- Migraine Canada™ - https://migrainecanada.org -

Treat migraine like the disease it is this Giving Tuesday

November 28, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For an estimated 12% (4.5 million) of Canadians, that’s society’s harsh judgment of people living with migraine. Join Migraine Canada as we recognize this disease for what it is. For some, migraine is disabling and debilitating, robbing them from daily life and the simple things people who live with migraine take for granted.

Migraine Canada needs Canadians’ support to help Canadians living with migraine and headache disorders receive diagnosis, treatment, and support so their quality of life is optimized. Canadians’ gifts will enable Migraine Canada to develop and maintain programs to provide support to people living with and afflicted by migraine.

Quote: “Migraine is a common misunderstood and disrespected disease. This is the time to end the stigma Canadians face on a daily basis and put migraine on the map.” Wendy Gerhart, Executive Director

Quote: ”Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, Neurologist & Board Chair of Migraine Canada.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) migraine is:

Migraine affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds. Its intensity, frequency, symptoms, triggers, and response to treatments are very diverse, and over one’s lifetime has a significant impact on work, family, and social activities. Despite its high prevalence and huge burden of disability and economic impact to our society, this invisible disease is often misunderstood, and trivialised compared to other chronic medical conditions. Funding for clinical care and research is only a small fraction of what it should be, considering its societal impact.

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Migraine Canada is a nationally-registered charity organization dedicated to improving the lives of all Canadians living with migraine and other headache disorders. Our vision is to see that all Canadians living with migraine and headache disorders are diagnosed, treated and supported so their quality of life is optimized. Learn more at migrainecanada.org

Media inquiries: Contact Wendy Gerhart at executivedirector@migrainecanada.org [1]

MIGRAINE CANADA LAUNCHES SECOND MOVE FOR MIGRAINE CANADA EVENT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND END MIGRAINE STIGMA

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TORONTO, ON JUNE 2, 2023 – Migraine Canada™️, is proud to announce the second Move for Migraine Canada event being held during Migraine Awareness month. This annual initiative aims to raise awareness, eliminate stigma and improve the lives of the 4.3 million Canadians affected by migraine and headache disorders. 

Migraine is a neurological disorder that affects individuals from all walks of life, regardless of gender or background. Despite its prevalence and debilitating impact there is currently no cure for the disease. People affected by migraine face stigmatization and the disease is not recognized as a valid disability. With 25% of Canadian households impacted by migraine, this leaves millions of people feeling misunderstood and isolated, contributing to anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders. 

In response to these challenges, Move for Migraine Canada was established as an awareness and fundraising campaign to unite communities across the country and support those impacted by migraine. Last year the event raised over $30,000 in donations providing improved educational opportunities, research and advocacy supporting the Canadian community. 

“The funds raised from last year have contributed to initiatives leading to improved access to new migraine treatments and our recently launched Canadian Migraine Disease Language Guide in collaboration with Migraine Quebec. Canadians affected by migraine need more supports.” Wendy Gerhart, Executive Director of Migraine Canada 


The Move for Migraine Canada event will span a week, from Sunday, June 18 to Sunday, June 25. This is the first year that the event will be a hybrid format, with options to participate virtually or by volunteer-led local meet up. Anyone interested in holding a local in-person meet up is encouraged to reach out to Programs Coordinator at programs@migrainecanada.org [2] .

Participants can show their support by engaging in various activities, such as running, walking, bicycling, swimming or simply relaxing in order to raise awareness, express solidarity and fundraise for Canadians living with migraine. 

Donations can be made via the Peer-to-Peer fundraising platform, either individually or as a team with family, friends and colleagues. Each participant will have the opportunity to share their unique fundraising page and personal stories to promote their fundraising goals. 

During the week of Move for Migraine Canada, landmarks across Canada such as Niagara Falls, The CN Tower and BC place will be illuminated in the colour purple in support of migraine awareness. The community is encouraged to capture the moment and share on social media with #Move4MigraineCanada #lightupformigraine

Move for Migraine was started because I saw a need for our voices to be heard, a need for education, and a need for community.Move for Migraine is more than just a fundraiser, it’s going to have a lasting impact on our community for years to come – Christina Sall, founder of Move for Migraine Canada

Teams and Donations can be made here: https://migrainecanada.org/moveformigraine2023/ [3] 

About Migraine Canada™️

Migraine Canada™️ is a registered charity supporting the fight against stigma for all Canadians living with migraine and related headache conditions. 

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To learn more, visit  https://migrainecanada.org/moveformigraine2023/ [3] 
 Media Contact:  Alexandra Morinello / Social@migrainecanada.org [4]

Kens Life With Cluster Headaches -The Importance of Knowledgeable Support

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Ken, now 63 years old, has decided to share his story of the debilitating lifelong impacts of his cluster headaches. For the past 20 years, Ken has experienced attacks with little answers or solutions to his pain. His condition is episodic and the duration of his attacks differs from one attack to another. When the attacks began, Ken’s headaches were only experienced once a year.  Since then, his longest attack lasted 2 years. His most recent attack lasted 7 weeks. 

Working to Understand his Condition 

Ken describes his pain as similar to what someone feels when eating something cold and getting a “brain freeze.” The pain is sharp, in his temple or forehead, behind his right eye. In detail, Ken explains that his headaches feel like a “flip of a switch,” with a sudden onset of pain on the right side of his head. His cluster headaches only start at night, which impacts his ability to fall and remain asleep. 

 Working to Understand the Triggers

As the severity of his headaches is not linear, Ken records his attacks on a scale of Bad, Very Bad, Very Very Bad, and Very Very Very Bad. Through the use of this scale, Ken strives to build a correlation between the attacks to identify possible triggers and from there, identify potential solutions.  Unfortunately, he has not been successful in determining any links. 

Impacts of his Cluster Headaches: Barriers

Cluster headaches have significantly impacted Ken’s personal life- his relationships and his employment. The severity of his attacks is extreme, and he is unable to be around anyone during an attack. His relationship with his wife and friends has been impacted because he has had to cancel plans with loved ones.  Although Ken is currently retired, when he was employed his flare-ups at night meant that he wasn’t able to sleep, which impacted his productivity at his job.  

 Ken believes his support gaps are due to the inaccessibility of the healthcare system and the lack of understanding his physician has for cluster headaches. Ken noted that his doctor has offered little support, with the only treatment recommendations resulting in intolerable side effects. Ken feels alone and solely responsible to do his own research to understand his condition.  He believes that because physicians do not understand the severity of cluster headaches, they do not place any urgency on providing support. He has been waiting months to get confirmation of a CAT Scan, and because he is currently experiencing a flare-up, feels the urgency to get the scan now or otherwise miss the opportunity to better understand his condition. Once this flare-up ends, it cannot be predicted when it will happen again, and will be unlikely that the scan will coincide with the next episode.  

