September 2007
Headache drug lacks evidence
"Apply directly to the forehead," commands a TV commercial for HeadOn, a headache pain reliever. The product, which costs
about $8 in pharmacies, is not a conventional over-the-counter analgesic.
HeadOn is a topically applied remedy that, like most homeopathic drugs, contains extremely small concentrations of "active ingredients" such as the chemical potassium bichromate and the botanical white bryony, listed on the label as pain relievers. Does it really work? Possibly, if users believe it will work, our headache consultants concluded after reviewing evidence the manufacturer submitted at our request.
The documents purported to show efficacy of its ingredients but included no clinical-trial data involving HeadOn. A company executive said such studies had been conducted but were not yet published and therefore could not be divulged. Without those data, our medical consultants said, any apparent efficacy may be the result of the placebo effect. Their concerns mirrored those of the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which in March 2006 recommended that the company discontinue product performance and efficacy claims because of insufficient evidence. In a written response, the maker said it strongly disagreed but would consider the recommendations when developing future advertising.
CR's take. Given the lack of clinical evidence showing that HeadOn works, it makes more sense to try proven drug treatments. For occasional tension headaches, short-term use of over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic) or ibuprofen (Advil and generic), can speed recovery. Gently massaging the head or neck often helps as well.
HeadOn is a topically applied remedy that, like most homeopathic drugs, contains extremely small concentrations of "active ingredients" such as the chemical potassium bichromate and the botanical white bryony, listed on the label as pain relievers. Does it really work? Possibly, if users believe it will work, our headache consultants concluded after reviewing evidence the manufacturer submitted at our request.
The documents purported to show efficacy of its ingredients but included no clinical-trial data involving HeadOn. A company executive said such studies had been conducted but were not yet published and therefore could not be divulged. Without those data, our medical consultants said, any apparent efficacy may be the result of the placebo effect. Their concerns mirrored those of the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which in March 2006 recommended that the company discontinue product performance and efficacy claims because of insufficient evidence. In a written response, the maker said it strongly disagreed but would consider the recommendations when developing future advertising.
CR's take. Given the lack of clinical evidence showing that HeadOn works, it makes more sense to try proven drug treatments. For occasional tension headaches, short-term use of over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic) or ibuprofen (Advil and generic), can speed recovery. Gently massaging the head or neck often helps as well.
