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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Many conditions in clinical neurology may be responsive to pyridoxine as a therapeutic agent. The current difficulty is in trying to isolate the conditions that are most likely to respond. Treating seizures is a major part of a neurologic practice. Our current therapeutic agents are only partially successful and limited by multiple side effects. One problem is that patients often have to take these agents for an entire lifetime, further raising the risk of toxicity. If pyridoxine supplementation can improve the efficacy of currently used medications, it will be gladly accepted into our therapeutic arsenal. Headache, chronic pain, and depression all appear to run together in many of our patients. The observations that serotonin deficiency is a common thread between them and that pyridoxine can raise serotonin levels open a wide range of therapeutic options. Small studies have been carried out with mixed success. Comparison with amitriptyline in the treatment of headache appears to show about equal efficacy, although side effects would be expected to be more of a problem with the amitriptyline. Behavioral disorders are relatively common and continue to be a major problem, disrupting the lives of the patients and their families. Current treatments are not acceptable to most people because of the risk of side effects with long-term usage. If, as Dr. Feingold suggests, many of these problems are caused by "toxic" exposures to chemicals that are pyridoxine antagonists, supplementation at early ages may reduce the incidence of hyperactivity and aggressive behavior. This raises the question of safety. Is pyridoxine safe for long-term use in large segments of the population, including children? The studies on children with Down's syndrome and autism, utilizing much higher doses than are used for other therapeutic purposes, seem to indicate relative safety if carefully monitored. Studies involving large population groups with carpal tunnel syndrome, all adults, using 100-150 mg/day have shown minimal or no toxicity in five- to 10-year studies. Women self-medicating for PMS taking 500 to 5000 mg/day have shown peripheral neuropathy within one to three years. It would appear from this retrospective analysis that pyridoxine is safe at doses of 100 mg/day or less in adults. In children there is not enough data to make any sort of suggestion. Because the major neurologic complication is a peripheral neuropathy and the causes of this condition are myriad, pyridoxine may cause neuropathy only in patients with a pre-existing susceptibility to this condition.
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PMID:Vitamin B6 in clinical neurology. 216 44

PMS is probably a group of entities which include various symptoms that occur during the 7 to 10 days before menstruation and disappear a few hours after the onset of menstruation. The definition of PMS lacks objective criteria. The most common symptoms are irritability, bloating, aggressiveness, mastodynia, and headaches. The prevalence of PMS is estimated at 30 to 40 per cent. PMS is more prevalent among women working outside the home, alcoholics, women of high parity, and women with toxemic tendency; it probably runs in families. The etiology of PMS is no less obscure to us than when it was first described by Frank in 1931. No single theory has been established to explain the entire diversity of PMS symptomatology. The multitude of possible etiologic factors includes psychosocial bases, progesterone deficiency, prolactin excess, thyroid hypofunction, renin angiotensin alternations, antidiuretic hormone excess, decreased colloidosmotic pressure, endorphin activity alternations, serotonin metabolism alternations, prostaglandin action, vitamin deficiency, and such unconventional theories as the ovarian infection or the "yeast overgrowth" theory. A partial resolution of this divergence of hypotheses comes from the biopsychosocial model developed by Keye and Trunnel. According to this model, a biologic, perhaps genetically determined, predisposition to PMS is realized when past and present life experiences, attitudes, beliefs, coping styles, and social forces interact to stress a woman. The diagnosis of PMS is based on establishing a relationship between the luteal phase of the cycle and the symptoms. The evaluation of PMS patients includes the use of a monthly diary to scale the symptoms, a physical examination, and biochemical studies to rule out other disorders. Management includes education, reassurance, and drug therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The premenstrual syndrome. 218 58

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized multiple crossover study was designed to determine the effectiveness of alprazolam in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Patients maintained daily diaries of 22 premenstrual symptoms for one pretreatment control cycle and four treatment cycles. Alprazolam 0.25 mg or placebo was administered three times daily from cycle day 20 until the second day of menstruation, at which time the dosage was tapered by one tablet per day to minimize withdrawal effects. The results of the clinical trial indicate that alprazolam is significantly more effective than placebo in relieving the severity of premenstrual nervous tension, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, fatigue, forgetfulness, crying, cravings for sweets, abdominal bloating, abdominal cramps, and headache. The low incidence of side effects makes alprazolam an acceptable treatment for premenstrual syndrome for those women unresponsive to other therapies.
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PMID:Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with alprazolam: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover clinical trial. 329 78

The use of mefenamic acid in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was investigated in 15 women over six menstrual cycles. A randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled design was used to overcome the methodologic criticisms of other medication trials in this condition. Mefenamic acid significantly improved many of the physical, mood, and performance symptoms associated with PMS. The physical symptoms that showed marked improvement were fatigue, headache, and general aches and pains (P less than .001). Most mood symptoms were improved, the most significant being freedom from mood swings (P less than .005).
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PMID:Mefenamic acid in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. 352 18

A questionnaire survey of 84 Chinese nurses was carried out to assess the presence of premenstrual syndrome. More than half of the respondents reported emotional changes and backache premenstrually. There were significant associations between nausea and breast changes, irritability and depression, body and skin changes, finally between backache and the 3 symptoms of irritability, headache and the necessity to take time off work.
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PMID:The premenstrual syndrome in Chinese. 386 87

PMS is a constellation of symptoms, both somatic (breast tenderness, bloating, headache) and psychologic-behavioral (irritability, hostility, depression) that recur prior to the menses in about 5% to 20% of all menstruating women. Such women should be evaluated with a thorough history and physical examination, and if the diagnosis is firmly established by observing a temporal relationship of the symptoms with the premenstruum, therapy should be initiated. When treating PMS, reassurance should always be offered to the patient along with counseling regarding life-style and dietary changes. Symptomatic relief may be provided with any number of medications, including diuretics, NSAIDs, and possibly progesterone. Oral contraceptive therapy may also be helpful. Although patience is certainly required in order to deal with this often frustrating problem, it should be remembered that patient satisfaction is commonly within reach.
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PMID:Premenstrual syndrome. 404