Current forms of Support: Medications, Treatments and Coping Mechanisms 

Despite the lack of support, Ken has worked hard to understand his condition. He has tried multiple forms of medication, treatments and coping mechanisms. Over the last 20 years of living with his condition, Ken has found only one medication that has worked for him. This is oxygen therapy.  When he feels an attack, Ken uses his machine. In his case, he uses two oxygen tanks combined (20L) for 10-20 minutes to feel better. Ken stresses the immediate relief and that oxygen therapy reduces the duration of his attacks, allowing him a brief sense of relief and the ability to sleep. As Ken is unable to stay still during these attacks, another coping mechanism he has is to rock back and forth, rubbing the sides of his head.  This has also been effective in relieving some of the pain he experiences. 

Ken’s Note to You

In working towards overcoming these attacks, Ken stresses the support of oxygen therapy and urges individuals experiencing cluster headaches to look into using this as a treatment option. Ken believes there needs to be more research on cluster headaches.  This is important for both individuals experiencing cluster headaches and the healthcare system to become more knowledgeable on the impacts of this condition, how to support individuals experiencing these attacks, and effective treatment options.

 

 

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Life with Cluster Headaches – Karen’s Story

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Karen has been living with cluster headaches and experiencing their debilitating effects for more than 18 years. Despite the employment and social barriers she has faced, Karen has not let her diagnosis control her life. In sharing her story, Karen hopes to connect with others who experience, or have experienced, cluster headaches and help to build greater awareness, understanding, and support. 

Karen’s Cluster Headache Experience 

Karen’s experience with cluster headaches began when she was 25 years old. At the age of 43, she still lives with them.  Karen explains her cluster headaches to be severely debilitating and painful, with the condition feeling like a “one-sided headache” in and around her eyes that feels like an “almost stabbing pain.” The cluster headaches come on suddenly.  During an attack, Karen feels extremely agitated and unable to remain still without worsening the pain of the attack. The attack is visible, as her face becomes red on the side of the attack, and her eye is teary and squinty. Karen describes the condition of her eye to be in a state of ptosis.

As the attacks became more frequent and increased in severity, Karen worked to understand the possible triggers in order to potentially avoid a flare-up of her attacks. She was able to identify consuming alcohol as a trigger and gave up drinking alcohol to reduce the attacks.  She still has cluster headaches, and has not been able to determine other possible triggers.  

Barriers Leading to Ineffective Cluster Headache Treatment 

Since her first encounter with cluster headaches, Karen has been seeking effective treatments to alleviate her attacks. She has tried many treatments recommended by doctors and peers, including massage and chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. Karen has not been able to find the “right doctor”, someone who is experienced and knowledgeable in the treatment of cluster headaches. This has been extremely frustrating.  Karen believes her rural location has contributed to the difficulty of finding a knowledgeable doctor who truly understands her attacks and would be able to help her. 

Karen has also endured gender prejudices in the healthcare system, and has been told that “women can not have cluster headaches”.  These barriers have left Karen feeling that she is alone in trying to understand her condition. 

Success in Cluster Headache Treatment

Over the years, Karen has gained a better understanding of her cluster headaches, and continues to work towards finding effective treatments. Her treatment programs of monthly Emgality injections, high flow oxygen, and Sumatriptan injections helps to prevent attacks. She has also generated strategies to help her cope when an attack occurs. These include always keeping her medications in arms reach, keeping an oxygen tank at her work and in her home, and educating her peers in all areas of her life about how they can support during an attack. Karen also keeps a card on her at all times that explains her cluster headaches, what to do in the situation of an attack, which allows strangers to support her. 

Cluster Headache Impacts

Karen’s condition has impacted every aspect of her life.  Prior to enduring cluster headaches she was working as a farmer and was able to successfully complete her work tasks. Because of the frequency and intensity of her attacks, she became unable to keep up with her work on the farm. The pain and exhaustion forced Karen to scale back her work.  However, with the success of her new treatment regime, Karen has resumed her work on the farm and has been able to become a part time pastor. 

Karen’s condition has also affected relationships with her family and friends. Karen and her partner have two children together and she is grateful to have a supportive family. However, Karen’s family are impacted when she has an attack, and they experience stress, depression and anxiety as a result of witnessing Karen in extreme amounts of pain. 

Power of Support, Perseverance, and Love

Cluster headaches are truly a debilitating and difficult condition to live with, impacting all  aspects of an individual’s life. Karen’s decision to share her story was made in the effort to create awareness on the impact of cluster headaches and to help generate a more knowledgeable and educated society. Karen wants to advocate for dismantling the gender biases that exist within the healthcare system and to create equality in cluster headache diagnosis. Karen hopes her story highlights the importance of a strong personal community of support as part of your treatment plan.  

 

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MIGRAINE CANADA™ RECEIVES CHARITABLE STATUS, COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING MORE CANADIANS IMPACTED BY MIGRAINE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MIGRAINE CANADA™ RECEIVES CHARITABLE STATUS, COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING MORE CANADIANS IMPACTED BY MIGRAINE

TORONTO, ON Nov. 24, 2022 – Migraine Canada™ has officially received charitable status and has a solid strategy in place to help the 4.3 MILLION Canadians living with chronic migraine and other headache conditions.

Founded  in 2019, Migraine Canada™ continues to build and support the community with a mission to help all Canadians living with migraine and related headache conditions get the support they need and live a full life. The support is currently limited due to a lack in understanding and negative stigma surrounding headache and Migraine. The stigma that stems from limited social understanding of migraine symptoms becomes harmful to those living with chronic pain, limited resources and support.

Many living with Chronic Migraine are unable to be productive in the workplace or maintain employment. For many, the ability to live a productive life is difficult or impossible which can lead to isolation, loneliness, unpredictability and contributes to struggles with anxiety and depression.

Migraine Canada™ is on a mission to fight this harmful stigma through Education, Awareness and Advocacy. 

Currently, through the support of sponsors and donors Migraine Canada™ is working to build an informed and empowered community by providing; 

This is the first year that Migraine Canada™ will participate in the annual Giving Tuesday Campaign in an effort to raise awareness and solicit donations to support: 

“Your donation directly supports the work we do to educate and advocate on behalf of the community. Every dollar raised allows us to advance our mission for people to optimize their quality of life living with an incurable neurological condition.” – Wendy Gerhart, executive Director of Migraine Canada™

Donate here: https://ww.canadahelps.org/en/charities/migraine-canada/p2p/givingtuesday2022/ [6]

About Migraine Canada™

Migraine Canada™ is a registered charity supporting the fight against stigma for all Canadians living with acute and chronic migraine; and related headache conditions. 

