Pharmaceutical kit for migraine headache treatment

#The present invention broadly relates to a pharmaceutical kit and method of packaging the kit for treating migraine headaches.

#Migraine is an age old disease which has been described and dealt with in various ways throughout history by many cultures and civilization. For example, old English literature described migraine as “Hemicrania”, implying that migraine headache is unilateral in the head. However migraine does not always attack in a unilateral manner. It took several centuries to understand the scientific basis and recognize the wide clinical spectrum of this very common illness.

#As of recent times, in the United States alone, there are 28 million people suffering from migraine. Of that population, approximately 21 million are female and 7 million are male. One in four households has at least one migraine sufferer. Migraine prevalence peaks in the 25 to 55 year age ranges in both genders. In the 1999 HIS (International Headache Society) estimate, 52% of the total population of migraine cases remain undiagnosed. The undiagnosed sufferers are most likely self-medicating with over the counter medications. “Migraine Awareness”, i.e., public knowledge of migraine illness, is much more prevalent in the urban areas than in the interior heartland of the United States, for example.

#The present invention will now be described in more detail by referring to the drawings that accompany the present application. It is noted that in the accompanying drawings like reference numerals are used for describing like and corresponding elements thereof.

#FIG. 1 shows a preferred pharmaceutical kit including injection devices and pharmaceutical compounds of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 shows a preferred container including a nasal spray device and alternative pharmaceutical compounds within the container;

#An aspect of this invention applies to the preparation of a kit for the treatment of migraine headaches. In a preferred embodiment of this invention predetermined quantities representing a therapeutically effective dosage of several compounds for treatment of a migraine headache are packaged along with additional components such as a vessel of water, alcohol swabs and instructions for use, in a container by a manufacturing process which, preferably, seals the container and its contents into a self-contained, unitary, migraine headache treatment kit. Known pharmaceutical compounds may be provided, however it should be understood that yet to be developed compounds may also be used as they become available.

#Preferably, each drug, i.e., pharmaceutical compound, in the kit is packed separately, yet the separately packed drugs are contained in a single, easy to use container, such as the container shown in FIG. 1 100. In a preferred aspect of this pharmaceutical kit for treating migraine headaches, precise instructions 140 for use of all the constituents are also provided. Additionally, it is preferable that a kit contain enough medications, i.e., pharmaceutical compounds, to treat at least two migraine attacks. As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred implementation, the container is manufactured such that its compartments 130, 160, 165 fit neatly around the individually packaged predetermined number of pharmaceutical compounds 132, injection administration devices 110 for drug injection below the skin of a user, and a vessel of water, e.g., water bottle 120. Sufficient space is also provided for additional components such as alcohol swab packet 170 and instructions 140. Additionally, the separately packed drugs, i.e., the individually packaged pharmaceutical compounds 132 preferably include labels on the separate packaging identifying the particular pharmaceutical compound contained in the package. Preferably, a container surface such as surface 105 includes a latching device 155 for keeping the contents secure within the container. Additionally, a preferred implementation of this invention includes a hand strap 150 for carrying the kit 100. Although a container with basically rectilinear surfaces 105, 145 is shown, the container may be provided in any shape and size which provides sufficient space for all of the kit components and pharmaceutical compounds, e.g., water bottle 120, injection administration devices 110, alcohol swab packet 170, instructions 140, pharmaceutical package 132, and the like. The container may be made of a relatively soft material such as vinyl and foam, or may provide a relatively hard covering such as high impact plastic.

#The container contents include a therapeutically effective dosage of pharmaceutical compounds used in the treatment of migraine, as well as other components to assist drug administration, such as alcohol swab packet 170. Water bottle 120 is preferably a component that is provided in all implementations of this invention in order to facilitate administering oral dosage units of the pharmaceutical compounds, such as pills, capsules, tablets, and the like. The pharmaceutical compounds are chosen to address various aspects of the migraine condition, such as, e.g., headache, nausea and mood swings. In a preferred implementation of the current invention where all pharmaceutical compounds are oral dosage units, the container may be manufactured to contain more than one water bottle, as shown in FIG. 3 at 120 and 165.