Headache Flashcards
what questions would you ask a pt suffering from a headache?
- Onset of action
- Frequency and timing (menstrual cycle)
- location of pain (cluster - unilateral in frontal and ocular areas, migraine - unilateral but changes from side to side, tension type - bilateral
- severity of pain - subjective, throbbing, dull, piercing, boring, searing eye pain
- Triggers - exertion, coughing, bending, food, menstruation
- Attack duration - migraine lasts between a few hours and 3 days, tension-type headaches - few hours and several days, cluster lasts 2-3 hours
- associated symptoms like fever - infections
What are the symptoms of tension-type headache?
- Tightness or weight pressing down on their head and upper neck sometimes extends to the top of the head and back of the eyes
- Not associated with neck stiffness or N/V
- Headaches last 30minutes - up to 7 days
What symptoms are associated with migraines?
unilateral - affecting one side of the head, over the forehead
alterations in vision or tingling/numbness on one side of the body, in the lips, fingers or hands before an attack starts
N/V and photosensitivity
mood changes, poor concentration, food cravings
headache with or without aura
lethargic , tired, drained
How long do migraine attacks last for?
4-72 hours
average length is 24 hours
What can possibly trigger migraine attacks?
stress, diet, cheese, citrus fruits, chocolate
maintain a food diary
maintain regular sleep pattern
regular exercise
What can occur in pt that have a migraine with aura (classic migraine)?
blind spots, zig-zag lines, flashing or flickering lights
throbbing
pins and needles going up the arm
photophobia
What can be used to treat cluster headache?
sumatriptan or verapamil
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
severe generalised headache, fever, neck stiffness, N/V, purpuric rash, if a child has difficulty placing their chin on their chest and is running a temperature above 38.9 - urgent referral
When would you refer pts that present with headache?
- First migraine episode occurring over the age of 40
- Any headache that does not respond to OTC analgesics within a day
- Dull pain that is deep seated and severe and aggravated by lying down or worse in the morning - intracranial pressure derived from tumour
- headaches of increasing frequency and severity
- recurring headache can indicate medication-induced headache (overuse)
- any woman taking COC
- severe headache of more than 4 hours duration
- headache in children under 12 years
- neck stiffness
- headache following on from recent injury or trauma
What tx options can be given for pts with tension and migraine headaches?
Paracetamol
NSAIDS
Analgeic combo’s containing opioids e.g. codeine, dihydrocodeine - cant use in tension headaches
Sumatriptan
what are the side effects that can occur?
- Daily use of analgesics can cause chronic daily headache so short term use only
- drowsiness
- respiratory depression
- constipation
- addiction
Name some OTC tx
Nurofen, Migraleve, Imigran, Paracodol, Solpadeine
What age group can migraleve and midrid? What side effects are associated? Interactions ?
> 12 years
Migraleve: dry mouth, sedation, constipation
interacts: alcohol, opioids, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants
glaucoma, prostrate enlargment
Midrid: dizziness, rash, avoid pts taking MAOIs - hypertensive crisis, avoid in pts taking BB and TCAs
careful in pts that have HTN and diabetes - short term is fine
How does sumatriptan work?
constricts the cranial blood vessels, stops the release of inflammatory neurotransmitters at the trigeminal nerve synapses and reduce pain signal transmission
What are the age restrictions of sumatriptan? when can it be used? when shouldnt it be used?
18-65 years
only use if clear diagnosis of migraine
dont use prophylactically
