Headache Welcome to the Affordable Drugs headache information page. When you have a headache you want headache relief fast. Since there are so many types of headaches how do you know what will provide relief? There are tension headaches, fatigue headaches, migraine headaches, stress headaches, cluster headaches, sinus headaches, exertion headaches, hormonal headaches and more. By educating yourself and understanding headaches you determine what will work for you and even prevent headaches before they happen. Here you can learn about headache symptoms, headache causes and headache treatments. You can also find the best prices available on headache medications. The information contained on this page is not intended to replace the professional advice of your physician.
What Is a Headache? A headache is the sensation of pain in the head, areas of the face, and sometimes the upper neck. The brain itself is not sensitive to pain, even though it may feel that way during a severe headache. The actual structures that are sensitive to pain include facial bones, eyes, nose, ears and mouth. During a headache, only part of the head may feel pain, such as the temples, or the whole head may be affected. Pain may be severe, moderate, or minor, and it may be described as sharp or dull. With some headaches, other symptoms may occur, such as light sensitivity and nausea.
While scientists do understand what triggers headaches, the exact molecular basis of headaches as a disease is not understood completely. It may be a dysfunction of the neurotransmitter serotonin. According to this theory, an abnormal release of the serotonin causes a shift in blood flow from the arteries to the veins, which then causes changes in the nerves and nerve centers, resulting in a headache.
Depending on the cause and type of headache, different areas of the head will be affected by pain. Vascular headaches, such as migraines, cause pain in the very sensitive large blood vessels in the head. Problems with the jaws and teeth also may cause pain in these areas and thus cause a headache. Muscle contraction or tension headaches result from neck spasms, thus pain from these headaches will include the neck. Headaches also may be caused by eyestrain or stuffed sinuses.
Brain aneurysms may cause sudden and intense head pain. Bacterial meningitis also may cause intense pain, usually in reaction to light, resulting from an infection of the meninges, the tissue surrounding brain nerves and the spinal cord. Brain tumors and head and neck trauma also cause head pain. Withdrawal from over-the-counter and prescription drugs may result in head pain. People who overuse headache medications may experience rebound headaches.
Headaches tend to run in families, so researchers do believe there is a genetic component. The majority of Americans, over 70 percent, have experienced some kind of headache during the past year. Over 40 million Americans experience headaches on a regular basis.
Headache Symptoms Headaches are a common ailment, and if you haven't had one during your life you should consider yourself very lucky. What you may not realize, however, is that there are actually many different types of headache, each of which can have different headache symptoms and different treatment methods. One of the symptoms of headaches which is common to every type is, obviously, pain. That pain can vary in strength and location depending on what type of headache you have and how often you have them. Some of the other headache symptoms include nausea, fatigue, dizziness and even blurred vision. For most headaches you can just ignore them or take an over-the-counter pain medication, but if the symptoms of headaches are making your life significantly less enjoyable or interrupting your day-to-day affairs, and if the headaches are a regular occurrence, you may wish to consider consulting your doctor.
Headache Types and Symptoms
Migraines
The word 'migraine' comes to us by a circuitous route from the Greek words for "half" and "skull." Accordingly, when you experience this kind of headache, you will notice that all the pain comes from one side of your head. Nobody really knows for sure exactly what causes a migraine, but the symptoms of headaches for them are very nasty indeed and can include:
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Dizziness
* Blurred Vision
Migraines usually last hours, and can sometimes last entire days. You may also notice an 'aura' or some other sign that you're about to experience these headache symptoms before they happen.
