Other

Evidence Based Guidelines for Treatment of Primary Headaches

Vida Demarin
Vlasta Vuković
Arijana Lovrenčić-Huzjan
Ivo Lušić
Davor Jančuljak
Ksenija Wilheim
Niko Zurak

Abstract

A proportion of headache patients should be evaluated by a neurologist. These guidelines are developed to help physicians in making appropriate choice in the work-up and treatment of headache patients. Most migraine sufferers have not been diagnosed by a physician and are not receiving medical guidance to effectively address their migraine attacks. In the past 15 years new therapies (acute and preventive) have been introduced. In migraine patients nonresponders to analgesics, especially in patients with moderate to severe migraine, triptans should be introduced. In migraine with frequent attacks or long lasting attacks, preventive treatment according to comorbid diseases should be recommended. In tension type headache, an underlying pathology should be excluded; management includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. Although rare, patients with cluster headache experience major pain and disability; in acute management oxygen inhalation or triptans are recommended, in certain cases prophylaxis is indicated. These guidelines contain classification, diagnostic criteria, and principles of management of all primary headaches. These recommendations for headache treatment are based on a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of scientific literature with regard to treatment possibilities in Croatia.

Keywords

Migraine; Tension headache; Cluster headache; Headache management; Pharmacotherapy

Hrčak ID:

14261

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/14261

Publication date:

1.6.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 3.011 *