FAQ's

See below for full answers to these “Top 5” questions – plus many more...

Q:

What’s in Petadolex® — should I worry about allergic reactions?

A:

The capsules contain no trans fats, peanuts, eggs, milk, wheat, gluten, tree nuts, fish or shellfish. The main ingredient is pure, PA-free butterbur. The gelcap casing contains small amounts of olive oil, glycerol, gelatin, riboflavin, natural coloring, and trace amounts of sorbitol.

Q:

Does Petadolex® cause harmful interactions with other medications?

A:

No drug interactions have been reported, and Petadolex has been used for decades by over 1,000,000 people.

Q:

Is there a danger in taking Petadolex® long-term — will PAs build up in my system?

A:

No, PAs will not build up and there is no long-term danger whatsoever.

Q:

Who should not take Petadolex®?

A:

If you are pregnant, planning to conceive or have liver disease, consult with your doctor before taking Petadolex® or any other medication.

Q:

Do I need to discontinue Petadolex® if I’m having surgery?

A:

No, Petadolex doesn’t affect your blood’s ability to clot, nor does it raise other surgery-related concerns.

Product Effectiveness

Q:

What are Petadolex® Butterbur Gelcaps?

A:

Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps are natural, non-prescription herbal supplement made from butterbur that has been proven to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Because of the patented purification and toxin-elimination used in their manufacture, Petadolex is the only butterbur product deemed safe for medical research and scientific studies. For decades, Petadolex has been prescribed for migraine prevention by European neurologists and has been available in the United States and Japan since 1972.

Q:

Will Petadolex completely eliminate my migraine headaches?

A:

It may. Even if it does not eliminate them completely, Petadolex has been proven to decrease migraine attacks by 62%. This means you can expect a significant reduction in your migraine days. Also, expect that any migraines you do will not be as painful or last as long.

Q:

Is butterbur as effective as prescription medications?

A:

Its effectiveness is comparable to prescription medications. In fact, Petadolex brand butterbur has actually been tested on migraine sufferers at clinical trials in U.S. migraine clinics — which is not the case with all medications doctors prescribe for migraines. Plus, unlike prescription medications, butterbur is a natural, plant-based treatment that does not produce any harmful side effects. Petadolex brand butterbur has also been found to be effective in patients who have tried every medication and treatment option available without success.

Q:

Can I use Petadolex to treat my migraines, or is it only effective in preventing them?

A:

Petadolex can treat migraine headaches when taken as soon as a headache develops. However, clinical testing has demonstrated butterbur to be significantly more effective in preventing migraine headaches from occurring in the future.

Q:

If I follow your recommended regimen for taking Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps daily, how long will it be until I see results?

A:

The average person needs to take butterbur for two full months to see a significant decline in migraine headaches. However, some people may experience relief in as few as two weeks.

Q:

How is Petadolex different from other migraine products?

A:

Petadolex differs in that it doesn't just treat the migraine headache you have now; it helps prevent future migraine headaches from occurring. The International Headache Society (IHS) recommends that patients who suffer from two or more migraines per month be offered a migraine/headache prophylactic, like butterbur.

Q:

How is Petadolex different from other migraine products?

A:

Clinical studies have only been conducted on using Petadolex for migraines. Therefore, though many people report that it’s effective for other types of headaches, there is no clinical data.

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Product Development & History

Q:

How long has Petadolex been on the market?

A:

Petadolex was developed by European scientists in the 1970s and has been used throughout Europe and Japan for more than 25 years. Petadolex was patented in the U.S. in 2003 and has been steadily gaining popularity here mostly due to physician referral and articles about its effectiveness in respected medical journals like Neurology and Headache.

Q:

Where was Petadolex tested?

A:

Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps have been tested in the United States and Europe. In the most recent study (reported in the Journal of Neurology), all migraine/headache patients taking Petadolex 75 mg Gelcaps two times daily were able to reduce their migraine/headaches by at least 50% or more after just three months.

Q:

What is in Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps?

A:

Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps are made from extracts of the butterbur plant, a medicinal plant long known for its muscle-relaxing, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving abilities, all of which have been verified by modern science. Only Petadolex butterbur is formulated using a patented purification and toxin-removal process that eliminates the harmful PA substances found in natural butterbur root. Petadolex butterbur is certified PA-free.

Q:

What is in Petadolex besides butterbur - should I be concerned about allergic reactions?

A:

No. Petadolex contains zero trans fat, peanuts, eggs, milk, wheat, gluten, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish. It contains PA-free butterbur plus gelatin, riboflavin and natural coloring agents.

Q:

What is butterbur?