Sinus Headaches
With this kind of headache, the pain that you feel will be in the front of your face, by your cheekbones or nose. All the sinus headache symptoms have to do with the fact that the pain is coming from your sinus cavities, which are located below your eyes in the skull. You may experience:
* Pain intensifies with sudden movements
* Nasal Discharge
* Fever
* Swelling of the face
Tension Headaches
Probably the most common type of headache, and has the symptoms of headaches you may be familiar with. This type of head pain can be 'episodic' (meaning it happens less than 15 days per month) or 'chronic' (more than 15 days per month). The causes of tension headaches are normally stress, eyestrain, sleep deprivation, or caffeine withdrawal. Symptoms may include:
* Mild to moderate pain
* Fatigue
* Inability to sleep
* General body aches
Headache Causes Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints observed by doctors. In fact, in a given year, ninety percent of people worldwide will have suffered at least one incidence of headache. Given the common nature of this phenomenon, there are numerous causes of headaches.
The vast majority of headache causes are actually quite harmless. A recent study found that for all cases in which the onset of a headache led patients to visit an emergency care facility, only approximately one percent of the causes of these headaches were actually severe enough to warrant such a trip. Among these headaches that arise from benign causes are migraines, which are intense, prolonged headaches accompanied by mild to moderate nausea. While research has found that there are no specific factors that determine whether an individual is predisposed to migraines, doctors have been able to isolate some causes of headaches in these predisposed individuals. For example, common causes of these headaches are related to stress, change in sleeping habits, exposure to smoke, and the consumption of alcohol or certain foods.
Another common type of headache is the tension headache. The tension headache, in fact, is estimated to be the most common type of headache. Those suffering from tension headaches often describe the pain as a constant pressure, lasting approximately four to six hours. Like the migraine, a major cause of tension headaches is stress. Changes in eating or sleeping habits are also listed as a common cause of these headaches. More specifically, however, the tension headache is predominantly associated with prolonged eye strain, sitting or standing for long periods of time in uncomfortable positions, and caffeine withdrawal. Thus, it is not uncommon for patients to develop a tension headache after taking a long exam, or completing a work day in abnormal body positions.
The causes of headaches can under certain circumstances be linked to the existence of other medical conditions in a patient. One obvious cause of such secondary headaches would be head trauma. Should the normal function of the neurological, skeletal and muscular structures of the head be impeded, headaches will usually result in some form. Often individuals with hypertension and other blood pressure disorders will report an above-average occurrence of headaches. For those attempting to discontinue the use of addictive substances such as alcohol, caffeine or narcotics, headaches are usually cited as the primary withdrawal symptom. Possibly the most common cause of these secondary headaches, however, is linked to inflammation of the sinuses, also known as sinusitis. Often instances of sinusitis are related to various allergies to pollen or animal dander, and headaches can be prevented by taking allergy medication or avoiding allergens.
Headache Relief Nearly everyone experiences headache pain at some point in their lives. Because there are different types of headaches, different treatments may be effective in combating headache symptoms. The most common types of headaches are tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and chronic daily headaches. A variety of prescription or non-prescription remedies are available to treat headache symptoms, as well as numerous folk remedies. How can you sort through the options available to treat your headache? Your physician is your best source of information, but here are some guidelines to keep in mind for effective headache relief.
The most important factor in choosing the right treatment for your headache pain is to determine what is causing your symptoms. If your pain is related to a recent injury, do not try to treat it at home; you'll need professional advice to ensure that there is no neurological damage or other life-threatening condition. Your physician can perform tests and prescribe treatments that will give you effective headache relief without putting your health at risk.
Combined, tension headaches and migraines account for ninety percent of headaches. For occasional tension headaches, over-the-counter analgesics can provide fast, effective headache relief. Products containing aspirin and ibuprofen can also reduce inflammation, a side effect of eyestrain. For more intense or chronic tension headaches, prescription medications can provide sufficient headache relief to allow the patient to sleep comfortably. Be sure your doctor is aware of any other medications, prescription or non-prescription, that you are currently taking to avoid unwanted drug interactions and side effects.
