Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

35 predominantly multiparous, sexually active women aged 25-44 years were fitted with levonorgestrel 20 T (Schering) IUDS in the post- menstrual phase, or in rare instances, right after abortion. the devices contained 60 mg of levonorgestrel releasing 20 mcg/day with the life span of 5 years. The patients were followed up every 3-6 months to detect side effects and complications. The first year contained a total of 339 months of observation, while the figure rose to 461 months in the second year. Spotting lasting 15-20 days followed insertion, but in later months only 7% of patients complained of bleeding or menstrual spotting. 7-8% of cases tended to have oligomenorrhea in the first year; 1/3 to 1/2 of them had hypomenorrhea during the first and second year. True amenorrhea started in 20-30% of women, persisting through both years. Longer duration of flow occurred in 32.4-4.57.1% of cases during these 2 years. Hormonal effects (headache, acne, hirsutism, depression, mastalgia, and inflamed varicose veins) ranged from 18.2- 33.3%. Levonorgestrel 20 T demonstrated more superior contraceptive efficacy than Progestasert; however, serious menstrual cycle disorders associated with it also increased. All progestin-releasing devices (the minipill, Norplant, Progestasert) induced menstrual changes, thus their use is preferable for therapeutic indications such as hypermenorrhea and uterine fibroid.
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PMID:[Two-year clinical performance of the Levonorgestrel 20 T IUD]. 1231 72

The Norplant System of levonorgestrel implants and the Depo Provera contraceptive Injection of sterile medroxy progesterone acetate suspension (DMPA) are longterm, progestagen-based contraceptive delivery systems designed to overcome noncompliance which are under review for use in Canada. 150 mg of DMPA, a pregnane compound derived from progesterone, is injected every 3 months. Peak plasma concentrations are reached in 24 hours and plateau for 3-4 months before gradually declining. After termination, ovulation returns on average in 4.5 months, and conception occurs at a median time of 10 months. 90% conceive by 24 months. In the Norplant system, a steady daily supply of 50-80 mcg of levonorgestrel, a gonane progestin derived from the testosterone nucleus which has both progestogenic and androgenic receptor affinity, diffuses from 5 Silastic implants, which must be replaced every 5 years. Ovulation and fertility return rapidly after rod removal. The actual and lowest expected failure rates are equal for both systems. The failure rate for DMPA is .3 pregnancies per 100 women years, while that for levonorgestrel is .4% in 1 year. Although neither method affects blood pressure, DMPA appears to affect carbohydrate metabolism by impairing glucose tolerance and increasing insulin production. Lipid metabolism is also affected. 5% of those who use levonorgestrel discontinue it because of side effects, including headache, mastodynia, and acne; 19.1% of DMPA users did so, especially for weight gain and menstrual cycle abnormalities. Both methods have a higher frequency of menstrual abnormalities than normal. 27.7% of levonorgestrel users experienced prolonged bleeding, while 17% experienced spotting during the first 6 months. However, normal menses usually returned within a year, and only 7.9% discontinued use because of cycle abnormalities. In 1 study, less than 10% of DMPA users experienced normal cycles, and in another study 35% experienced amenorrhea (500/700 discontinued use). Amenorrhea replaced irregular bleeding with continued use, occurring in 68% of users by 2 years. There is also some concern about DMPA and breast cancer and bone loss. Based on 1 case-control study of 110 women with breast cancer who had taken DMPA, the relative risk is highest for those between ages 25 and 34 who use DMPA longer than 6 years. A WHO study concluded that the relative risk of developing breast cancer, because of DMPA, is inversely related to duration of use. A Phase IV study on DMPA and bone mineral density has been undertaken.
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PMID:A comparison of levonorgestrel implants with depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate injections for contraception. 1231 30

A tablet of .35 mg of norethindrone was administered daily and continuously for 6 complete cycles to 30 patients suffering from premenstrual tension syndrome and 5 suffering from functional sterility related to a deficiency of the corpus luteum. In the case of premenstrual tension, particularly good results were obtained in reducing pelvic pains, mastalgia, and headache, especially when related to disorders of the estrogen metabolism. In the sterility cases, 2 patients out of 5 responded to the treatment: 1 was in the 7th month of pregnancy at the time of writing and 1 suffered a spontaneous abortion from unknown causes in the 3rd month of pregnancy. It is concluded that this is a promising treatment, especially for premenstrual disorders.
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PMID:[Therapeutic effects of low doses of norethindrone in disorders of the menstrual cycle]. 1233 28