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To learn more visit www.MigraineCanada.org. 
 Media Contact:  Alexandra Morinello / Social@migrainecanada.org [4]

Finding Relief After 30 Years of Migraine – Cathy’s story

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Cathy has been living with migraine for over 30 years. A few weeks ago, I spoke with her about her long and difficult experience with migraine. She shared her story, hoping it would help others with migraine remain hopeful about finding pain relief.

Dealing with migraine-induced brain fog on the job

Over the years, Cathy has noticed changes in her migraine condition. It began as a debilitating pain behind the eyes. She did not have aura but mentioned that her body would feel strange, so she could sense an oncoming migraine attack. Later, she developed a pain in her neck which preceded the migraine.

Although it was so painful, Cathy did her best to push through it and avoid taking time off from her job as an accountant. With a job that demands such a high level of focus, it was near impossible to get through the day with migraine-induced brain fog. Migraine also affected Cathy’s self-confidence and esteem at work. During meetings when Cathy was having a migraine attack, she felt anxious about how her coworkers would perceive her and wanted to ensure that she was still able to respond in an intelligent manner.

Unsuccessful search for effective migraine treatment

Before 2019, Cathy’s search for an effective migraine treatment was unsuccessful despite visits to the neurologist since the early 90s. Cathy had tried numerous physician-prescribed treatments and various alternative therapies including scalp acupuncture, magnetic therapy, and craniosacral therapy. Nothing was truly effective. So, Cathy sought relief from migraine with sumatriptan and used about 18 tablets per month. Although Cathy was concerned about the side effects of her sumatriptan usage, the frequent migraine attacks left her no choice.

“A miracle” that gave Cathy her life back

At this point, when Cathy had almost accepted that she would live with this pain for the entirety of her life, she found a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist that worked for her. When she first started this medication in 2019, she experienced only 54 migraine attacks that year. In 2020, Cathy had 38 migraine attacks. Now, in 2022, she has only experienced 3 migraine attacks despite going through a stressful move. For Cathy, the CGRP receptor antagonist became more effective over time and was “a miracle” that gave her “her life back.”

Managing migraine through a pregnancy 

The only time prior to beginning the CGRP receptor antagonist where Cathy was able to have some relief from migraine was during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of her pregnancy. During her pregnancy, Cathy was taking multiple sumatriptans monthly for pain relief. Although there is no evidence that the two events are linked, Cathy struggled with immense guilt when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer. It was heartbreaking to hear how Cathy felt guilty for doing her best to manage her condition during a pregnancy.

Cathy was also on antidepressants. Every time she went to pick up her medication, the pharmacist would have to speak with her to let her know that there was an interaction between the antidepressants and the triptans Cathy took. However, Cathy did not have a choice, she needed both medications.

From my conversation with Cathy, I also learned that she was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago. After hearing about the numerous challenges, she has faced in life, I was in awe of her strength and ability to overcome these difficulties.

From anxiety and guilt to advocacy and hope

Migraine truly is a debilitating condition that has an immense impact on every aspect of someone’s life. The feelings of anxiety and guilt are only a small part of the psychological effects of this chronic condition.

When I asked Cathy what she hoped the readers of this article will take away, she expressed her desire for others to remain hopeful that they will one day find a treatment that helps alleviate their pain.

She also wants to advocate for those who may benefit from CGRP receptor antagonists but cannot afford it. Cathy’s medication is covered by insurance, but she recognizes that the cost is prohibitive for those without benefits. She hopes that one day it will be made more affordable in the future.

 

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“Everybody else who has migraine will stand with you and support you” – Zach, a 9-year-old living with migraine

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I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Zach in February. Zach is 9 years old and currently in fourth grade. He loves completing crosswords, watching TV shows, and reading.

However, Zach’s migraine condition heavily affects his ability to enjoy these activities. Reading is one of the triggers for Zach’s migraine attacks.

Although he is an active kid and enjoys playing soccer outside, excess exposure to the sun is another trigger for the attacks, which are more frequent in the summer than in the winter. Rainy weather can also cause the attacks.

The numerous triggers have led to Zach having to miss out on reading time, activities at camp, and fun with friends. However, he does everything in his power to make the best of migraine-free days and he has plenty of friends!

Zach began experiencing migraine attacks one or two times a week when he was 5 years old. They were extremely painful, nauseating, and Zach would feel cold yet feverish. The stomach pains that were a part of these attacks were also difficult to endure. Fortunately, Zach has an immensely supportive family and school community.

To better communicate the severity of the migraine attacks to his family, they developed a colour-coded system: green means manageable, yellow means difficult, and red is when the pain is so bad Zach needs to lie down or leave school.

During parent-teacher meetings at the beginning of the year, Zach’s parents discuss his needs with the teachers, so they are very accommodating of when he needs to go to the office to lie down. Zach’s migraine condition leads to him missing out on a lot of school and affects his ability to focus on his studies.

To manage his migraine, Zach follows a schedule that other fourth graders may think is quite strict. He takes numerous daily vitamins, supplements, and always starts his day with a glass of orange juice. He also follows a healthy diet and makes sure to stay hydrated to reduce the likelihood of a migraine attack occurring.

Pain relieving medications are a last resort because Zach’s family learned that frequent use of such medications can lead to phantom headaches. Throughout the interview, Zach emphasized his desire to try and deal with his migraine condition by himself first before turning to medication.

As a 9-year-old experiencing migraine, Zach is very strong.

His story highlights how valuable daily activities are to people living with migraine. Although migraine has affected every aspect of Zach’s life including school, sports, camps and hanging out with friends, Zach remains a cheerful and kind individual.

When asked what he would want to tell others living with migraine, he said, “you are not alone because everybody else who has migraine will stand with you and support you.”

 

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Jaidyn’s Diligent Approach to Her Migraine Attacks

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Imagine the sides of your forehead pinching in while pain radiates across your entire face. That’s how Jaidyn’s extreme migraine attacks felt.  And they started when she was just in 4th grade!

Jaidyn had trouble falling asleep due to the frequency and severity of the migraine attacks. Her ability to focus while at school was significantly impacted – a major barrier to learning.

 

Managing the symptoms

On days when her migraine attacks were at their worst, the only relief Jaidyn found was when she closed her eyes and laid down in a room with the lights off. Jaidyn also found she could manage the symptoms with cold drinks, an ice pack on the forehead, or a peppermint stick. However, these were not long-term solutions.

 

Investigating the triggers

Jaidyn and her family decided to visit the doctor, who recommended that they investigate how her diet affected the frequency of her migraine attacks. Jaidyn began omitting certain foods for four weeks at a time to examine their impact on her overall life and performance in school.

