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Radio Shows April 5, 2008
The very medicines many people take to relieve pain may actually be causing their headaches. A vicious cycle of pain relievers is behind too many cases of chronic headache. How can you break out of this insidious cycle?
Guest: Joel Saper, M.D., FACP, FAAN, is founder and director of The Michigan Head-Pain and Neurological Institute. He is past president of the American Association for the Study of Headache, past chairman of the American Council for Headache Education. Dr. Saper is professor of medicine (neurology) at Michigan State University.
Tags: analgesic abuse, cluster, headache, ice-pick headache, magnesium, migraine
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Reader Comments
I have taken excederin for years and have tried to quit, but because of the caffeine, I have not been able to. If I even sense one coming on I go for the excederin. The headaches can be so severe, especially upon waking up, that I can't function. It's like an addiction and really want someone to help me quit this drug. Help!
Posted by: Sherry | April 5, 2008 7:25 AM
I have a question concerning a headache that I get usually once a month over my right eye- behind the eyebrow. The headache can last for days. My question is: could this be a migraine or a disrupted sinus. Advil's and sinus medications masks it, but do not take it away.
Posted by: Shana Adams | April 5, 2008 7:35 AM
I was disappointed that more mention was not made of non-drug alternatives for headache pain. I, and many other dentists have had very successful results in eliminating such pain with a simple dental appliance worn at night. I have been using one called the NTI for the past 4 years with wonderful results, so much so that I will refund all but $50 of the patient's expense (much less than my lab cost) if it does not help to the patient's satisfaction. The improvement is usually dramatic within 24-48 hours. Anyone can get further information about this treatment by looking up NTI and/or NTI at Keller Dental Lab. This is the best first line, non-drug approach to take regarding recurring headaches.
Posted by: Ray Mallinak, DDS | April 5, 2008 8:24 AM
My nine year old son has periodic headaches that get so bad he throws up. Is this a sign that he has migraine headaches? I didn't think kids that young got migraines. Please advise. I have not yet talked to his pediatrician. Thank you.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
Please do consult your son's pediatrician. We cannot diagnose! A pediatric neurologist or headache specialist may be called for.
Posted by: Chris O'Loughlin | April 5, 2008 3:20 PM
I e-mailed you many questions about your Vitamin D show and never received any answers. About headaches, my 6 yr old son had horrible headaches for months, the Pediatrician referred us to a neurologist, who put him on RITALIN and in 2 wks on the med. he never had another one til 14 yrs of age and I went to the same neurologist, who put him back on RITALIN and in no time he had never had another "migraine" headache. He is now 39 yrs old. Mary Simonette
Posted by: mary | April 6, 2008 8:01 PM