Compositions and methods of treatment to alleviate or prevent migrainous headaches and their associated symptoms
Methods of treating migrainous headaches and their associated symptoms are provided by administering a composition comprising parthenolide or feverfew sublingually to a patient in need thereof. Treatments are surprisingly effective with low total administered amounts of parthenolide or feverfew. Compositions and unit dose systems are also described.
1. A method of treating migrainous headaches, comprising administering an aqueous composition consisting essentially of feverfew extract and ginger extract sublingually to a patient in need thereof in a total administered amount of from about 4 mg to about 40 mg of feverfew extract in a two hour period.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said total administered amount is from about 4 mg to about 20 mg of feverfew extract in a two hour period.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said the feverfew extract has a standardized parthenolide concentration of from about 1.2% to about 10%.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition additionally comprises a mucosal permeation enhancer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition has a pH of from about 2 to about 6.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 6.0.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises 0.05–5% ascorbic acid and 0.05–5% sodium lauryl sulfate.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said total administered amount is divided among a plurality of compositions, and said plurality of compositions are administered sequentially.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is held sublingually for at least about 30 seconds prior to swallowing.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is circulated about the mouth prior to swallowing.
11. A method of treating migrainous headaches, comprising administering an aqueous composition consisting essentially of feverfew extract and ginger extract sublingually to a patient in need thereof in a total administered amount of from about 4 mg to about 40 mg of feverfew extract in a 24 hour period.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the feverfew extract is administered in at least two doses, and wherein each individual dose of feverfew extract does not exceed about 10 mg.