Migraines are treated differently due to their unique causality. There is mounting evidence that migraine susceptibility is inherited. If your migraines are frequent or severe, your physician may prescribe a specific migraine medication like ergotamine or isometheptene to treat your symptoms. Triptans are a newer class of migraine medications, intended to prevent migraines before they start. These drugs target serotonin receptors, so they can also provide relief once a migraine has started. Sumatriptan, eletriptan and naratriptan are among the most commonly prescribed triptans. Dietary restrictions also seem to help some migraine sufferers find headache relief.
Cluster headaches are rare, debilitating headaches that do not respond to typical headache remedies. Generally, these headaches require an initial course of corticosteroids like prednisone to pave the way for maintenance therapy, usually an antagonist medication like methysergide or ergotamine. Since this maintenance therapy must usually be continued for a long period of time, you should consult your doctor regularly to make sure no unwanted side effects occur.
Chronic daily headaches are usually treated with over-the-counter medications. However, in some cases, patients require a stronger form of headache relief. It's best to consult your physician in order to determine if you need prescription headache medication. Taking a larger dose of over-the-counter headache medications can be dangerous. Always follow the instructions on the container.
Sinus headaches are a special case when looking for relief from headache pain. The cause of sinus headaches is congestion, literally, mucus putting pressure on your sinuses. Thus, the treatment is quite different from the headaches previously discussed. Sinus headaches respond well to antihistamines, either alone or in combination with over-the-counter analgesics. Reducing the amount of mucus in your sinuses lessens the pressure on delicate membranes, providing effective headache relief. In some cases a nasal spray may relieve pressure more immediately. These should not be used for more than five days in a row, however, as you may become dependent on them and, in some cases, they can make your sinus congestion worse than it was originally. If an infection is present, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for your sinus headache. In extreme cases of chronic sinus headache, surgery may be recommended to correct problems within the sinus cavity that may be worsening congestion and pain.
For headaches caused by eyestrain, your doctor may prescribe eye drops and advise you to rest your eyes for a few days. Computer eyestrain is becoming more common, as well. Some physicians recommend special computer glasses to cut down on glare and prevent computer eyestrain from worsening. If you suffer from headaches and you use a computer screen more than six hours a day on average, you should inform your doctor so that he can determine if these glasses might provide you relief.
Some tension headaches are the result of misaligned vertebra or poor posture. In these cases, chiropractic treatments can often provide temporary headache relief, though you may have to return for repeated adjustments in order to sustain the effect. If your insurance company will pay for such treatments, they may be a worthwhile investment.
You might be surprised to learn that some chronic headaches are actually dental problems; they are the result of bruxism, or grinding your teeth during the night. Bruxism is usually treated by fitting the patient with a plastic mouthpiece, providing nearly instant headache relief in most cases.
A variety of "home remedies" exist for headaches, from acupuncture to avoiding caffeine to aromatherapy. Results vary, and it's not certain that any of these methods have more than a placebo effect. Your doctor can recommend the best treatments to provide headache relief specifically tailored to your situation.
Headache Medications - Abortive Medications Headache medications are obviously used to prevent, soothe, or stop headaches. Those whose purpose is to stop headaches completely are called abortive headache medications.
Triptans are some of the most commonly used migraine drugs. Triptans affect serotonin and include the brand name drugs Amerge, Axert, Frova, Imitrex, Maxalt, Naramig, Relpax, and Zomig. These drugs are specifically used against headache pain and not other conditions. The well known Imitrex is now available in generic form and has been introduced with the anti-inflammatory Naprosyn. This combination is called Treximet. Regular Imitrex is available in an oral form, injectable, and nasal spray. In its injectable form, it is often used for those who have cluster headaches, while as a nasal spray it is great for those who also have nausea when suffering from migraines. Frova is a good bet for menstrual migraines, as it is long acting. Triptans have proven to be very effective abortive headache medications.
The drugs Cafergot, D.H.E. 45 Injection, and Midrin also affect serotonin, but they affect additional brain chemicals. Because of this, they will sometimes work when triptans will not. Ergots, such as Cafergot, are an older class of drug. Though they do sometimes work when nothing else will, they also have more side effects. A newer product, Migranol Nasal Spray is an updated form of Cafergot. With no caffeine and fewer side effects, this fast-acting spray can be an excellent migraine treatment.