The process involved a lot of frustrating trial and error, but over a few months, Jaidyn had cut out eggs, red food colouring and dairy.

Eliminating dairy, in particular, seemed to significantly improve the severity and frequency of Jaidyn’s migraine condition. She felt so much better; she was never tempted to have dairy again.

 

Food sensitivity test

Although her condition had improved, Jaidyn continued to look for solutions because the attacks had not wholly subsided.

Accompanied by her parents, she visited a food specialist, who administered a food sensitivity test. The test was able to identify many other foods like gluten, soy, tomatoes, and certain types of berries that contributed to migraine attacks. This experience helped Jaidyn realize the vital role of diet in one’s health.

Jaidyn is currently doing well in university and plays sports at a high level. She still experiences migraine on rare occasion, but her diligence and methodical approach to adapting her diet has genuinely paid off. Now that Jaidyn is older and drinks coffee, she has found that coffee is a helpful tool to help with migraine.
           

Finding a path to improvement – patience is key

When I asked Jaidyn what advice she would give to others in a similar position, she said patience is key in finding what works for you.

It may be frustrating for those with migraine caused by food sensitivities to identify the triggers, but being diligent will be rewarding. She hopes that anyone who experiences migraine can find ways to improve their current state.

 

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Mastermind

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Physicians receive little training on migraine in medical school. The Canadian Headache Society (CHS) [8] has developed an accredited online-learning platform on advancing migraine management in primary care. The program has been certified by the College of Family physicians of Canada. All physicians in Canada are required to complete a certain number of accredited learning each year! 

YOU can play a role in improving migraine care in Canada by sharing information on the Mastermind program with your doctor (and clinic staff). You don’t need to feel awkward. You have the right to provide information that will further education on migraine with the healthcare professionals trying to help you manage your condition.

One last thing….in mastermind, learners are taught to never tell patients to give up, since so many options for treatments are now available. That is a crucial concept for our community!  

The mastermind self-learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 8 Mainpro+ credits.

This program was supported in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Allergan (an Abbvie company), Eli Lilly Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada and Teva Canada. 

The PDF Dr Leroux is refering to in the video is availble here [9].

The Pain No One Sees – Genia Kuypers shares her story

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Genia Kuypers is a 28-year-old writer and chronic illness advocate. She studied at the University of Toronto, and later completed a post-graduate degree in broadcast journalism at Humber College. She can be found on Instagram at @geniakuypers. Below is a piece written by Genia about her journey with vestibular migraine.

Genia:

I don’t think I have a specific memory of my first headache or migraine. I somehow always remember having them be a part of my life. When I was in elementary school they weren’t as bad. They were less frequent and not always as strong in severity. I could sleep them off and stay in a dark room until the pain was over.

The older I got the more that changed. The harder they were to deal with, the more frequent and the stronger the attacks became. And I had no idea what to do. My parents didn’t have migraine, so they didn’t know what to do. And medicine wasn’t what it is now.

I remember one of the first times I was unable to stand up to walk to the bathroom from my bed during a particularly painful migraine attack. I stood up and instantly felt this shooting pain in one side of my head. The pain only intensified as I walked. The pressure change my head felt from just standing up was excruciating. That was the first time I crawled around my house because of my migraine pain. I crawled to the bathroom and back. Sometimes not even standing up to climb back into bed. The pain was so bad I would sleep on the floor.

This carried on into high school. I started taking ibuprofen frequently just to get through a migraine attack. School was difficult. The fluorescent lights weren’t kind to my eyes.

Between the hormonal changes and increase in pelvic pain, my migraines were pushed off as being hormonal or just something I had to deal with. I’ve learned that many things in medicine are pushed off as being caused by hormones or have been attributed to my Endometriosis or mental health.

I was never sent to a neurologist or given an MRI or CT scan. I was 23 before I was ever referred to a neurologist. He quickly decided that, because I was a cis woman, the treatments he prescribed to all of his female patients would automatically work for me as well. The medication gave me restless legs and stopped me from sleeping for three days, but to him that was okay. To him those side effects were manageable. Because I refused to stay on the medication, he dropped me as a patient. I was told I was “difficult”.

The next neurologist I saw referred me to a migraine clinic after realizing I’d already tried all the typical meds, blood pressure meds, seizure meds, anything that had even the slightest possibility of reducing the frequency of migraines. Supplements, chiropractic adjustments, ice, rest, dietary changes. None of them worked. I was too complicated for him with my medication, allergies and general caution with medication. I was prone to side effects and allergies. My body has always been very reactive.

By the time I was 24, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and prescribed a low dose birth control as a treatment. I spent 8 days vomiting and enduring the worst migraine I’d ever had. I took Gravol multiple times a day that week but spent most of the time vomiting into a garbage bin at work anyways.

I was allergic to synthetic estrogen. Like many people with migraine or migraine with aura, estrogen can cause an increase in migraines and other complications.

The severity of my Endometriosis led my gynecologist to prescribe me a progesterone medication to stop ovulation. The theory that my migraine was hormonally tied didn’t seem to matter. My migraine attacks were put on the back burner once again. That is, until they became daily.

My worry was that the progesterone med was causing the daily migraines. It was a known side effect of hormonal medication, and because of my history of side effects it seemed like a possibility. But the progesterone was for endometriosis, so I was instructed to stay on it for as long as possible.

I spent a year and a half on that medication. The last 6 months were the worst. I could barely sit up for long periods of time before my neck and head pain would increase. Then the heat came. It felt like someone had pushed hot air into my skull and it was going to explode.

With the heat and neck pain came the nausea. By now I was on medication for nausea, as well as the progesterone medication.

My migraines became daily and never stopped. The headaches never went away. I don’t even remember what it is like to wake up and not have pain in my head or neck.

I took a break from dealing with my headaches and migraines because other aspects of my health began to decline. A part of me was resigned to the idea that this pain may never go away.

A few months ago, while I was scrolling through TikTok, I came across a neurological chiropractor. Someone that took a more comprehensive view of migraines and headaches. A doctor that agreed everything was a bandaid and the root cause was being missed. That the standard of care, while not harmful, was not effective enough.

I fell through the cracks.

I found a neurological chiropractor close to me and for the first time my migraines had part of an explanation. The nausea and dizziness and neck pain were because my migraines had become vestibular migraines, not just chronic migraines. The testing that I went through was what I have been looking for my whole life. Instead of passing me off as being someone prone to migraines, this doctor wanted to find a cause.

I’d like to say that my migraine journey is over, but it’s not. The pain is not gone and I’m still missing pieces of the puzzle, but I have one more piece than I did before. And hopefully one day I’ll have rest.