Data is reviewed on premenstrual symptoms which have been related to high suicide and accident rates, employment absentee rates, poor academic performance and acute psychiatric problems. A recent study of healthy young women indicated that 39% had troublesome premenstrual symptoms, 54% passed clots in their menses, 70% had cyclical localized acneiform eruptions and only 17% failed to experience menstrual pain. Common menstrual disorders are classified as either dysmenorrhea or the premenstrual syndrome. Symptoms for the latter usually begin 2-12 days prior to menstruation and include nervous tension, irritability, anxiety, depression, bloated breasts and abdomen, swollen fingers and legs, headaches, dizziness, occasional hypersomia, excessive thirst and appetite. Some women may display an increased susceptibility to migraine, vasomotor rhinitis, asthma, urticaria and epilepsy. Symptoms are usually relieved with the onset of menses. While a definitive etiological theory remains to be substantiated, symptomatic relief has been reported with salt and water restriction and simple diuretics used 7 to 10 days premenstrually. Diazapam or chlordiazepoxide treatment is recommended before oral contraceptive therapy. The premenstrual syndrome may persist after menopause, is unaffected by parity, and sufferers score highly on neuroticism tests. Primary or spasmodic dysmenorrhea occurs in young women, tends to decline with age and parity and has no correlation with premenstrual symptoms or neuroticism. Spasmodic or colicky pain begins and is most severe on the first day of menstruation and may continue for 2-3 days. Treatment of dysmenorrhea with psychotropic drugs or narcotics is discouraged due to the risk of dependence and abuse. Temporary relief for disabling pain may be obtained with oral contraceptives containing synthetic estrogen and progestogen but the inherent risks should be acknowledged. Both disorders have been correlated to menstrual irregularity. Amenorrhea in many women may be precipitated by simple psychological events such as leaving home, while severely stressful events produce a higher incidence. Unless a physiological factor such as malnutrition is operating, menses usually recur spontaneously within a few months. Amenorrhea is a constant feature of anorexia nervosa and may precede related attitudes toward eating and body weight. This syndrome is best regarded as a chronic and often severe neurotic disorder requiring combined physiological and psychological treatment, although some evidence exists to indicate an endocrine disorder. Extensive basic research is needed on the complex relationship between the neuroendocrine system and emotion.
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PMID:Premenstrual symptoms. 473 36

Recent European literature on the frequency of side effects of ovulation inhibitors is reviewed. Libido changes, gastrointestinal symptoms, weight gain, headache, breast discomfort, amenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, jaundice, and breakthrough bleeding were commonly reported. Although these side effects are quite frequent, the author points out that they are mostly minor, and that ovulation inhibitors are relatively harmless.
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PMID:[Side effects of ovulation inhibitors]. 589 81

The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a complex of symptoms that usually occurs seven to ten days before menses in large numbers of women. These symptoms typically cease during the 24 hours after the onset of menses. PMS affects many areas of the body, with each afflicted woman having her personal set of symptoms. Frequently encountered signs and symptoms include breast tenderness and swelling, weight gain, headache, abdominal cramping and bloating, food cravings, thirst, nausea, joint pain, acne, dizziness, hyperalgesia and one or more psychologic symptoms: irritability, lethargy and fatigue, depression, anxiety, hostility and aggression. Theories relating PMS to hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency or psychosomatic aberration have failed to explain this condition fully. Treatments using hormones, vitamins, oral contraceptives or diuretics have failed to relieve all the symptoms of PMS. The prostaglandin (PG) theory proposes that these nearly ubiquitous substances, produced in pathophysiologic amounts in brain, breast, gastrointestinal tract, kidney and reproductive tract, can trigger many of the PMS symptoms. If that is true, then a PG inhibitor could counteract excessive PG production and successfully control those PMS symptoms related to prostaglandin excess or imbalance. Therapy based upon this theory can proceed to the use of PG inhibitors in conservative steps. First, permanent deletion of xanthine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, cola and chocolate) from the diet can reduce nervousness, irritability and breast tenderness. Luteal phase salt restriction, with a mild diuretic used if necessary the last week before menses, adds to this effect. For the 20-25% of women who need more help, either a PG inhibitor or natural progesterone (to oppose the action of PGs), given when PMS begins, brings relief. In women with depressive PMS complaints, small daily doses of an antidepressant may prove helpful.
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PMID:The use of prostaglandin inhibitors for the premenstrual syndrome. 635 May 80

The symptomatology of the premenstrual syndrome is frequently seen in general and gynecological practice. The aim of this study was to examine the therapeutical effect of dydrogesterone (Duphaston) on the typical premenstrual complaints as depression, headache, edema, mastodynia, dysmenorrhea and bleeding irregularities. Oral administration of 20 mg dydrogesterone b.i.d. during the second half of the menstrual cycle could well relieve the complaints mentioned above. Best results of treatment were obtained in cases of dysmenorrhea, bleeding irregularities, depression and edema. In our patients mastodynia was not influenced by dydrogesterone-therapy. As shown by basal body temperature and progesterone in plasma the menstrual cycles remained ovulatory under therapy. The treatment with dydrogesterone was tolerated well in general, blood pressure and body weight were not altered significantly. The majority of patients wished to continue the treatment beyond the period of this study.
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PMID:[Treatment of the premenstrual syndrome with a retroprogesterone (Duphaston)]. 718 74


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