A study at Penn State University of babies between the ages of 2 and 4 months found that giving them sugar water before and after shots reduces their pain.

Half of the babies were given a solution of water with 24-percent sucrose and a pacifier. The others were given plain water and a pacifier.

Doctors who did not know which babies received which solution measured the babies' pain by intensity of their cries, facial expressions and other body movements. Those who'd been given the sugar water solution scored significantly lower on the pain scales.
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A survey of college students shows about 20 percent use prescription drugs to get high. The survey from the University of Michigan included more than 3,600 students.

One out of every five admits taking prescription drugs that were not prescribed for them. This group was also much more likely to test positive for other types of drug abuse.
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Doctors counsel migraine patients to take medication at the onset of a headache as a way to head off the attack. Some patients, however, wait because they're afraid they will run out of medication before their insurance allows a refill. A study at St. Louis University tried to determine just how common this problem is.

Sandy Moonier is an ace sandwich maker, a mom and a nurse. She's often sidelined by migraines.

"It's almost like it exhausts you. I find that, after I have my migraines, it's almost like it just tires you out," she said.

Moonier is supposed to take Triptan medication when she feels a migraine coming on but insurance limits her to 12 pills a month, and that poses a problem.

"You kind of sit there and think, 'Okay, should I take one?' or 'How many do I have left?' and that's really what regulates whether or not, makes a decision, the deciding factor, whether or not you're going to take one or not," said Moonier.

Doctors at Saint Louis University School of Medicine often heard these complaints.

"They noticed that a lot of their patients came in talking about the frustrations they have in trying to make this decision," said researcher Robert Nicholson.

Nicholson headed a study to find out how outside factors, like insurance, affect the use of preventive medications.

"If people had either perceived insurance limitations, cost limitations, or both, only half of those people actually took their Triptans as prescribed," said Nicholson.

"It's basically, you're rationing your medication because you just never know, when is 'the big one'?" said Moonier.

Hospitals were the safety net when patients ran out of medication before the next allowed refill.

"About a third of those people, so 1 of every 3 people, were going to the ER in the past 12 months just for their headaches," said Nicholson.

Moonier tries to treat her migraines early, even at the risk of running out of medication. It's a proactive approach that helps her enjoy her family without limitations

According to the study, more than 40 percent of patients said their quality of life was adversely affected when insurance limited the number of pills they could use in a month.