Vaginal administration of oral contraceptives (OCs) has been shown to be an acceptable and effective method of contraception. The most widely tested vaginal contraceptive pill (VCP) contains 500 mcg of d-1 norgestrel and 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and is administered on the same 21-day schedule as the oral contraceptive. Other combination OCs used vaginally include 1 mg of norethisterone plus 50 mcg of mestranol, 250 mcg of levonorgestrel plus 50 mcg of EE, and 2 mg of cyproterone acetate plus 50 mcg of EE. Gestrinone, a potent antiestrogenic progestin, has also been used with success. Comparative studies of the various combination pills and Gestrinone revealed that plasma levels of the progestins rose at a slower pace and to a lower peak value after vaginal administration than after ingestion, but ovulation was suppressed in most cycles. Fertility control compared favorably with most low-dosage combined pills taken by mouth. No pregnancies occurred in a group of 124 women who used the vaginal route for 6-20 months totalling 1438 woman-months of use. Cycle control was good, and bleeding episodes occurred following discontinuation and lasted 3-5 days in 98% of cycles. Amenorrhea was rare, and breakthrough bleeding and spotting occurred in fewer than 10% of women. 22% of the women gained more than 2 kg and 9% lost weight. Blood pressure remained unchanged in most women, and fewer than 10% had headache, nausea, acne, nervousness, or mastalgia. Fewer than 20% had vaginal discharge requiring treatment, with Trichomonas vaginalis being the most common pathogenic agent. In 1 study, 44 women discontinued VCP use before completing 1 year of use, 7 for medical reasons (2 for mastalgia, 2 for vaginal irritation, 3 for vaginal discharge unresponsive to treatment), 6 to achieve pregnancy, and the remaining 31 to avoid daily vaginal insertion. The VCP achieved the same results as OCs with a minimum of side effects due to the low steroid levels and because VCPs bypass the liver on the 1st pass. The vaginal ring shares these advantages of the VCPs, but the bulky silastic rubber structure of the ring may cause erosion of the vaginal wall, interfere with coitus, and absorb release unpleasant odors. Problems with vaginal rings also include expulsion, difficulty of insertion and removal, and storage. The VCP may be a better alternative than the OC as the 1st prescribed contraceptive for family planning clinics because the low blood levels of steroid will reduce the occurrence of side effects in longterm use.
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PMID:The vaginal contraceptive pill. 1233 69

More than 60% of the women in both groups suffered from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, such as anxiety, mastalgia, insomnia, nausea and gastrointestinal disorders, whereas a smaller number of women suffered from phobic disorders, premenstrual headaches and migraines. There were three women from the first group and seven women from the second group who continued the medication treatment with progestins, whereas one woman from the first group and nine women from the second group continued to take fluoxetine. In the first group, nine women stopped having PMS symptoms after two AP treatments, eight women stopped having them after three treatments and one woman stopped having them after four treatments. In four women from the first group and 16 women from the second group, PMS symptoms appeared during the following period (cycle) or continued even after four treatments, so the medication was continued. In the first group, one woman had a smaller subcutaneous hematoma after the AP acupoint Ren 6. There was a statistical and relevant reduction in PMS symptoms with the AP treatments in the first group (P<0.001), whereas their reduction was irrelevant in the placebo AP group (P>0.05). The success rate of AP in treating PMS symptoms was 77.8%, whereas it was 5.9%. in the placebo group. The positive influence of AP in treating PMS symptoms can be ascribed to its effects on the serotoninergic and opioidergic neurotransmission that modulates various psychosomatic functions. The initial positive results of PMS symptoms with a holistic approach are encouraging and AP should be suggested to the patients as a method of treatment.
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PMID:Using acupuncture to treat premenstrual syndrome. 1241 Mar 69

Due to the long-term health risks now associated with hormone replacement therapy, many menopausal women are actively seeking alternative treatments. One such alternative is black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa), which has been used in the United States for the treatment of gynecologic complaints for more than 100 years. Review of the published clinical data suggests that black cohosh may be useful for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, profuse sweating, insomnia, and anxiety. Results from the most recently published trial, however, indicate that black cohosh is not effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors being treated with tamoxifen. Because the overall quality of the published clinical trials is low, two new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are currently underway in the United States. To date, only one standardized black cohosh extract has been tested clinically; the current recommended dose is 40-80 mg per day. At least 4-12 weeks of treatment may be required before any therapeutic benefits may be apparent. Adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, mastalgia, and weight gain have been observed in clinical trials. No drug interactions are reported in the medical literature. The estrogenic effects of black cohosh are controversial, and the more recent data indicate that black cohosh extracts may have an anti-estrogenic activity. Owing to potential effects on sex hormones, however, black cohosh should not be administered to children or during pregnancy and lactation.
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PMID:Black cohosh: an alternative therapy for menopause? 1255 11

Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) licensed for the prevention of non-traumatic vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women at increased risk of osteoporosis, was launched in the UK in August 1998. The aim of the study was to monitor the safety of raloxifene prescribed in the primary care setting in England using prescription-event monitoring (PEM). Patients were identified by means of prescription data supplied by the Prescription Pricing Authority between September 1998 and November 2000. Demographic and clinical event data were collected from questionnaires posted to primary care physicians (GPs) at least 6 months after the date of the first prescription for each patient. Information on medical events, suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs), reasons for stopping treatment, pregnancies, and causes of death was requested. Event rates [Incidence Densities (IDs): no. first reports /1000 patient-months of treatment] were calculated. Differences between IDs for events reported in month one (ID(1)) and months 2-6 (ID(2-6)) of treatment were examined. The cohort comprised 13,987 patients [median age 62 years (IQR 55,69); 99.8% female]. The major indication was osteoporosis (40.9%, n=5725). Flushing was the event with the highest ID in month 1 (22.8), reported most frequently by GPs as an ADR to raloxifene (67/461 reports) and as the reason for stopping (700/4592 reports). Events associated with starting treatment included flushing, malaise/lassitude, headache/migraine, nausea/vomiting, sweating, cramp, pain abdomen, dizziness, diarrhea, mastalgia and vaginal hemorrhage. Less common events reported during treatment included deep vein thrombosis (n=13), pulmonary embolism (n=13), thrombophlebitis (n=31) and visual disturbance (n=29). In this study, there were 122 (0.9%) confirmed deaths, of which 32 causes of death were unknown. This study shows that raloxifene is generally well tolerated when used in general practice in England. Potential signals of unrecognised ADRs requiring further evaluation included gastrointestinal adverse symptoms and vaginal hemorrhage. There were also a small number of reports of events associated with venous thromboembolism and visual disorders that require further investigation.
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PMID:Safety profile of raloxifene as used in general practice in England: results of a prescription-event monitoring study. 1530 82

Vitex agnus castus L. (VAC) [Verbenaceae] is a deciduous shrub that is native to Mediterranean Europe and Central Asia. Traditionally, VAC fruit extract has been used in the treatment of many female conditions, including menstrual disorders (amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), corpus luteum insufficiency, hyperprolactinaemia, infertility, acne, menopause and disrupted lactation. The German Commission E has approved the use of VAC for irregularities of the menstrual cycle, premenstrual disturbances and mastodynia. Clinical reviews are available for the efficacy of VAC in PMS, cycle disorders, hyperprolactinaemia and mastalgia, but so far no systematic review has been published on adverse events or drug interactions associated with VAC. Therefore, this review was conducted to evaluate all the available human safety data of VAC monopreparations. Literature searches were conducted in six electronic databases, in references lists of all identified papers and in departmental files. Data from spontaneous reporting schemes of the WHO and national drug safety bodies were also included. Twelve manufacturers of VAC-containing preparations and five herbalist organisations were contacted for additional information. No language restrictions were imposed. Combination preparations including VAC or homeopathic preparations of VAC were excluded. Data extraction of key data from all articles reporting adverse events or interactions was performed independently by at least two reviewers, regardless of study design. Data from clinical trials, postmarketing surveillance studies, surveys, spontaneous reporting schemes, manufacturers and herbalist organisations indicate that the adverse events following VAC treatment are mild and reversible. The most frequent adverse events are nausea, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, menstrual disorders, acne, pruritus and erythematous rash. No drug interactions were reported. Use of VAC should be avoided during pregnancy or lactation. Theoretically, VAC might also interfere with dopaminergic antagonists. Although further rigorous studies are needed to assess the safety of VAC, the data available seem to indicate that VAC is a safe herbal medicine.
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PMID:Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events. 1578 41

