Headache Flashcards
Sinus HA
Pain is behind browbone and/or cheekbones
Cluster HA
Pain is in and around one eye
Tension HA
Pain is like a band squeezing the head
Migraine HA
Pain, nausea and visual changes are typical of classic form
Migraine criteria
5 attacks of
- HA lasting 4-72hrs
- Must be associated with N or V or photophobia/phonophobia
Must have 2 or the following
- Unilateral
- Pulsating
- Moderately severe
- Aggravated by physical activity
Acute therapy
- Match agent to HA intensity
- Prescribe an adequate dose
- Consider the route
- Avoid rebound (can have rebound headache with pain meds)
Goals:
- Treat attacks rapidly and consistently without recurrence
- Restore pt’s ability to function
- Minimize use of back up and rescue medications (used at home when other treatments fail; permits pt to achieve relief w/o discomfort and expense of visit to physician’s office or ED)
- Optimize self-care and reduce use of resources
- Be cost effective for overall management
- Have minimal or no adverse events
Nonpharmacologic Treatments
- Aimed at reducing stress
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Message
- Exercise
- Regular sleep
- Acupressure
- Relaxation techniques
- Diet changes
Abortive agents for self administration
Triptans
- Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
- Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
- Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
- Naratriptan (Amerge)
- Eletriptan (Relpax)
- Almotriptan (Axert)
- Frovatriptan (Frova)
Dihydroergotamine (DHE)
Simple analgesics and NSAIDs
Compound preparations
Narcotics
I. Prodrome
Craving
Tired, yawning
Heightened perception
Fluid retention
II. Aura
Aura
III. HA
Anorexia, N, V Sleepy, yawning Photophobia Phonophobia Osmophobia
IV. Postdromes
Limited food tolerance
Tired
Feeling high or low
Diuresis
Mild-moderate HA/migraines
OTC pain meds
Tylenol– worry liver
NSAIDs– worry ulcer
Caffeine
- Most widely used psychoactive substance in the world
- Methylxanthine
- Competitively antagonizes adenosine receptors
- Stimulant: tolerance rapidly develops
- Withdrawal: HA, fatigue, sedation, N
Fiorinal/Fioricet
- Fiorinal: Butalbital, aspirin, caffeine
- Fioricet: Butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine
- INDICATION: tension HA
- USE: migraine
- ADR: N, abd pain, drowsiness, dizziness
- Watch for over use, rebound HA, withdrawal (overuse- using more than 2x/weekly)
- Preparations w/ codeine (CIII)