Headaches & Head Pain

Dr. Loftus interest in migraine headaches developed as he discovered his own migraines during his neurology residency. Unfortunately, despite the high frequency of migraines in the population, neurology residents get very little lecture time for this disease.  To improve headache education among non-headache specialist, Dr. Loftus co-founded the Southern Headache Society.  He lectures frequently to other physicians on the latest treatments in this field. The migraine section of this web site covers diagnosis, acute and preventative migraine treatment.  Most patients diagnosed with sinus headache actually have migraines and this web site will hopefully help them seek better treatment. If you are unsure what kind of headache you have, the headache overview page lists various types. Dr. Loftus is also developing the iHeadache family of products - an electronic headache diary that  will revolutionize the communication between patients and their physicians.

Migraines during Pregnancy

Having migraines can be hard enough.  Migraines before, during, and after pregnancy can still be treated but the options have to be chosen more carefully.  Unfortunately, many neurologist do not actually treat pregnant women.  No one has ever been sued for not prescribing migraine treatment but with approximately 2-3% of all pregnancies having a bad outcome, doctors are worried about lawsuits connected with treatments prescribed during pregnancy.  For this reason, Dr. Loftus has devoted an entire section of the website on migraines during pregnancy to help the migraine patient navigate this time in her life.

Hyperhidrosis

For many people, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is a disease that greatly affects their quality of life.  Botox was finally FDA approved for axillary hyperhidrosis in 2004 but Dr. Loftus has been using it to treat hyperhidrosis since the mid 1990s. His first patient who cried tears of joy in his office was a hyperhidrosis patient.  It is ironic that at a time that insurance coverage for hyperhidrosis has improved, the vast majority of doctors who treat hyperhidrosis are refusing to work with insurance.  For these patients, Dr. Loftus has continued to provide this service.

Clinical Research

Clinical research is an area that is very important to Dr. Loftus. His past research has been sponsored by pharmaceutical firms. Past clinical trials have involved therapy for acute migraines, migraine prevention, multiple sclerosis, post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, and stroke prevention. Astra-Zeneca, Eli Lilly, Glaxo Smith Klein, Opexa Pharmaceuticals, St. Jude Medical and Johnson & Johnson have provided research funding.

Going forward, Dr. Loftus wants to do research trials on innovative migraine therapies that to date, have not been adequately proven for wide spread adoption.  Studies being planned include nerve blocks for migraines, IV magnesium for migraine prevention, zonisamide vs topiramate, duloxetine vs venlafaxine vs amitriptyline.  Dr. Loftus also uses a unique multi-vector migraine attack model that is not typically taught.

Professional Responsibilities

Dr. Loftus is the Chief Medical Officer for Better QOL, a web based portal being developed to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases.

He has been an invited speaker to give continuing medical education (CME) talks to the Texas Association of Family Practice and the Texas Neurological Society. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Texas Neurological Society, Texas Medical Association, and the Harris County Medical Society. He has served on a Quality Assurance Board of a medical hospital for 10 years.

The tradition of physicians educating their own is something Dr. Loftus believes strongly in. From medical students, to residents, to other specialists and contemporaries, Dr. Loftus loves to teach. For ten years, he was an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine. During this time he voluntarily spent part of each day, seven days a week, for one month each year as the Neurology Inpatient and Consult Attending at Ben Taub General Hospital. During this month he oversaw the neurology residents and medical students for all hospitalized neurology patients. He currently gives numerous educational talks each year to physicians on migraine..

Dr. Loftus’ past professional responsibilities have included

  • Co-Founder of Southern Headache Society
  • Past President and Vice-President of the Southern Headache Society
  • Chair of multiple Texas Neurological Society Summer Meetings
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine.
  • Elected Deputy Chief of Neurology Service at The Methodist Hospital
  • President of the Harris County branch of the Texas Neurological Society.

He admits patients to River Oaks Hospital.

Personal Life

Dr. Loftus lives with his wife Blakely and their dogs in Bellaire, TX. Dr. Loftus has one son, Adam who is a 2008 graduate of Bellaire High School and a 2012 graduate of Vanderbilt University where he graduated Sum Laude in Mechanical Engineering. Adam is the Head of Service Strategy and Analytics at Bridgecrest. Dr. Loftus constantly wishes he had more spare time to get back to golf and water sports.

This web site represents the views of Dr. Loftus alone. It is not intended to allow patients/non-physicians to self-diagnose but rather to increase patient's understanding of their medical condition. Dr. Loftus believes informed patients can better assist in their own medical care, which results in a better outcome for the patient.

Download the C.V. of Brian D. Loftus, M.D.