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An Advocate for those living with migraine: Christina Sall

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I met with Christina Sall over Zoom a few weeks ago. She is a student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and advocate for affordable medication for migraineurs. Christina has suffered from migraine since she was five years old. It runs in the family, affecting both her mother and grandmother. Her family understood how migraine can affect an individual’s entire life. Christina’s migraine attacks became more frequent in her teenage years: progressing from monthly to weekly and, eventually, daily. She mentioned she sleeps with an icepack on her head every night because it eased the pain from the migraine attacks. Christina had to be prepared for a migraine attack at any time, generating massive amounts of anxiety. The depression that is associated with many chronic conditions also affected Christina. She had lost friends because they were not able to understand the lifestyle changes necessitated by migraine. Thankfully, she has a very supportive family, friend group, and significant other.

Christina had been admitted into a competitive nursing program in 2016, but her migraine condition began to overwhelm her body and affect her ability to focus on school. She was either suffering from a migraine or working through the dulling side effects of medication. Two years into her nursing program, Christina became too sick to continue. This was devastating for her because it had taken a lot of hard work to gain admission and she had hoped to finish her nursing degree. Christina had no choice but to leave the program and instead returned to finish her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minoring in counselling, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Christina had tried many different approaches to managing her migraine attacks. She participated in various drug trials for migraine and has been admitted to the emergency room due to severe side effects. She began using Aimovig in March 2019, and it has changed her life. About three months after starting Aimovig, her migraine frequency decreased to once in every three months. It made an incredible difference. Christina has joined nursing school again, this time at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and is currently achieving straight A’s throughout her semesters. Counsellors at Christina’s school suggested she make use of their accessibility services, a possibility her previous nursing program had never provided. The accessibility services gave Christina the accommodations necessary to work around migraine. They understood that testing a student while they are suffering from a migraine does not generate results that are reflective of their capabilities. With Aimovig and the flexibility of her class schedule, Christina has been successful in school.

Over the past few years, Christina has been fighting for provincial coverage of Aimovig. For an individual paying out of pocket, Aimovig would cost about six hundred dollars a month. Christina understands the impact that a drug like Aimovig could have on some individuals and is advocating for it to be more affordable with the help of the province.

From speaking with Christina, it is clear that making Aimovig affordable could drastically change the lives of many migraineurs. For some, it would make returning to school or work a possibility. She believes that migraine medication should be more accessible as chronic pain is so disabling. Christina is also a great advocate for many students with migraine. Accessibility services and counselling could provide a great amount of support for migraineurs who are struggling with school. Christina continues to fight for people suffering with migraine and hopes that her advocacy will shed light on the impact migraine has on this population and what we can do to help.

Sharing your voice can help you and others in the migraine community find support and a path to improvement.

Share your story >> [7]

gammaCore Sapphire Device for Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Migraine

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In Devices and Neuromodulation,News | Comments Disabled

What is it?

The gammaCore Sapphire device is a hand-held device that the patient uses to stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck. 

How is it used? 

The device is held against the side of the neck on the side on which the patient has the most headache, and an electrical current stimulates the vagus nerve through the skin.

What can it be used for?

It can be used to treat individual migraine attacks [10].  For this, it is now recommended that patients stimulate just one side of the neck with 2 two-minute stimulations, starting at pain onset.  These can be repeated in 20 minutes if there has been no improvement.

It can also be used for migraine prevention [11].  For this, it is recommended to use 2 two-minute stimulations on one side only and do this three times a day.  Stimulation should always be on the same side, and the first stimulation should be done within one hour of awakening.

Does it work?

Treating a migraine attack

It works for some people but not everybody.  In a clinical research trial with 243 people with migraine, half got the real stimulation, and half received a “fake” stimulation (placebo).  30.4 % of people who received the real stimulation were pain-free two hours later, while only 19.7 % of people who got the fake stimulation were pain free.

40.8 % of people who got the real stimulation had their headaches reduced to mild headache or no headache by two hours, while 27.6 % of those who received the fake stimulation were reduced to mild or no headache.

Migraine prevention

In the most recent study, with 113 people, which has not been fully published yet, 45% of patients who received the real stimulation had a reduction of 50% or more in the number of migraine days they had per month.  This compared to 27% of people who received the “fake” stimulation.

Are there side-effects?

People experience few side-effects.  Discomfort and rash at the place where the stimulator is applied have been reported, and dizziness.

How much does gammaCore cost?

The cost of the 31 day Starter Kit is $655. CDN (up to 30 stimulations of 2 minutes per day). The new price is $650 CAD for 93 days of therapy (down from $975 CDN). Additionally, on your first order, you can quote “10% direct” for a 10% discount on that price.

Is gammaCore covered by insurance companies?

gammaCore is not covered by public payers. Coverage by private payers needs to be explored, but cannot be guaranteed.

Where can I get more information?

The Sapphire system and support is available directly through ElectroCore. Email the company directly to learn how to order:

 

 

REFERENCES

1.         Diener HC, Goadsby PJ, Ashina M, Al-Karagholi MA, Sinclair A, Mitsikostas D, et al. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine: The multicentre, double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled PREMIUM trial. Cephalalgia. 2019;39(12):1475-87.

2.         Tassorelli C, Grazzi L, de Tommaso M, Pierangeli G, Martelletti P, Rainero I, et al. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation as acute therapy for migraine: The randomized PRESTO study. Neurology. 2018;91(4):e364-e73.

3.         Johnson RL, Wilson CG. A review of vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic intervention. J Inflamm Res. 2018;11:203-13.

Post#1002

Gepants: preventives AND an acute treatment for migraine

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In Acute Treatment | Comments Disabled

I heard about gepants, Nurtec, Ubrevly…what are these new medications?  

First, let’s say that “gepant” is the name of a class, or a family of medications, a bit like “triptan” or “anti-inflammatory”. At present time, there are three members of this family available in the US: 

We did publish a webinar on gepants that you can find HERE [13].

How do gepants work? What is CGRP?

Briefly put, CGRP is a protein we all have in our bodies. This protein plays a role in migraine, and that is based on very strong scientific research. Gepants block the CGRP receptor, and by doing this blocks the migraine mechanisms. So we can call gepants “CGRP antagonists” or “blockers”.

Are gepants acute or preventive treatments? 

The most unique thing about gepants is that they can be used for the treatment of the attacks (Ubrogepant, Rimegepant), AND/OR for prevention (Atogepant, Rimegepant). That’s a new reality for migraine therapy. 

Up until now, acute treatments were taken as needed for the attack, and preventives were taken every day (for pills) to decrease the frequency of attacks. As a rule, acute medications were limited to 10-15 days per month due to the risk of medication overuse headache [14]. With gepants, these concepts do not apply. 

