Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Zolmitriptan is a drug for
treating migraine headaches. Migraine headaches are believed to
result from dilation of the blood vessels in the brain. Zolmitriptan
causes constriction of the blood vessels and thereby relieves the
pain of a migraine headache. While zolmitriptan is very effective in
relieving migraine headaches, it does not prevent or reduce the
number of headaches if taken prophylactically. Its mechanism of
action and effectiveness are similar to those of sumatriptan
(Imitrex). Zolmitriptan was approved by the FDA in November of 1997.
GENERIC AVAILABLE: No
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Tablet: 2.5 and 5 mg. Tablet (orally disintegrating):
2.5 and 5 mg.
STORAGE: Zolmitriptan should be stored at room
temperature, away from heat and light. It should be kept out of the
reach of children.
PRESCRIBED FOR: Zolmitriptan is used to relieve migraine
headaches and associated nausea and sensitivity to light. It should
not be used to treat types of headaches other than migraine.
DOSING: Dosing: The initial dose is 2.5 mg or less. The dose can be repeated after 2
hours if symptoms persist. The maximum dose is 10 mg per day. Doses less than
2.5 mg can be achieved by splitting the 2.5 mg tablet.
Zolmitriptan may be taken with or without food.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for
example, isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
tranylcypromine (Parnate), and procarbazine (Matulane)) may
exaggerate the effects of zolmitriptan.
Zolmitriptan directly stimulates serotonin receptors on nerves.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are used for treating
depression, for example, fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and
sertraline (Zoloft), enhance the effects of serotonin by preventing
its uptake by nerves. Therefore, the combination of zolmitriptan and
an SSRI may lead to exaggerated effects of serotonin, and has been
reported to cause weakness, increased reflexes, and loss of
coordination.
Ergots, like dihydroergotamine (DHE) and ergotamine tartrate
(Cafergot) that often are used to treat migraine headaches, can cause
blood vessels to go into spasm. It is possible that the combination
of ergots and zolmitriptan will result in exaggerated spasm of the
vessels. Therefore, it is not recommended that zolmitriptan and
ergots be used within 24 hours of each other.
Cimetidine (Tagamet) may double the concentration of zolmitriptan in
the blood by interfering with its elimination. Potentially, this may
lead to zolmitriptan toxicity.
PREGNANCY: Safe use in pregnancy has not been established.
NURSING MOTHERS: Safe use in
nursing mothers has not been
established.
SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects are generally transient. Some
common side effects include pain or tightness in the chest or throat,
tingling sensations, flushing, weakness, dizziness, abdominal
discomfort, and sweating. Rarely, allergic reactions (even shock)
have been reported though usually in individuals who are highly
allergic to many substances.
Migraine is usually periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia), increased sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), dizziness, blurred vision, cognitive disturbances, and other symptoms. Treatments for migraine headache include therapies that may or may not involve medications.
Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
The term cluster headache is a type of headache that recurs over a period of time. There are episodes that last one to three times a day during a period of time, which may last from 2 weeks to 3 months. There are three main types of treatment abortive medications, preventive medications, or surgery which involves blocking the trigeminal nerve.
The term "cluster headache" refers to a type of headache that recurs over a period of time. People who have cluster headaches experience an episode one to three times per day during a period of time (the cluster period), which may last from 2 weeks to 3 months. The headaches may disappear completely (go into "remission") for months or years, only to recur. A cluster headache typically awakens a person from sleep 1 to 2 hours after going to bed. These nocturnal attacks can be more severe than the daytime attacks. Attacks appear to be linked to the circadian rhythm (or "biological" clock). Most people with cluster headaches will develop cluster periods at the same time each year -- either in the spring or fall or the winter or summer.
Cluster headaches are one of the most severe types of headache. It can be 100 times more intense than a migraine attack.