Tennis Champion Monica Seles: Acing Migraine Pain

January 24, 2004

"I suffered for several years with what I thought were just stress or tension headaches. There were times when I had to miss practices - and even pull out of a couple of tournaments - because the pain and sensitivity to sunlight were unbearable," said Monica Seles. "There were people who couldn't understand how a headache could be so disabling and thought I just didn't want to play tennis that day."

For the first time, Monica Seles, one of the world's most accomplished women's tennis players, is sharing her story about her toughest opponent, Migraine disease, as part of a nationwide educational initiative. The campaign called Acing Migraine Pain, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, is designed to help raise awareness of the condition and encourage those who may be suffering from frequent severe headaches to seek diagnosis for what could actually be Migraines, an often debilitating condition.

I spoke with Monica this morning and asked her how Migraine affected her life. She began having Migraines in the early 90's, but wasn't properly diagnosed until 1997. Monica said Migraine affected her entire life, personal and professional. It made tennis very hard because it affects her balance in addition to the pounding headache and extreme light sensitivity. In her personal life, she missed events such as a very close friend's birthday party, and people who don't have Migraine don't always understand. Her advice? "Go see your doctor. Get the medicine you need. You're going to have a new life. You can't give up. There's help out there." When I asked Monica what the biggest change proper diagnisis and treatment had made in her life was, she replied, "I don't have to be afraid of when it's going to hit. You know? Now, when it hits, I can do something."

Unfortunately, what Monica describes is all too common. Although more than 32 million Americans suffer from Migraine disease, under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis remain problematic along with a lack of understanding of Migraine. It's estimated that as many as 14 million people who have Migraines have never been diagnosed by a physician.

"Too often, people with Migraines mistake their pain for stress or tension headaches or sinus pressure," said Dr. Jan Lewis Brandes, Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "Because Migraine can present itself in various ways, receiving an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional and getting appropriate treatment is critical. The good news is, if you're diagnosed with Migraines, there is a class of Migraine-specific medications called triptans, like Imitrex (sumatriptan succinate) that a physician can prescribe, which can offer patients very positive results.

"When I was finally diagnosed with Migraines, the doctor prescribed Imitrex. Now, I take my medicine when I feel a Migraine coming on and I get the relief I need," added Seles.

If the diagnosis is Migraine
If the diagnosis is Migraine with or without aura, then Migraine-specific prescription therapies, such as Imitrex, are available for the acute treatment of Migraine attacks without drowsiness. Imitrex was the first triptan to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the acute treatment of Migraine in adults. Others soon followed. There are now seven medications in the triptan class.

Monica Seles: Acing Migraine Pain
Monica will be making appearances throughout 2004 to share her personal story and to motivate others to 'ace Migraine pain'. "I hope by talking about my struggle with this condition, other people suffering from frequent bad headaches will recognize their symptoms as part of a real medical condition and see a doctor to get the proper diagnosis and treatment," said Seles.

About Imitrex^®
Imitrex tablets are now available in a formulation designed to rapidly dissolve in the stomach. The new tablets contain the same active ingredient with an innovative technology for rapid dissolution. The rapid-release technology of Imitrex tablets works differently from oral disintegrating tablets, also known as oral melts (Maxalt^® and Zomig^®), which dissolve on the tongue. New Imitrex tablets, which replace the old tablets, are swallowed whole with water like conventional tablets, dissolve quickly, and can be taken at the first sign of Migraine pain for effective relief. Imitrex is also available in nasal spray form and is the only triptan available in injection form. A special formulation of Imitrex Nasal Spray for adolescents has already been approved for use in Great Britain and is in clinical trials in the United States.

About The Sponsor
"Monica Seles: Acing Migraine Pain" is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. The company is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.