Since the publication of the results of the Women's Health Initiative that described the risks of hormone replacement therapy, many women are actively seeking alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) is one such alternative that has been used in the US for over 100 years. To date only two cimicifuga extracts have been tested clinically, and the current recommended dosage is 40-80 mg/day. Review of the published clinical data suggests that cimicifuga may be useful for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, profuse sweating, insomnia, and anxiety. However, the methodology used in most of the trials is poor and further clinical assessment of cimicifuga is needed. In terms of safety, transient adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, mastalgia, and weight gain have been observed in clinical trials. A few cases of hepatotoxicity have been reported, but a direct association with the ingestion of cimicifuga has not been demonstrated. The most recent data suggest that cimicifuga is not estrogenic.
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PMID:Black cohosh (Actaea/Cimicifuga racemosa): review of the clinical data for safety and efficacy in menopausal symptoms. 1589 23

The contraceptive pill has been a revolution of the last 40 years. In Italy, however, it is much less widely used than in other countries. Explanations for this phenomenon range from religious implications and customs to misinformation and word-of-mouth communication of negative experiences. The oral contraceptive pill is often used to correct menstrual disorders, leading to poor results and side-effects. Recent advances in oral contraception have led to a substantial reduction in doses and side-effects. Low-dose pills contain minimal doses of progesterones and estrogens and ensure good control of the menstrual cycle. Although reduction of ethinyl estradiol (EE) concentrations has reduced the incidence of negative systemic side effects such as water retention, edema and swollen breasts, the low estrogen dose may be associated with spotting and hypomenorrhea or amenorrhea in the long term, as well as dyspareunia due to reduced vaginal trophism, which may induce women to suspend use of the drug. It is also true that only one type of estrogen is used in the pill, albeit at different doses, whereas the progesterone may differ and in many cases is the cause of common side-effects. The choice of progesterone therefore involves not only its effect on the endometrium in synergy with estrogen, but also possible residual androgenic activity which may have negative metabolic repercussions. Indeed, addition of a progesterone, especially androgen-derived, attenuates the positive metabolic effects of estrogen. Two new monophasic oral contraceptives were recently released. They contain 30 microg (Yasmin) or 20 muicrog (Yasminelle) EE and a new progesterone, drospirenone, derived from spirolactone, which has antiandrogenic and antimineralcorticoid activity similar to endogenous progesterone. Like progesterone, the drospirenone molecule is an aldosterone antagonist and has a natriuretic effect that opposes the sodium retention effect of EE. It may, therefore, help to prevent the water retention, weight gain and arterial hypertension often associated with oral contraceptive use. Recent comparative studies recorded weight loss that stabilized after 6 months of treatment with drospirenone/EE. Overweight women may therefore benefit from the formulation with 20 microg EE, whereas the formulation with at least 30 microg EE should be more appropriate for underweight women. Women with slight to moderate acne, the formulation with 30 microg EE has been found to be as effective as 2 mg cyproterone acetate combined with 35 micrig EE (Diane). Menstrual cycle characteristics, however, remain the main factor determining the choice of formulation. Randomised control studies comparing the new formulation with others containing second or third generation progesterones have found similar efficacy in cycle control and incidence of spotting. From this point of view, it is not advisable to prescribe more than 30 microg EE (Yasmin or Yasminelle) for women with normal menstrual cycles, whereas in cases of hypomenorrhea and/or amenorrhea at least this dose of EE plus drospirenone may be used. Women with hypermenorrhea run the risk of spotting if an inappropriate drug is chosen. A solution is to use 30 microg EE/drospirenone from day 5 of the cycle. To control so-called minor side-effects, the dose of EE must be appropriate. In women with premenstrual tension a dose of at least 30 microg EE associated with drospirenone reduces or even prevents symptoms. On the other hand, in cases of chronic headache or headache as a side-effect of oral contraceptive use, a lower dose of estrogen is beneficial, and doses below 20 microg may be used. Although the progesterone component is not considered to affect headache, good results have been obtained with drospirenone, the antimineralcorticoid effects of which reduce blood pressure and improve symptoms. Formulations with 20 microg EE and drospirenone are particularly indicated in women with pre-existing mastodynia, fibrocystic breast manifestations or who develop mastodynia as a side-effect of oral contraceptive use. Since high plasma concentrations of androgens have been recorded in these women, a progesterone with antiandrogen and antiedema activity can be beneficial. Finally, it is worth recalling that monophasic pills with low estrogen doses, such as the formulations mentioned above, ensure good mood control, reducing the depressive symptoms often associated with oral contraceptive use. In conclusion, formulations containing drospirenone are a valid alternative to conventional oral contraceptives for the personalisation of these drugs.
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PMID:[Individualization of low-dose oral contraceptives. Pharmacological principles and practical indications for oral contraceptives]. 1792 32


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