Does that mean that gepants do not cause medication overuse headaches if they can be used every day as preventive therapy? 

At the present time, experts and researchers think that gepants do not cause medication-overuse headaches. That means that someone with frequent migraines could use gepants to treat attacks, and if the gepant is taken frequently, it could have a preventive effect. Indeed, trials have demonstrated that atogepant and rimegepant are beneficial for migraine prevention; thus, it seems highly unlikely that their regular use would increase headache frequency.

Are gepants effective to treat a migraine attack?

Yes. Gepants can be effective to treat migraine attacks. But, as always, not for everyone.It has been observed that gepants are more effective if they are taken early during the attack. Ubrogepant has been shown to be effective when taken during the prodrome.

Are gepants better than triptans? 

People respond differently to different medications. Triptans [15] seem to be effective for more people, but they also may have more side effects [16] than gepants. When a person evaluates a treatment, it’s always a balance between effectiveness and side effects.

Do gepants constrict blood vessels (triptans do)

One advantage of gepants is that they do NOT constrict arteries. That means they could be used by people with cardiovascular disease (history of heart disease or stroke) or vascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, etc.). Always discuss contra-indications with your health care provider.

Are gepants effective for the prevention of migraine? 

Atogepant and rimegepant have been studied for migraine prevention with positive results.
Roughly 50 to 60% of people who try a gepant for prevention will improve by 50% or more.
A third of people who try will get a super-response (75% better). These
results are better than what has been seen with older oral preventives.

 

What are the side effects of taking atogepant or rimegepant every day as a preventive treatment?

Side effects reported in the studies were nausea, fatigue, and constipation. 

Side effects reported in the studies include nausea, fatigue, and constipation. Overall, gepants are likely better tolerated than older oral preventives. However, they are newer, and long-term observations are still ongoing

Are gepants available in Canada? 

Yes. In 2023 Ubrogepant and Atogepant have been approved in Canada. Rimegepant is
expected to be approved in Canada in 2024. It is possible that a primary care provider
will not be aware of these new treatments. Medical education on migraine for health
care providers is available through the Canadian Headache Society [17](Mastermind Program

Are gepants covered by drug plans?

We will refer you to the Coverage section of our website and to other sources since the
facts on coverage evolve quickly.

Related: See our webinar on DRUG COVERAGE IN CANADA: HOW MEDICATIONS REACH YOUR MEDICINE CABINET [18]

Stay tuned for more information! 

REFERENCES

Feeling Like a Fraud: Steven’s Story

Posted By Rachel Jing-Lin Lu On In Stories | Comments Disabled

I had the pleasure of speaking with Steven Smith, a 58-year-old salesman from North Vancouver, British Columbia. He had heard of Migraine Canada™ from the radio and reached out to us to participate in this series.

When the migraines first began, Steven believed they were bad headaches stemming from a blocked nasal passage. He visited an ENT specialist who then referred him to a neurologist. After a few MRIs, Steven was diagnosed with migraine. Since then, Steven visits his neurologist every 6 months for a checkup. Steven stressed that his experience with his neurologist has been nothing short of fantastic, but he also felt that the appointments were pointless. There was no magic cure for migraine. Every appointment is a source of guilt for Steven, who feels that he is taking up the neurologist’s time to complain.

Steven’s family were excited when they heard about Aimovig, believing it would immensely improve the situation. However, much to his family’s disappointment, Steven’s frequency of migraine did not warrant Aimovig injections, a solution that was incredibly expensive anyway.

Steven suffers from migraine for about 5 days a month. They are not continuous and seem to happen randomly. Like many individuals, he feels strange for a few days following the migraine and may have a headache that lasts 2-3 days. He is unsure of the triggers of his migraine, but he suspects lack of sleep, and the weather are potential contributors.

When Steven has a migraine, he is too nauseous to work properly. On top of that, migraine makes it impossible for Steven to find motivation, a necessity for a salesman. Migraine has greatly affected Steven’s relationship with his wife. It is more difficult for him to be present and be happy. Many people around him do not acknowledge his suffering as an explanation for being irritable during a migraine attack because his pain cannot be seen. He finds that his friends and family struggle with recognizing the recovery period that follows a migraine attack and expect him to be completely fine after a nap. Steven is not very open about his experience with migraine because previous interactions with others have been less than sympathetic.

Unlike other migraineurs, Steven began having migraine attacks in his 40s. He also does not have aura or other characteristic symptoms of migraine such as sensitivity to light. These factors have led to Steven feeling like “a fraud”. Steven has not reached out to other migraine sufferers online because he feels his condition is not as severe as others. Steven also expressed that feeling like an imposter furthers his guilt and depression. He believes that his migraine is less severe than others and thus does not deserve the neurologist’s time. He feels as though he complains too much and feels hopeless about the outcomes of his visits.

Steven wakes up and hopes that he won’t have a migraine and remains helpless to it, resulting in a cycle of anxiety and depression.

Steven’s story highlights the immense impact that migraine can have on an individual’s life. Although he does not have chronic migraine, migraine has affected every aspect of his life. His mental wellbeing has suffered because of the psychological stress of this condition. His experience reminds us that every migraineurs pain is valid and feeling a fraud can lead to decreased outreach for support.

 

 

Sharing your voice can help you and others in the migraine community find support and a path to improvement.

Share your story >> [7]

Canadian Update: Lasmiditan (Reyvow™ in the US) will not be coming to Canada

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In News | Comments Disabled

An announcement was recently made that lasmiditan, a new medication for the treatment of migraine attacks, developed by Eli Lilly, will not be available in Canada.

This news was disappointing as more options are always welcome and needed for people with migraine.

Lasmiditan acts on serotonin receptors, similar to the well-known triptans. It is different from triptans because it targets a different serotonin receptor (5HT1F to be precise, triptans target 5HT1B/D). One key advantage of lasmiditan is that it does not constrict arteries (triptans do), and could have been an option for some people who cannot use triptans due to cardiovascular issues (stroke, heart disease).

We have attached a link to the Regulatory Decision Summary issued by Health Canada outlining the reasons the submission to Health Canada was cancelled.  As a reminder, Health Canada evaluates all new medications based on scientific research on efficacy and safety.

Click here to read the regulatory decision summary. [19]

The paragraph of interest reads as following:

«At the time of cancellation, the review of the submission was complete. Health Canada did not identify any deficiencies in the data packages that would have precluded issuing an approval. However, Health Canada and the sponsor could not reach agreement on the interpretation of the cardiovascular data and resulting content in the Product Monograph. The sponsor made the decision to cancel the submission before a negative decision could be issued by Health Canada.»

