Sufferers of migraine headaches know that pain medications such as NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), ergot alkaloids, and triptans (Immitrex) can be their lifesavers. However, recent information about chronic migraine sufferers points to over use of medication as a potential culprit.
Migraine headaches are the result of abnormal vessel function in the scalp. They can last anywhere from 2-24 hours, even longer in the most severe unmedicated cases. They also can start with nausea, vomiting, severe photophobia, and noise sensitivity. Some even describe sensing the onset with stimulation know as an 'aura'.
There has been evidence that overuse of medications often results in migraine sufferers who have been dealing with the condition for several years. Over use of medication may cause chronic migraines via alterations in hormones secreted by the brain.
To test this theory researchers looked at hormone secretion in 18 chronic migraine-medication overuse headache sufferers and compared it to healthy matched controls. Each participant had baseline values of cortisol, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, and adrenocorticotropin hormone taken. Baseline values were similar in the two groups. Then they were given intravenous dosages of GHRH, TRH, AND CRH, which are responsible for inducing secretion of above mentioned hormones.
Then values of the hormones were measured again 90 minutes after injections and compared to baseline and between the two groups. What researchers found confirmed the suspicion that medication overuse causes abnormalities in hormone secretion that may increase migraine recurrences.
Individuals with chronic migraine-medication overuse headaches had significantly lower growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone released compared to healthy controls. They also had significantly higher levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropin releasing hormone. They also found evidence that the longer the medications had been in overuse, the greater the abnormalities in hormone levels.
The study documents that in fact medication overuse does alter hormones. This may be the cause of chronic migraines, and counseling patients on the proper use of migraine medication may be important. As well researchers may be looking into a possible hormonal mechanism for migraine headaches centering on cortisol and adrenocorticotropin releasing hormone.
Cortisol is the primary stress hormone released by the adrenal glands. Elevated levels observed in response to stimulation for central nervous system hormones may increase susceptibility to migraine. It can also help explain the observation by many migraine sufferers that migraine headache occurrence increases with increased stress.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on June 26, 2006 12:52 PM
