Myths and Truths
Unfortunately, many people still believe some of the myths about migraine. A few migraine myths are listed below-along with the facts
MYTH: Migraines result from having "psychological problems."
TRUTH: Migraine is not a psychological disorder. It is a neurological disorder for which the exact cause is unknown.
MYTH: Migraines are caused by having too much stress in your life.
TRUTH: While stress may be a migraine trigger, you must be prone to migraine in order to have an attack.
MYTH: Migraine is a "women's illness."
TRUTH: Many men get migraines, but roughly 3 times more women than men regularly experience migraines. More women have migraines because of hormonal factors.
MYTH: Since there's no cure for migraine, there's no point in getting it treated.
TRUTH: Although there is presently no cure, with the right medication and lifestyle changes, migraine can be effectively treated and managed.
*AXERT® tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine
with or without aura in adults. AXERT® tablets are indicated for
the acute treatment of migraine headache pain in adolescents age 12 to
17 years with a history of migraine attacks with or without aura
usually lasting 4 hours or more (when untreated). In adolescents age
12-17 years, efficacy of AXERT® on migraine associated symptoms
(nausea, photophobia and phonophobia) was not established.
AXERT® is not intended for the prophylactic therapy of migraine or
for use in the management of hemiplegic or basilar migraine. Safety
and effectiveness of AXERT® have not been established for cluster
headache which is present in an older, predominantly male population.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
AXERT® is a prescription medication for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults, and for the acute treatment of migraine headache pain in adolescents age 12 to 17 years with a history of migraine attacks with or without aura usually lasting 4 hours or more (when untreated). If you have no response for the first migraine attack treated with AXERT®, then your doctor will need to see if you really have migraine before you take AXERT® to treat any future attacks. You should not take AXERT® if you have heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or have ever had heart disease. If you have risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, family history of heart attack, menopause, or are a male over 40 years of age), or if you are pregnant, nursing, or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking AXERT®. You should also tell your doctor if you have had a stroke of any type or any transient ischemic attacks, or if you have circulation (blood flow) problems, as you should not use AXERT®. Contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of pain, tightness, pressure, or heaviness in your chest, throat, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, weakness, or slurring of speech, if you experience abdominal pain or bloody diarrhea, or if your fingers or toes become cold or discolored. In very rare cases, serious heart problems have occurred in patients without known heart disease.
AXERT®, like other triptans, may be associated with a potentially life-threatening condition mainly when taken together with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), two classes of drugs for depression or other disorders. Common SSRIs are Celexa® (citalopram HBr), Lexapro® (escitalopram oxalate), Paxil® (paroxetine), Prozac®/Sarafem® (fluoxetine), Symbyax® (olanzapine/fluoxetine), Zoloft® (sertraline), and Luvox® (fluvoxamine). Common SNRIs are Cymbalta® (duloxetine) and Effexor® (venlafaxine). If you experience symptoms such as confusion, sweating, flushing, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, muscle weakness, poor balance, or worsening headache, contact your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking. Do not take AXERT® if you have taken an ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medication or another triptan in the last 24 hours. Do not take if you have had an allergic reaction to AXERT® or any of its ingredients. Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to a sulfonamide drug or if you are taking ketoconazole.
The most common AXERT® side effects in adults are nausea, sleepiness, tingling sensation, headache, and dry mouth.
The most common AXERT® side effects in adolescents are dizziness, sleepiness, headache, tingling sensation, nausea and vomiting.
Ask your doctor about side effects, possible drug interactions, and any other important questions you may have before taking AXERT®.
Celexa and Lexapro are registered trademarks of Forest Laboratories. Paxil is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline. Symbyax, Prozac/Sarafem and Cymbalta are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly. Zoloft is a registered trademark of Pfizer. Luvox is a registered trademark of Solvay. Effexor is a registered trademark of Wyeth.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For full U.S. Prescribing Information, click here.©Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. Licensed from Almirall, S.A. Your use of the information on this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Notice. Please see our Privacy Policy.
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This page was last updated on Sep 03 2010 at 11:04:09 EDT.