Posts Tagged ‘pregnancy migraines’
Monday, March 14th, 2011
Topamax recently made headlines for causing birth defects, but this isn’t the only migraine medication that can be dangerous during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant and suffer from migraines, these are some of the medications you absolutely must avoid:
Dangerous medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Although NSAIDs help safely reduce migraine pain during an attack, they have been shown to cause heart defects in fetuses during their development. Drugs like Advil or Motrin are off-limits during pregnancy — they just aren’t worth the risk.
Dangerous medications: Triptans
 A triptan is a migraine medication used to relieve swelling in the brain during a migraine attack, which doctors believe helps relieve headache pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. It works by narrowing the vessels in the brain.
Physicians worry that it can also cause the vessels in the fetus to narrow, which can damage the vessels leading to the spine. This can paralyze the fetus as it develops. These worries have not been scientifically proven, however, so it is unclear if triptans are dangerous during pregnancy.
Advice: Better safe than sorry. If you can avoid taking triptans, do so.
Dangerous medications: Acetaminophen combinations
This type of migraine medication contains acetaminophen, a pain-relieving drug, aspirin and caffeine. Caffeine helps speed up the pain-relieving action of acetaminophen.
Unfortunately, doctors worry that pregnant women may accidentally consume too much caffeine if they use acetaminophen combinations, which can be dangerous for the fetus. Aspirin has also been shown to increase the risk for bleeding during the third trimester of pregnancy, making it unsafe for pregnant women. However, acetaminophen itself is a safe medication for relieving migraine pain during pregnancy.
Dangerous medications: Migraine medications containing codeine
 A handful of migraine medications contain codeine, which in normal circumstances is safe to take. During pregnancy, however, codeine can be very dangerous.
According to one study, codeine has been associated with respiratory and heart defects in infants, with noted increases in cleft lip and hernias.
Other studies dispute these claims, however, putting the blame on other medications. Still, there may be the risk that these medications can cause these birth complications.
Dangerous medications: Beta-blockers
Like acetaminophen combinations, beta-blockers are effective for treating migraines, but they can be dangerous during pregnancy due to their effects on the fetus. The most common complication noted is a condition called neonatal hypoglycemia. Left untreated, it can cause seizures, heart failure and developmental problems. Neonatal hypoglycemia does not always produce symptoms.
So what medications are truly safe during pregnancy? Unfortunately, there appears to be few — resting, avoiding migraine triggers and using biofeedback are the most effective options here.
Tags: beta blockers, migraine medications, migraine triggers, migraines and pregnancy, NSAIDs, pregnancy migraines, side effects, triptans
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Friday, March 11th, 2011
Taking Topamax? New data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals that it may cause birth defects.
The findings, which were released on Friday, shows that pregnant women who take Topamax are 20 times more likely to experience birth defects, which include cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip and palate is a birth defect where the tissues of the roof of the mouth and upper lip do not join before birth.
 Although not life threatening, this birth defect can cause many complications later in life, including problems with speech, ear infections, and difficulty gaining weight. In serious instances, untreated cleft lip and palate can lead to hearing loss, cavities and facial deformities.
Topamax has responded to the FDA about this study, noting that they plan to work with them to develop clearer guidelines about its use during pregnancy.
This isn’t the first time that Topamax’s side effects have come under scrutiny. In December 2009, an Alabama man who killed a police officer during a routine traffic stop claims the effects of a migraine medication caused him to panic. Anxiety has been shown to be a side effect of preventative medications such as Topamax. The alleged murderer’s defense attorney is currently using this defense in trial — a defense dubbed by local television stations as a “migraine defense”, the first of its kind.
No health agency or organization has explained why Topamax may cause birth defects.
About Topamax
Topamax is a common epilepsy drug used to help people prevent migraine attacks. There is some anecdotal evidence that changes in estrogen levels can trigger migraines, which are common during pregnancy or menstruation.
When this occurs, estrogen can affect the neurotransmitters in the brain, which causes the blood vessels to shrink. This triggers a complex process where pain-promoting chemicals are released. Topamax works by calming the nerves that signal the brain is in pain. This can help women experience less attacks during pregnancy.
For pregnant women, this drug was a life saver for their constant migraines — many pain-relieving medications cannot be taken because of the risk for potential birth defects.
But with Topamax perceived as another possible cause of birth defects, many women may choose to live with their migraine pain instead. No alternatives have been suggested by the FDA.