What does that mean? We can assume that Health Canada intended to include restrictions regarding cardiovascular safety that Eli Lilly, the maker of lasmiditan, did not agree with. Interpreting scientific data is not an easy task!

In the end, this is unfortunate. Still, other new acute treatments are on the way, including the gepants (stay tuned for a review of this new class).

This remains a hopeful time for Canadians living with migraine. Research is the way forward for new treatments!

Written: June 2021

gammaCore Sapphire Device for Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Migraine

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In News | Comments Disabled

What is it? The gammaCore SapphireTM (nVNS)  is a hand-held device that the patient uses to stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck.  The vagus nerve is an important highway of communication between the body and the brain and plays an important role in regulating pain.

How is it used?  The device is held against the side of the neck on the side on which the patient has the most headache. The gammaCore delivers a 2-minute, gentle electrical stimulation that activates the vagus nerve. gammaCore is self-administered and the patient can increase or decrease the stimulation intensity to a comfortable level.

What can it be used for?

It can be used to treat individual migraine attacks.  For this, it is now recommended that patients stimulate just one side of the neck with 2 two-minute stimulations, starting at pain onset.  These can be repeated in 20 minutes if there has been no improvement.

It can also be used for migraine prevention.  For this, it is recommended to use 2 two-minute stimulations on one side only and do this three times a day.  Stimulation should always be on the same side, and the first stimulation should be done within one hour of awakening.

Does it work?

Treating a migraine attack

It works for some people but not everybody.  In a clinical research trial with 243 people with migraine, half got the real stimulation, and half received a “fake” stimulation (placebo).  30.4 % of people who received the real stimulation were pain-free two hours later, while only 19.7 % of people who got the fake stimulation were pain free.

40.8 % of people who got the real stimulation had their headaches reduced to mild headache or no headache by two hours, while 27.6 % of those who received the fake stimulation were reduced to mild or no headache.

Migraine prevention

In the most recent study, with 113 people, which has not been fully published yet, 45% of patients who received the real stimulation had a reduction of 50% or more in the number of migraine days they had per month.  This compared to 27% of people who received the “fake” stimulation.

Treating a migraine attack

In the PRESTO study which evaluated using gammaCore to treat migraine attacks, 48% of patients had little to no migraine pain within 2 hours after first use for more than 50% of all treated headaches. (Tassorelli C, Grazzi L, de Tommaso M, et al. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation as acute therapy for migraine: the randomized PRESTO study. Neurology. 2018;91(4):364-e373.)

Are there side-effects?

People experience few side-effects.  Reported side effects, such as application site discomfort/irritation (rash), are often mild and typically resolve shortly after the stimulation is complete. Some people may experience some dizziness. Overall gammaCore is a safe and well-tolerated non-drug treatment.

How much does gammaCore cost?

The cost of the 31 day Starter Kit is $655. CDN (up to 30 stimulations of 2 minutes per day).  The 93 day starter kit is $975 CDN.

Is gammaCore covered by insurance companies?

gammaCore is not covered by public payers (May 2021). Coverage by private payers needs to be explored.

Where can I get more information?

gammaCore Sapphire is now available through a Canadian distributor named RSK Medical Inc. (Markham, ON).  They can be reached via www.generalinquiry@rskmedical.com [20] or 1-905-399-8303.  Please see www.gammacoreCanada.com [21] or www.rskmedical.com [22] for further product and therapy related details.

July 7, 2021

Shruti’s Story

Posted By Rachel Jing-Lin Lu On In Stories | Comments Disabled

“I interviewed Shruti a few months ago and she has written the following to share her story:”

I don’t remember life without pain, or migraine. I was 12 or 13 when I was first diagnosed. It was after years of trying to articulate the pain. I’d say my head hurts, and the next hour I’d say my tummy hurt and so many other confusing symptoms. It is not surprising that my family and even my doctors assumed I was just trying to get out of school. My mother took me to so many places trying to find a diagnosis and a solution. Finally, we met a neurologist who gave us an answer – chronic migraine stemming from chronic stress, anxiety and depression.

Even as I started taking prophylactics, I had light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, and mood swings. Everything around me was a trigger. Standing outside under the hot sun during PE or band practice was the worst experience. I’d always black out and wake up with a throbbing headache that lasted days. I’m 31 now. And I’ve probably had less than 100 migraine-free days all my life. There is an ever-growing list of triggers and symptoms that are still difficult to explain.

It is lonely, being a child with migraine. I couldn’t be like the other kids. I hated playing outside, or running or anything that involved being loud or sweaty. Everyone assumed I was lazy, weird, arrogant, and antisocial. Eventually, I began to believe it. I went from being a star student who was into so many cultural and literary clubs to someone struggling to make it through the school year. I had big dreams but my body and my brain were not accommodating. I could feel my self-confidence, self-esteem and all things self, just ebbing away. It is a miracle that I found a way to have a career.

I studied biotechnology but I switched to being a content writer. I worked with several startups across India. I was really good at my job and as a result, I was often overworked. It exacerbated my migraine condition so much that I’d to quit in 7 months to rest and recuperate. I always started over from scratch. Finally in 2016 I found a company that offered flexible work hours and an option to work from home. I was thriving under an excellent manager who was both empathetic and encouraging. I quickly rose from my position as a writer to the Head of a content marketing team. Slowly I began to notice brain fog, issues with memory and concentration. Around this time, my daughter was 1 year old, and we were preparing to move to Canada.

When we landed in Toronto, it felt like years of denying migraine its true place in my life began to catch up with me. The weather, pandemic, lack of social circle and guilt for not being able to keep up with an energetic toddler triggered an intractable migraine attack that lasted months. I had stopped taking prophylactics before pregnancy and was only depending on Tylenol. It didn’t help when my GP said “I don’t think it is migraine, maybe you are just stressed.” I had to advocate for myself week after week (with increasing anxiety), insisting to be referred to a specialist. When I was finally referred, there was a year’s wait time, which was again rescheduled due to Covid. I don’t know how I made it through 2020 with no real medication or treatment plan. Finally at the beginning of this year, I was prescribed Aimovig. My neurologist took the time to explain my MRI and the symptoms I was feeling as a result of white lesions. It gave me peace, and helped me understand why I am the way I am.

Chronic migraine has impacted every relationship in my life. It has been difficult for people around me to understand my irritability, fatigue, and sensitivity. I believed them when they said I was being difficult or lazy. They have never experienced this before, so they couldn’t have understood. Now, after having found online support groups in Canada and a supportive Instagram community, I finally don’t feel alone in my struggle against migraine.

