Topical NSAID Cream Being Tested in Clinical Trial

Transdel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s topical NSAID cream, Ketotransdel® (a form of Ketoprofen), is currently being tested in a phase 3 clinical trial. Ketotransdel® uses the patented proprietary Transdel™ drug delivery system. This cream is for the treatment of acute pain and is applied directly to the skin. It has been shown to relieve inflammation and provide an analgesic effect.

All medications come with the risk of side-effects. Some of the (often dangerous) side-effects that are known to be associated with NSAID tablets are gastrointestinal, renal and cardiovascular problems. The use of this cream may minimize the risk of these side-effects. According to THIS Therapeutics Daily article:

...over one hundred thousand patients are hospitalized each year due to orally administered NSAID-related gastro-intestinal (GI) complications. That is because when one takes a pill, it passes from the GI tract into the bloodstream and organs, exposing one to cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic systemic effects.

Medications applied to the skin may still expose the bloodstream and organs to side-effects and complications. However, the exposure is much less than if used orally. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Medication Guide for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) provides additional information on this type of medication and it's side-effects.

If all goes well in the clinical trials, Ketotransdel® may be the first FDA-approved topical NSAID cream. To read the article on this click HERE. And click HERE for Transdel Pharmaceutical's product page.

Migraine Medication May Increase Uric Acid

Rising uric acid levels tied to migraine drug

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In migraine patients, treatment with the drug topiramate (sold as Topamax) may result in increasing blood levels of uric acid, a study shows.

Some research has linked high uric acid levels in the body to a higher risk of cardiovascular trouble. Excess uric acid in the body can create oxidative stress, a state that damages body cells and contributes to diseases, including the buildup of artery-clogging plaques...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Migraine News: Exercise, Stroke and Heart Risk, Oxygen Therapy

Exercise plus relaxation may lessen migraine pain

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A combination of aerobic exercise and muscle relaxation may help ease migraine pain, a small study suggests.



Austrian researchers found that when 15* migraine sufferers added an exercise-and-relaxation routine to their usual care, the patients reported an improvement in migraine pain intensity over six weeks...

To read this entire article click HERE.



*Note: 15 participants IS a very small study.

Gene May Put Women With Migraine At Increased Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke

Women who experience migraine with aura appear to be at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke if they have a certain gene, according to a study published in the July 30, 2008, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.



For the study, researchers followed 25,001 Caucasian women for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and ischemic stroke. About 18 percent of the women in the study had a history of migraine while 40 percent of those with active migraine reported migraine with aura...

To read this entire article click HERE.



Oxygen Therapy Might Ease Pain Of Migraine, Cluster Headaches



ScienceDaily (July 17, 2008) — Two types of oxygen therapy could offer some relief to adults who suffer from disabling migraine and cluster headaches, according to a new research review from Australia...

To read this entire article click HERE.

Migraine at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago

Here's a synopsis of Migraine research that was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago April 12–19, 2008.

Migraine frequency linked with women's risk of cardiovascular disease
CHICAGO – New research shows women who have weekly migraine are significantly more likely to have a stroke than those with fewer migraines or no migraine at all, but those with lower migraine frequency may face increased risk of heart attacks. The research was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Children with migraine at increased risk of sleep disturbances
CHICAGO – Children with migraine are more likely to have sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and lack of sleep, than children without migraine, according to research on the effects of headaches on children’s sleep patterns was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Overuse of codeine, oxycodone and barbiturates increases risk of chronic migraine
CHICAGO – People who overuse barbiturates and opioids, such as codeine, butalbital, and oxycodone, to treat migraine are at an increased risk of developing chronic migraine, according to research that was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008. People with chronic migraine have headaches on 15 or more days a month...
To read the entire article click HERE.

New Hope for Migraine Sufferers: Optinose Nasal Delivery of Sumatriptan Proves as Effective as Invasive Subcutantaneous Injection
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, Optinose, the Norwegian drug delivery specialists, today presented Phase I data that could lead to faster, effective and less invasive relief for migraine sufferers. The recently completed trial first demonstrated that Sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally using OptiNose’s 2nd generation device has a rapid onset of action and is as effective as subcutaneously administered Sumatriptan in preventing GTN Challenge Induced EEG changes in migraine sufferers...
To read the entire article click HERE.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.