Source: Reuters
Tags: birth defects, FDA, migraine medications, pregnancy and migraines, pregnancy migraines, Topomax
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Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
“Dancing on Ice” presenter Holly Willoughby has revealed that debilitating migraines were the reason for her absence on the show last week.
She was rushed to the hospital last Saturday following reports of severe migraines, which experts believe may be linked to her pregnancy.
Still, this did not stop the “Dancing on Ice” presenter from calling This Morning to discuss her absence.
“I just felt really unwell on Saturday so I went to the hospital to have some checks done,” the Daily Mail reports Willoughby saying. “And I’d managed to make myself quite anemic I think…and I think the headaches were because of that.”
 Photo credit: Sasha Wolff Willoughby’s case isn’t abnormal. Migraine headaches are common during pregnancy because of changes in estrogen levels–the hormone scientists say can trigger some migraines. It is not uncommon for women to begin experiencing migraines during the first few months of their pregnancy.
It appears the “Dancing on Ice” presenter did not begin to report these pregnancy migraines until this month, however–well into eight months into her pregnancy.
Doctors have reportedly put her on pain medications, but she is still being required to rest. Women who develop severe migraines during pregnancy usually recover quickly from the condition.
Why Pregnancy Migraines Occur
Unfortunately for Willoughby, migraines during pregnancy are not always preventable. This is because there currently isn’t a way to control the change in estrogen levels during pregnancy, which commonly occurs in the first few months following conception.
Estrogen plays a critical role in a person’s migraine management, experts say. When levels of this hormone change, it can affect the neurotransmitters in the brain. When the neurotransmitters are affected, it can shrink the size of the blood vessels going in and out of the brain. This causes pain-causing chemicals to release, triggering the familiar throbbing sensation of a migraine.
Other factors can also influence the risk for migraines during pregnancy. In Willoughby’s case, it was pregnancy-induced anemia, which has been known to trigger migraines. Scientists aren’t sure why this condition trigger them, but there is a connection.
Taking pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) or triptans may help reduce the pain of these pregnancy migraines in most cases. Rest can also help–a recommendation that Willoughby is following to the best of her ability.
Source: Daily Mail
Tags: celebrities, dancing on ice, migraine news, migraine treatments, migraines and pregnancy, migraines and women, news, pregnancy migraines
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Saturday, March 5th, 2011
Although a conclusive cause has not been identified, researchers believe that a woman’s hormones may be to blame for frequent migraine attacks — many studies have linked the female sex hormone estrogen to increased incidences of migraines.
 Photo credit: Simona Balint But why? Researchers believe that the fluctuation in estrogen levels can affect how neurotransmitters work in the brain, which in turn can affect how blood flows. Serotonin, a type of neurotransmitter, has been shown to affect the size of blood vessels during changes in estrogen levels.
Researchers theorize that the changes in vessel width and blood flow may trigger a migraine-like reaction in the brain by promoting the release of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins, when released, can cause your head to throb, a reaction you may familiar with if you are pregnant. The process continues as the levels of estrogen change. This can increase the frequency of migraines.
Major changes in estrogen only occur during puberty and pregnancy — many women first report experiencing migraines during the first months of their pregnancy. Although estrogen levels can change during a woman’s monthly cycle, the changes are not as drastic.
Estrogen isn’t the only factor here, however — a lack of sleep, irregular eating schedules and yes, added stress, can also add to a woman’s risk for pregnancy migraines. All of these factors can affect how the brain operates, which may trigger an unwanted attack. Getting enough sleep and eating regularly can help, but if you suffer from morning sickness, this may be impossible to do. Taking anti-nausea medications may help lessen its effects.
Some migraines still need to be treated, however — avoiding triggers may not always help. Most of the pain-relieving medications approved to treat migraines cannot be used by pregnant women due to the risk for birth defects. Some drugs can even increase a woman’s risk for a miscarriage.
So what drugs can pregnant women use? According to WebMD.com, acetaminophen — not acetaminophen combination drugs — are considered low-risk, and should be safe for both mother and baby. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs can also be used to treat migraine pain, but they can cause miscarriage if used near a woman’s conception date. Taking these drugs in the third trimester of pregnancy can also cause complications for the baby, and should be avoided.
Tags: estrogen, migraine treatments, migraines and estrogen, pregnancy, pregnancy migraine causes, pregnancy migraines, prostaglandins
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A triptan is a migraine medication used to relieve swelling in the brain during a migraine attack, which doctors believe helps relieve headache pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. It works by narrowing the vessels in the brain.
A handful of migraine medications contain codeine, which in normal circumstances is safe to take. During pregnancy, however, codeine can be very dangerous.