There’s a lot of advocacy that needs to be done. Medicine doesn’t understand migraine. How can regular people grasp how it destroys us? You can find a cure only when you understand the cause or a mechanism of a disease. Considering that migraine impacts at least 3 in a room of 10, it should be taken more seriously. There should be more funds allocated for research. I should also not have to beg my GP to believe me or wait for over a year to see a specialist. There should be integrated cross functional headache clinics across the country. Mental health care for patients with chronic migraine should also be under OHIP. This disease should not drive a person into depression from mere helplessness.

I have more bad days than good days. Sometimes it is so hard to get out of bed. I realized that I just need to find a way to manage my symptoms until the healthcare industry and the government catches up. I have a routine and a proper sleep schedule. Every day I practice yoga, meditate, walk, eat healthy, take vitamins, hydrate, read/write, rediscover things I love, and spend time with my family. Advocating on Instagram has also been integral to my healing journey. I post on the reality of migraine and it has been helping others like me explain their disease better to their loved ones. The dream is to create a migraine-friendly world. (You can find me on Instagram.com/chronicallymeh or on my advocacy page www.chronicallymeh.com).

Honestly, I’m still struggling. I feel like a ghost of the person I used to be. But I’m sure there is at least one person out there who feels the way I do. I hope sharing my story makes you feel less alone.

 

 

Sharing your voice can help you and others in the migraine community find support and a path to improvement.

Share your story >> [7]

Migraine Talks Podcast

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In News,Resources | Comments Disabled

Dear Friends,

Migraine Canada™ is proud to present its latest media production, “Migraine Talks” with Dr. Elizabeth Leroux. Migraine Talks is a series of 12 episodes which you can listen to on MigraineCanada.org [23], on Apple Podcast [24], on Google Podcast [25], and on Spotify [26]!

While exploring the basics as well as more advanced approaches to treating migraine, the episodes discuss a range of topics, from food triggers and migraine in the workplace, to exercise and children, to name a few, in a casual setting with no frills.

The first three episodes have been released, and episodes 4 to 12 are scheduled to be published every two weeks, between mid July and December.   Migraine Canada™ is extremely thankful to our special guests, both Health Professionals and fellow Migraineurs, who made this project possible.  We hope you will enjoy listening to these half-hour discussions.  

See you in the podiverse! 

[27]

Canadian Clusterbusters : time to unite

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In News | Comments Disabled

The worst pain of all

Attacks of excruciating pain around the eye and temple, just on this one side. A hot poker pushed inside your face. Your eye tears, your nose runs. For an hour or two, you are in hell. The attack is brutal, leaving you exhausted. And it will probably come back tonight, waking you from sleep. Not again. 

Cluster headache is not as common as migraine, but it does impair thousands of Canadians (estimates go from 1/10 000 to 1/1 000). Men are more affected than women. Diagnosis can take years to happen. It is not rare to hear stories of people seeing dentists, ENTs and ophtalmologists before finally getting a diagnosis. 

A Cluster Headache association in Canada?

There is no association for cluster headache patients in Canada. Migraine Canada™ is not only about migraine. We want to serve patients with other headache disorders. We thought that a partnership with a well-established cluster headache association was a good way to start. 

Clusterbusters, a charitable organization active in the US since 2000, has won awards and leads initiatives in awareness and research. 

Canadians living with cluster headache have specific needs. Access to treatments like triptans and oxygen vary from province to province. Too many physicians don’t know what cluster headache is. Headache specialists are always not easy to find. There is work to do! 

A productive partnership 

Dr Leroux, Chair of Migraine Canada™, contacted Bob Wold, Executive Director and founder of Clusterbusters. The idea was to create a section of Clusterbusters to regroup Canadians. This way, Canadians can have their own mailing list for specific initiatives for research or advocacy, and they can also benefit from the strong US community. The answer was very positive: let’s collaborate! 

The next step is to reach out to people with cluster headaches in Canada and encourage them to join. Physicians members of the Canadian Headache Society will be informed of the initiative. The networks of Migraine Canada™ will diffuse the information. 

How to join? 

If you live with cluster headache, go to this page to register [28]

Inform your physician of the initiative, spread the word! 

Actions for the future

Access to treatments and increase in awareness are key for cluster headache. We also would like to hear your ideas and concerns. Different actions could include: 

Email us at info@migrainecanada.org [29] or go to https://clusterbusters.org/contact-us/ [30]

Stay tuned and be well! 

Suvexx™ – a new combination product for acute migraine treatment

Posted By Migraine Canada™ On In News | Comments Disabled

What is Suvexx?

Suvexx is a combination of two commonly used acute migraine medications in a single tablet: sumatriptan 85 mg and naproxen sodium 500 mg. This product has been available in the U.S. for many years under the brand name Treximet.

Combining a triptan and an anti-inflammatory (NSAID) is a common approach for migraines that won’t be successfully controlled by one medication alone. See here to read more about combinations (see this post [31]). 

The recommended dose is 1 tablet of Suvexx taken at the start of migraine pain. The maximum dosage is 2 tablets per 24 hours, taken at least 2 hours apart. This medication may be taken with or without food and should not be split, crushed, or chewed.

Does Suvexx work to treat migraine attacks? 

Because Suvexx contains two medications that work differently to treat migraine, some people may find it more effective than using a triptan or NSAID alone. 

A large analysis of studies evaluating the combination of sumatriptan plus naproxen found that 58% of people with moderate or severe attacks reported significant pain reduction or relief after 2 hours with the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen, compared to 52% with sumatriptan alone, 44% with naproxen alone and 27% with placebo. 

The combination of sumatriptan and naproxen was also more effective in treating other migraine symptoms (nausea, sensitivity to light or sound) and allowing return of function. 

Are there side effects or contra-indications to Suvexx?

Side effects can relate to sumatriptan or naproxen and may include: dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, indigestion, dry mouth, tingling or burning of the skin and chest discomfort. 

Suvexx has the same restrictions and risks as triptans and NSAIDs and should not be used in the following situations (read more HERE [32])

What could be the pros and cons of this new option? 

PROS: For people who already use or are considering combination therapy to increase effectiveness of acute migraine treatments, Suvexx offers the convenience of taking just one tablet at migraine onset.

CONS: Possible downsides include a higher cost than sumatriptan or naproxen purchased individually and lack of dosing flexibility as only one tablet strength is available. 

References

Law S, Derry S, Moore RA. Sumatriptan plus naproxen for the treatment of acute migraine attacks in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD008541. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008541.pub3.


Product Monograph [Suvexx]. Health Canada Drug product database. Available from: https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info.do?lang=en&code=98619 [33]. Accessed online Sept 29, 2020. 

Brandes JL, Kudrow D, Stark SR, et al. Sumatriptan-naproxen for acute treatment of migraine: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2007 Apr 4;297(13):1443-54. doi: 10.1001/jama.297.13.1443.