HEADACHE - DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEADACHES

Causes

The causes of headaches are varied: the headache can simply depend on a busy day, work commitments or a worry or stress. In other cases, headache is associated with more or less complex diseases: AIDS, anaphylaxis, atherosclerosis, St. Anthony's fire, stroke, flu, hypertension, leukemia, meningitis, mononucleosis, premenstrual syndrome, sinusitis, chicken pox.

Symptoms

Headache, as we have seen, consists of a headache whose intensity varies according to the triggering cause and the subject. The duration of the symptoms is also variable: the headache, in fact, can disappear in an "hour or persist for several days. The headache can be accompanied by mental confusion, weakness, diarrhea, fever, photo / phonophobia, nausea, dizziness and vomiting, especially when the pain is particularly severe.

Medicines

Although in many cases the headache is an occasional ailment, sometimes it can be so intense as to be disabling for the patient who is affected; stress headaches can be cured by correcting lifestyle habits, especially if relaxation practices are associated with lifestyle changes. In other cases, the headache tends to disappear only after taking pain medication.
Since headaches are often accompanied by photophobia and phonophobia (respectively: hypersensitivity to light and noise), silence and staying in a dark place can help reduce pain and speed up healing.
In other patients, the headache depends on tumors or in any case from other serious diseases, therefore the anti-inflammatory drugs only temporarily stop the pain, because the cause that triggers it is clearly serious.
In case of mild or moderate headache, NSAIDs are the first-line drugs to reduce discomfort; it should be remembered, however, that those who take these drugs for 3 days or more a week are more at risk of the headache coming back more often (rebound effect). Do not abuse: the excessive intake of NSAIDs can cause serious hepatic and gastric consequences.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in headache therapy, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

Acetaminophen or Paracetamol (eg. Tachipirina, Efferalgan, Sanipirina): take the drug in case of fever in the context of headache, per os (in the form of tablets, syrup, effervescent sachets) or rectally (in the form of suppositories) ; it is recommended to take paracetamol at a dosage of 325-650 mg every 4-6 hours for 6-8 consecutive days, to lower the fever. It is also possible to take the drug intravenously: 1 gram every 6 hours or 650 mg every 4 hours for adults and adolescents who weigh more than 50 kilos: if the patient weighs less than 50 kilos, administer 15 mg / kg every 6 hours or 12.5 mg / kg every 4 hours.

Acetylsalicylic acid (eg Aspirin, Vivin, Ac Acet, Carin): the drug, indicated for adults only, should be taken at a dosage of 325-650 mg / day, orally or rectally, every 4 hours, as needed ( do not exceed 4 grams per day). The administration of the drug to children under the age of 12 can cause serious side effects, such as Reye's syndrome, liver dysfunction and brain alterations, therefore its administration is strongly discouraged.

Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Moment, Subitene): for medium-moderate pain in the head, it is recommended to take by mouth a dose of active equal to 200-400 mg (tablets, effervescent sachets) every 4-6 hours after meals , as needed. Do not take more than 2.4 grams per day.

Naproxene (eg Aleve, Naprosyn, Prexan, Naprius): it is recommended to take the drug at a dosage of 550 mg, orally, once a day, followed by 550 mg of active ingredient every 12 hours; alternatively, take 275 mg of naproxen every 6-8 hours, as needed. Do not exceed 1,100 mg per day.

Dihydroergotamine (eg Seglor, Diidergot): the drug is particularly suitable for the treatment of headache. The drug can be administered intramuscularly, intravenously or subcutaneously (1 mg, at the very first manifestations of symptoms; subsequently, it is possible to administer 1 mg every hour, until the symptoms are resolved), without exceeding 6 mg per week. In addition, it is possible to take the drug nasally: apply a 0.5 mg spray in each nostril. When necessary, repeat the administration within 15 minutes. Do not exceed 4 sprays per day and 8 sprays per week.

Ergotamine (eg. Cafergot, Virdex): the drug is an active ingredient used in therapy to treat acute migraine, when the patient does not respond positively to analgesics. Administration of the drug is not recommended for the elderly, hypertensive, for pregnant and breastfeeding women. For the treatment of acute and severe headaches (migraines), take 2 mg of active under the tongue in combination with caffeine: the drug should be taken as soon as possible from the onset of the first symptoms. Every 30 minutes from the first intake. , 1-2 mg of active ingredient can be administered, up to a maximum of 6 mg. Do not exceed 6-10 mg per week. The drug is also available as suppositories to be taken rectally.

Isometeptene (eg Octinum): this very powerful drug is a vasoconstrictor sometimes used in therapy to calm acute migraine attacks. It is often available in tablets formulated with caffeine and paracetamol: it is recommended to take 2 capsules or tablets together, orally; continue taking one capsule every hour, until symptoms resolve. Do not administer more than 5 capsules in 12 hours. For the treatment of stress headaches, it is recommended to take 1-2 capsules / tablets every 4 hours (no more than 8 per day).