A:

It is an herb found in Europe and parts of North Africa and Asia. The plant grows in damp, marshy areas and along riverbanks with large heart-shaped leaves. The name butterbur comes from the reported ancient practice of using the leaves to wrap butter.

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Product Safety

Q:

Is there anyone who shouldn't take Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps?

A:

If you are pregnant, nursing a baby or have liver disease, you should not use Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps.

Q:

Do I need my doctor's approval to take Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps?

A:

Because Petadolex is an herbal supplement, you don't need a prescription. However, if you are taking other medications and/or are under the care of a doctor for your migraine headaches, you may want to check with your doctor. In Europe, Petadolex is often recommended to migraine patients by their doctor or neurologist.

Q:

Is Petadolex safe?

A:

It is considered a well-tolerated treatment for migraine prevention. Neither harmful side effects nor harmful drug interactions have been discovered in any of the clinical research in three decades of use by European migraine patients or since Petadolex was introduced to the U.S. market in 1999. Generally, Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps are considered as safe or safer than all over-the-counter products available in your local pharmacy.

Q:

I understand that Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps are made from the butterbur plant as are many other herbal supplements. Are all butterbur remedies the same, or are some better or safer than others?

A:

No! Not all butterbur remedies are the same and not all of them are safe. Here's why: The butterbur plant in its unpurified powder form contains natural pyrrolizidin alkaloids (PAs) which may cause liver damage or liver cancer. PAs can be eliminated only while in a liquid form and cannot be eliminated from solid or powdered butterbur root. Only Petadolex is manufactured by a patented method for extracting the beneficial liquid of the Butterbur plant without the PAs. This purification process guarantees that Petadolex is free of detectable PAs.

Furthermore, while in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration does not subject dietary supplements like Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps to strict registration procedures, in Europe, where Petadolex is manufactured, the special butterbur liquid extract is considered a medication and falls under strict regulation by health authorities. Therefore, Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps must be produced so that it is 100% PA-free.

Q:

What are the reported side effects of using Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps?

A:

There are more than one million patients worldwide who have used Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps, of which 153,000 are in the U.S. No side effects have ever been reported in the U.S. However in Europe where approximately 750,000 patients have used Petadolex, less than 0.02294% have reported suspected adverse reactions.

Q:

Are there any problems with Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps if I'm taking other medications at the same time?

A:

No. Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps do not cause any drug interaction. After 28 years of closely monitoring the use of Petadolex in Europe there has not been a single drug-to-drug interaction reported.

Q:

Are Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps safe for children suffering from migraines?

A:

Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps can help children who suffer from migraines, but it is best used under a doctor's care. In a recently published study, 108 children between the ages of 6 and 17 were tested using either Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps or placebo. Children between the ages of 6 and 9 received one 50mg Petadolex Butterbur Gelcap while children 10 years and older received Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps 50mg two times.

After a four-month period 88% of the 6-9 year old children and 74% of the 10-17 year old children reported a reduction in the frequency of migraine headache attacks of at least 50%. There were only eight reported side effects, including three cases of belching, one case of nausea, and one case of stomach-ache.

Q:

Are there any symptoms that I should be aware of when taking Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps?

A:

If you know that your stomach is easily upset, consider taking Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps with food. However, if when taking Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps you experience persistent upper right abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or jaundice, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Stop taking Petadolex and immediately consult a physician.

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Product Dosage

Q:

In what form does Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps come?

A:

It comes in easy-to-swallow gelcap form in a choice of 50 mg. and 75 mg. strengths.

Q:

What is the dosage?

A:

Adults should take one 50 mg Gelcap two or three times daily, or one 75 mg Gelcap twice daily.Children between the ages of 6 and 9 should take one 50 mg. Gelcap in the evening. Children between the ages of 10 and 17 should take one 50 mg Gelcap two times daily or as directed by a health care professional. Children should not be given 75 mg Gelcaps.

The key to Petadolex is prevention. By consistently taking Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps on a daily basis, maximum results can be seen in as few as four weeks. During these early weeks, the preventative power of Petadolex builds in your system. The resulting relief is worth the wait!

Q:

When should I consider taking less Petadolex?

A:

Adequate treatment duration of Petadolex (or for any preventative substance) is important because study data show that clinical benefits may not become immediately apparent. Drawing on study data, it is recommended to take Petadolex for at least 3 to 4 months. If you use Petadolex for at least 6 months without seeing any effect, you probably do not respond to butterbur and should discontinue use. However, if you do respond and if you go several months free of migraines, consideration can be given to tapering or discontinuing Petadolex.

Q:

Do I need to discontinue Petadolex if I’m having surgery?

A:

No. Petadolex does not affect blood clotting or any other factor that could have an impact on surgery.

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