Guest Author - Joyce N. Eldridge, M.Ed.

There are millions of headache sufferers around the world. People want relief and they want it now. Unlike other medical diagnoses, headaches do not have a simple cause and solution. When a person is diagnosed with high blood pressure, the doctor writes a prescription and the patient is on her way. Ninety percent of the time the medication will work. This quick fix is rarely the case for headache and migraine sufferers. Although headaches happen to be a common occurrence for many people, there is no common treatment.

Just as headaches vary, so do the finances of headache sufferers. When it comes to prescription medications, what happens when the ‘cure all’ that the doctor prescribes cures nothing? You can’t take the medicine back to the pharmacy and ask for a refund! Legally, once the medication leaves the pharmacy it belongs to the individual for which it was prescribed. Sadly, headache sufferers end up with a ton of unused medication and they have spent a ton of money. What is the financially strapped headache sufferer to do?

More and more, people with all kinds of medical ailments especially headaches and migraines are looking to get involved in medical research. People are volunteering for clinical research trials for new medications and treatments as a way to get the scoop on the up and coming drugs, make a little extra cash and get medical intervention that they might not otherwise receive.

If you’ve ever heard a television or radio commercial that lists several symptoms and then ends with “you may qualify to participate in a medical research study for…” you’ve probably thought twice about calling the advertised phone number. At any given time, there are hundreds of research trials being conducted in relation to headaches and migraines. Effective treatments, new medications, medication combinations, you name it, some company, institution or group is researching it!

According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), the goal of a clinical trial [study, research project, etc.] is to determine how well a medication or treatment will work on the human population. Having people that meet specific criteria of presenting symptoms participate aids in providing valuable information on diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

It is extremely important to understand that clinical research studies are voluntary and participants can stop if and when they desire. The purpose and process of the study should be clearly explained and understood prior to participating. The organization conducting the study must clearly identify any risks associated with the study as well as the benefits that may be obtained. Participants are required to give their written consent to proceed. There should never be a monetary cost for the participant, i.e.—you should never have to use your own medical insurance to participate in the study or your prescription plan to obtain the medication in question.

Headache sufferers who decide to investigate current clinical trials should do their research. The internet is an invaluable tool when it comes to researching doctors, products, procedures and other medical studies. Lastly, as a patient you can not be forced into a medical study by your doctor. From time to time, medical professionals may assist organizations with data collection from a specific population. For instance, you currently see a neurologist for your migraines, that neurologist has been approached by a leading pharmaceutical company to participate in the study of a new drug, in turn you fit the profile for a study candidate and your doctor feels you should participate. While your doctor can inform you of the study and seek your interest, you are not mandated to participate in order to receive proper medical care from that doctor.