, 2015 Dr.Helen Borel. All rights reserved.
with attribution as follows: “According to Dr. Helen Borel at
medical-healthalerts.blogspot.com”
For additional permissions and purchases, contact Dr.Borel at:
medical-healthalerts@earthlink.net
and type into the Subject line: PLAVIX FOR MIGRAINE
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