pain and headache management

Question 1

what is a tension head ache

Answer 1

Non-throbbing, band-like pain

Mild to moderate pain

Question 2

what is the treatment for tension headaches?

Answer 2

OTC medication

Question 3

are cluster headaches more common in med or women

Answer 3

men

Question 4

what is the treatment for cluster headaches?

Answer 4

Verapamil
predisone
lithium

Question 5

what are the characteristics of migraine headaches?

Answer 5

Pounding, throbbing, severe pain, unilateral

Auras

Nausea

Photosensitivity

Generated by neural events that trigger vasodilatation

Question 6

what are medication overuse headaches (MOH)?

Answer 6

they are headaches caused by abortive HA drugs

Question 7

how do you treat a MOH?

Answer 7

discontinue the medication

Question 8

how do you reduce the risk of getting a MOH?

Answer 8

limit medication use
alternate med
use the lowest effective dose

Question 9

what supresses migraine headaches?

Answer 9

5-hydrotryptamine

Question 10

are migraine headaches more common in men or women?

Answer 10

women

Question 11

what does an abortive drug do for migraine headaches?

Answer 11

it stops the migraine

Question 12

what does a preventative drug do for migraine headaches?

Answer 12

it keeps the migraine from appearing in the first place

Question 13

give 4 examples of abortive drugs

Answer 13

NSAIDs: ibuprofen
opioid analgesics:
ergot alkaloids: hehydroergotamine -(DHE)
triptans: sumatriptan

Question 14

what abortive drugs should you not take when pregnant?

Answer 14

ergot alkaloids
triptans

Question 15

what major effects can triptans have?

Answer 15

they can cause birth defects and/or fetal demise

Question 16

what are the 4 preventative migraine medications with examples?

Answer 16

beta blockers: propanolol
TCAs: amitryptyline
Antepileptic drugs: divalproex
calcium channel blockers: veramapil

Question 17

how do we measure pain?

Answer 17

on a scale from 1-10

Question 18

what is the first step on the WHO ladder?

Answer 18

non opioid
examples:
- aspirin
- ibuprofen
- acetaminophen

Question 19

what are 4 classifications of pain?

Answer 19

nociceptive
neuropathic
acute
chronic

Question 20

what is nociceptive pain?

Answer 20

caused by tissue damage

Question 21

what is neuropathic pain

Answer 21

caused by nerve damage

Question 22

is nociceptive pain acute or chronic?

Answer 22

usually acute

Question 23

is neuropathic pain acute or chronic?

Answer 23

chronic

Question 24

what kind of drugs does nociceptive pain respond well to?

Answer 24

opioids

Question 25

what is the gate theory for dummies?

Answer 25

non painful stimuli can block painful stimuli

Question 26

what is the 2nd step on the WHO ladder?

Answer 26

opioid for mild to moderate pain
examples:
- codeine
- hydrocodone
- oxycodone
- tramadol

Question 27

what is the 3rd step on the WHO ladder?

Answer 27

opioid for moderate to severe pain:
examples:
- morphine
- hydromorphone
- methadone

Question 28

what is tolerance

Answer 28

need increasing dosages to relieve pain
“normal”/expected

Question 29

what is physical dependence

Answer 29

withdrawal with abrupt discontinuation of drug
“normal”/expected

Question 30

what is addiction?

Answer 30

using a medication to get high
not “normal”/unexpected