New York Headache blog

The benign nature of white matter lesions (WML) on MRI scans of patients with migraine was noted in a post last year. While they appear to be benign, they are disconcerting nevertheless. It is possible that we haven’t yet discovered the negative...

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is also called pseudotumor cerebri because just like with a brain tumor, the pressure is increased inside the skull. This condition usually presents with a headache and sometimes with visual symptoms. Increased...

Don’t use Wikipedia for medical information and tell your doctor not to either. It is the most popular reference site not only for the lay public, but also for doctors – anywhere from 47% to 70% of physicians and medical students admit to using it...

Cluster headache patients have been coming to our office in increasing numbers in the past few weeks. We seem to be in a cluster season – many patients with cluster headaches come within the same month or two and then, for several months we see...

Two new migraine drugs are about to be released on the market. They were mentioned in this blog in their earlier stages of development. Another two drugs are more interesting, but are several years away from becoming available (if at all). Zecuity is...

The versatility of botulinum toxin continues to amaze. The use of botulinum toxin (Botox) for the treatment of migraine headaches (pioneered at the New York Headache Center) is becoming widespread in the US. The original FDA-approved indications...

Triptans, such as Imitrex or sumatriptan and similar drugs are “designer” drugs which were developed to specifically treat migraine headaches. They are highly effective and, after more than 20 years on the market, proven safe. Four out of the seven...

Antibodies blocking a specific neurotransmitter involved in migraines appear to relieve migraine headaches. Two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology reported on the use of antibodies to CGRP (calcitonin...

Epidural steroid injections are popular for persistent neck and back pains. Patients with migraine and other headaches often have neck pain as well and if they happen to visit an anesthesiologist/pain specialist instead of a neurologist, there is...

Stress is considered to be one of the main migraine triggers. However, a study just published in the journal Neurology suggests that it is the period after stress when people are more likely to develop a migraine. A group of doctors at the Montefiore...

An oral tablet is the most convenient way to take medicine. However, many migraine sufferers wake up with a headache that is in full bloom and severe nausea or vomiting makes it difficult to take oral medications. Others find that tablets are...

Sleep deprivation is a very common trigger of migraine and tension-type headaches. Scientists have always wondered about the purpose of sleep. We know that sleep helps strengthen our memories. New research suggests that sleep is also needed for...

There is no debate about the fact that there is an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency in the United States – it affects about two thirds of the population. However, it is bewildering why scientists are still debating if people should be taking...

A good predictor of response to Botox injections in chronic migraine patients has been found by Spanish researchers. While Botox is a very effective treatment for chronic migraines and possibly other types of headaches and pain, it does not help...

Yesterday, the FDA approved the first preventive (prophylactic) treatment for migraines in adolescents – kids between the ages of 12 and 17. Topamax (topiramate) was first approved by the FDA in 1996 to prevent seizures. It was approved for migraine...

The beneficial effect of Botox on mood has been reported for years. I mentioned this in one of my blog posts in 2011. Now, a new and highly scientific study (double-blind, placebo-controlled) which is about to be published in the Journal of...

A severe migraine attack can sometimes land you in an emergency room. With its bright lights, noise, and long waits, it is the last place you want to be in. To add insult to the injury, some doctors will think that you are looking for narcotic drugs...

Cefaly, a TENS unit specifically developed for the treatment of migraine headaches, was cleared for sale in the US. It was available last year for a short time on Amazon.com, but because it was not yet approved, it was taken off the market...

Imbalance of many hormones produced by our endocrine system can lead to headaches. Here is a brief summary of the hormones linked to headaches...

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an excruciatingly painful disorder which affects about one in a thousand people. Patients describe the pain of TN as an electric shock going through the face. Eating and talking often triggers the pain, so some patients...

Tylenol (acetaminophen, or in Europe it is called paracetamol) is the go-to drug for pain, headaches, and fever during pregnancy. A new study just published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics indicates that this drug may not be as safe as...

One of my patients I saw last week developed osteoporosis while taking Topamax (topiramate). Topiramate is known to cause osteoporosis by causing loss of calcium through the kidneys. While osteoporosis is not common, we don’t know if it is really...

Vitamin D has been reported to be low in patients with migraines as well as a host of other medical conditions. The big question is whether this is just a coincidence or a cause-and-effect relationship. In some conditions, such as multiple...

Generic drugs provide significant savings and 80% of all prescriptions in the US are filled with generic drugs. Many doctors are skeptical when patients complain that the generic is not as good as the brand. But not all generics are created equal...

Children with migraine headaches are usually given acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). A group of Italian doctors compared responses to these two drugs in kids with migraines who took a daily magnesium supplement to those who did not...

White matter lesions that often seen on MRI scans of adult migraine sufferers were also found in children. A study by Washington University researchers inn St. Louis examined MRI scans of 926 children 2 to 17 years of age (mean age was 12.4 and 60%...

“Daily triptan use for intractable migraine” is the title of a report by Dr. Egilius Spierings published in the latest issue of the journal Headache. This is a controversial topic, which I addressed in a previous post. Dr. Spierings, who is...

Many headache sufferers take over-the-counter medications which can cause upset stomach and heartburn due to reflux. Many will then resort to taking acid lowering drugs. These drugs reduce acidity which also impairs absorption of various vitamins...

Placebo effect is a curse for medical researchers. Every new treatment has to be shown to be better than placebo and placebo is often very effective. In clinical practice, unlike in research, placebo effect is a good thing, but many doctors fail...

Strenuous mental activity seems to delay recovery after a head injury, according to a new study published in Pediatrics. Doctors have always recommended rest after a head injury, but it has never been clear how much to limit activities, what kind...