(NAPSA)—Migraines are a painful reality for many Americans. In a recent household survey of more than 23,500 men and women whoreported they suffered from migraines, nine out of 10 (92 percent) described their migraines as moderate or severe, with nearly half (47 percent) reporting they have experienced migraines for more than 10 years. Among women surveyed, more than half (52 percent) said they experience migraines anywhere from once a month to more than three per month. The survey also revealed how under-diagnosed migraines are with nearly a quarter (23 percent) noting the last time they discussed migraines with their physician was two years ago or longer and that approximately one-third (34 percent) have never taken a medication for migrainerelief. Now there is a new painrelieving option to help the millions of migraine sufferers in the United States. Vioxx (rofecoxib), Merck & Co., Inc.’s once-daily arthritis and pain medicine, received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura (the warning of an oncoming mi- graine attack) in adults. Vioxx is the first and only COX-2 specific Migraine Is Not Just A Headache Migraine is a disease that affects approximately 28 million Americans, the majority of them women. Unlike a bad headache, migraines are characterized by attacks of intense, usually one-sided, throbbing head pain which can last anywhere from fourto 72 hours. The pain associated with migraineis frequently accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms,including: — Nausea — Vomiting and — Increased sensitivity to light and/orsound. @Q inhibitor approved to relieve migraine pain and associated migraine symptoms. “The pain from migraines can be excruciating, and can last for several hours or days—people with migraines know how devastating they can be,” said clinical investigator Stephen Silberstein, M.D., professor of Neurology, Jefferson University Hospital School of Medicine anddirector, Jefferson Headache Center, Philadelphia. “Studies have shown that just one Vioxx relieved migraine headache pain for most patients within two hours, a standard measurement for evaluating the efficacy of migraine treatments.” Vioxx offers a powerful new treatment option for the estimated 28 million Americans who suffer from the effects of migraines. In addition to the new indication to treat migraine pain, Vioxx is approved for the management of acute pain based on studies that have shown Vioxx provided effective analgesic relief for moderate to severe dental pain, primary dysmenorrhea and post-orthopedic surgical pain. Vioxx also is approved for the treatment of the chronic conditions of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults. For the acute treatment of migraine attacks, the recommended starting dose for Vioxx is 25 mg once daily. Some patients mayreceive additional benefit with Vioxx 50 mg as compared to Vioxx 25 mg. The maximum recommended daily dose is 50 mg. The safety of treating more than five migraine attacks in any given month has not been established. Chronic daily use of Vioxx for the acute treatment of migrainesis not recommended. The safety and effectiveness of Vioxx has not been established for cluster headache, which is present in an older, predominantly male population. Important Information: People with allergic reactions, such as asthma, to aspirin or other arthritis med- icines should not take Vioxx. In rare cases, serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, can occur without warning. Patients should inform their physicians if they have liver or kidney disease, or a history of angina (chest pain), heart attack or a blocked artery in their heart. Vioxx cannot take the place of aspirin for the prevention of heart attack or stroke. Vioxx should not be used by womenin late pregnancy. Commonly reported side effects in clinical trials with Vioxx have included upper-respiratory infections, diarrhea, nausea and high blood pressure. Vioxx is available by prescription only. For more information on Vioxx, visit www.vioxx.com. Please see adjacent patient product information and discuss it with your doctor. Editor—This release will be invalid after Oct. 31, 2004.