Compazine and Phenergan are used to prevent nausea, but they sometimes stop headaches as well. Opiods such as Lortab, Tylenol with Codeine, and Fiorcet are also prescribed for headaches, but these drugs have a major drawback. They are addictive and should only be used in isolated instances. Frequent usage will result in addiction and can actually make headaches worse.
Another new abortive headache medication is Botox for migraines. Small amounts are given as injections that are placed just under the skin by the nerves that are causing the headache. Side effects include irritation and blood at the site of injection. Injections vary by patient but are generally given every two to four months. The new application for this drug has shown promising results, but it is still in the early days of use. Studies are ongoing.
Combinations of drugs are sometimes the strategy that proves most effective for headaches. Migraines that do not respond to triptans sometimes need to be treated with, for example, a drug from the Ergot class. After this treatment, with the headache under control, the patient can sometimes return to taking a Triptan drug with a high level of success. Additionally, combinations within the Triptan or other drug classes are also effective for individual patients.
As with all drugs, headache sufferers should review all options with their doctors. Being armed with the latest information will help the patient and their doctor decide on the best abortive headache medication.
Headache Medications - Preventative Medications The best way to treat a headache is preventing it from occurring at all. Unfortunately for many people avoiding is just not enough and prevention headache medication is required. If you suffer from frequent headaches, it is recommended for you to see your doctor who can help prevent them.
Preventative medications for headaches are to be taken daily whether a headache is present or not to keep headaches from occurring. It is not recommended that they be taken for a small attack. There are many preventative medications to choice from and the one you use will depend on any co-existing conditions, including asthmas, diabetes, high blood pressure, pregnancy and others. Knowing this, choosing the right preventative medication can help this sometimes difficult process.
Preventative headache medications are used to help lower the severity, frequency and/or length of headaches. They are normally given to people:
1. have four or more days in a month where headaches occur.
2. whose medication currently taking to stop headaches is not working efficiently.
3. whose headaches are very crippling.
Taking preventative headache medications may help abortive medications work better. Abortive medications include those that aid in stopping a current headache. It is recommended that preventative medication be used daily for at least four or six weeks before you begin to feel the medication fully. Preventative medication should not be stopped suddenly and should be discontinued very slowly over a period time to avoid any side effects.
Types of preventative headache medications: 1. Beta-blockers (Inderalpropranolol, Tenormin, atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, timolol). This type of headache medication stabilizes blood vessels while minimizes size changes and limits stimulation around the nerves. 2. Botulinum (Botox). This is a natural-occurring toxin and when injected subcutaneously in small doses, it can prevent headaches. 3. Calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem, nimodipine). In the same group as beta-blockers in that they aid in stabilizing blood vessels. 4. Dopamine reuptake inhibitors (Wellbutrin, bupropion) . This type of medication raises the amount of dopamine in the body. 5. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). (Prozac, fluoxetine, Paxil, paroxetine and Zoloft, sertraline). Increases the body's amount of serotonin. 6. Serotonin and Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)(Effexor, venlafaxine, Cymbalta, duloxetine). This medicine increases serotonin and norepinephrine. 7. Noradrenergic/Specific serotonergic (NaSSA) (Remeron, mirtazepine). Releases more amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine in the body and stops histamine effects (histamine can cause swelling of blood vessels and be the root of pain). 8. Tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine). This medication changes the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine for the body. 9. Anticonvulsants (Depakote, divalproex sodium, Neurontin, gabapentin, Topamax, topiramate)
Studies suggest that the key to the best headache treatment may be found in many drugs that are used for lowering blood-pressure. These new studies show there are four different classes of these that prevent headaches. The idea that many headaches are caused by high blood pressure goes back 100 years or so.
|
