Headaches Flashcards
What % of office and ER visits involving headaches have serious pathology?
< 2%
< 4%
How do we classify headaches?
Primary (no other cause)
Secondary (some other cause)
What are some red flags of secondary headaches?
Change/progression in headache pattern
Abrupt onset
Neurological sx > 1 hour
How do you describe the pain of a tension headache?
Mild-moderate dull ache
What are tension headaches usually lacking?
Signs of serious underlying conditions
Visual disturbances
Generalized pain. fever, stiff neck, recent trauma
Bruxism
What are the OTC analgesics that pts often self treat tension headaches with?
Acetaminophen (56%)
Aspirin (15%)
Ibuprofen (12%)
Other agents (17%)
What NSAIDS and acetaminophen agents are more effective than placebos 2 hours after tx? What is their dosage?
Ibuprofen 400 mg po
Acetaminophen 1000 mg po
Ketoprofen 25 mg po
What should you limit analgesia intake per week to? Why?
2-3x/week
Prevent medication overuse headaches
What can you augment tension headache (TH) tx with? Give some examples.
Sedating antihistamines
Diphenhydramine
Promethazine
If augmented TH tx isnt working, what should you try?
Acetaminophen/ asprin w/ caffeine and butalbital
How often can you use the acetaminophen/caffeine/butalbital combination?
< 2xs weekly
What might the use of the combo TH therapy precipitate?
Chronic daily headahce
What are some things to worry about with the TH combo therapy? What do we do to deal with this?
Sedation
Limit alcohol
What are two drugs that are used as prophylaxis for TH?
Amitriptyline
SSRIs
How long might SSRIs take to be effective for TH?
1-2 months
What are some examples of SSRIs used for TH?
Paroxetine
Venlafaxine
Fluoxetine
What are the most painful of primary headaches?
Cluster headaches
What are some associated sx with cluster headaches (CH)?
Aura
Photophobia
Phonophobia
Osmophobia
What is a key feature of CHs?
Recurrent bouts of near daily attacks
How long may CHs last?
Weeks-months
When do CH attacks usually begin?
W/ REM phase sleep
What to pts susceptible to CHs fear?
Going to sleep
List some precipitants of a CH:
Hypoxia (sleep apnea)
Vasodilators
Alcohol
CO2
How are CHs dx?
Hx
Is CH pain UL or BL?
Unilateral
Where is the CH pain usually localized?
Orbital
Supraorbital
Temporal
CH pain is accompanied by >1 of:
Ipsilateral conjunctival injection or lacrimation
Ipsilateral nasal congestion or rhinorrhea
Ipsilateral eyelid edema, forehead & facial sweating
Ipsilateral miosis or ptosis, or
A sense of restlesness or agitation
What is the dual strategy for CH?
Acute attacks must be aborted or subdued
Prophylaxis used to suppress remaining CH
What is the tx of choice for CH? What is the dosage?
O2
7 L/min x 15 min