June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month

- Join #MoreThanAMigraine and visit mychronicmigraine.ca to break the numbing silence -

TORONTO, June 6, 2018 /CNW/ - Allergan Canada is proudly supporting National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month with #MoreThanAMigraine to encourage dialogue and awareness surrounding chronic migraines (CM), migraines and headaches.

"Chronic migraine sits on the severe end of the migraine spectrum and is often misdiagnosed and inadequately managed in Canada. A medical assessment is necessary and can assist with managing chronic migraines through pain relieving medications, preventive therapies and lifestyle modifications," says Dr. Ian Finkelstein, specialist in migraine and pain management. "Chronic migraine is a highly disabling neurological condition that affects personal, professional, emotional and social aspects of life. Canadians affected by chronic migraine are not alone.  Resources and Health Canada approved treatment options are available to manage chronic migraine symptoms."

The Difference Between Migraines and Other Types of Headaches

Migraines are more severe and debilitating than other types of headaches, and impact over 2.7 million Canadians.ⁱ They consist of moderately to severely intense headaches with throbbing or pulsating pain and are often on one side of the head.ⁱⁱ Other debilitating symptoms include nausea; vomiting; and hypersensitivity to lights, sounds and smells.ⁱⁱⁱ

Throbbing statistics

• It is estimated that between 370,000- 600,000 adult Canadians, 18 years or older, suffer from CM.ⁱⁱ
• It has been estimated that just 20.2 per cent of CM sufferers receive a CM diagnosis, and only 33.3 per cent of CM patients use preventive medication.^iv  
• Patients with CM are more likely to miss days of work, school, household work, become occupationally disabled and experience lower levels of household income.^v,^iv
• Patients with CM are nearly twice as likely to be affected by depression or anxiety when compared to episodic migraneurs.^v 
• Patients with CM are more likely to receive opioid medications than those with episodic migraines.^iv,^vi
• Over 80 per cent of CM sufferers in Canada are women.^vii

#MoreThanAMigraine

This June, Allergan Canada is encouraging migraine sufferers to break their silence in hopes to spread awareness on the condition, to highlight the symptoms, and to understand the impact. Migraine sufferers can talk to the healthcare providers, share their experiences online using #MoreThanAMigraine and connect on mychronicmigraine.ca to discover treatment options, understand triggers, and/or take a patient self-assessment. The site also features a search tool that allows Canadians to find a doctor in their area who may be able to help.

Interview Opportunities

To schedule an interview or learn more about Allergan's commitment to neuroscience, please contact Caroline De Silva – [email protected].

About Allergan plc

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical leader. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world.

Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.

Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, a model of research and development, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. With this approach, Allergan has built one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry.

Allergan's success is powered by our global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right.

With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS^®, on our financial results; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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^{i Statistics Canada. Prevalence of migraine in the Canadian household population. Accessed May 2018:  https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2014006/article/14033-eng.htm
ii Natoli JL et al. Global Prevalence of Chronic Migraine: A Systematic Review. Cephalalgia. 2010 May;30 (5):599-609.
iii Natoli JL et al. Global Prevalence of Chronic Migraine: A Systematic Review. Cephalalgia. 2010 May;30 (5):599-609.
iv Bigal ME, Serrano D, Reed M, Lipton RB. Chronic migraine in the population: Burden, diagnosis, and satisfaction with treatment. Neurology. 2008;71:559-566. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000323925.29520.e7.
v Buse DC, Manack A, Serrano D, Turkel C, Lipton RB. Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of chronic migraine and episodic migraine sufferers. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2010;81(4):428-432. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2009.192492.
vi Pavlovic J, Yu J, Silberstein S, et al. Migraine Treatment Patterns and Opioid Use Among Chronic and Episodic Migraine Patients Identified by a Clinician-Administered Semi-Structured Diagnostic Interview (S32.001). Neurology. 2018;90(15 Supplement):S32.001. http://n.neurology.org/content/90/15_Supplement/S32.001. Accessed June 1, 2018.
vii Stokes M. et al. "Cost of health care among patients with chronic and episodic migraine in Canada and the USA: results from the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS)." American Headache Society. 2011 May: 1065.}

SOURCE Allergan

MEDIA CONTACTS: Liana N. Del Medico, Associate Director, Corporate Communications, Allergan Inc., T. 905 940-7003; Caroline De Silva, Argyle Public Relationships, [email protected], T. 416 968-7311 ext. 231