Flashcards in Primary and Secondary Headache Syndromes Deck (55)
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1
What are important facts to elicit in the history of a headache?
Onset/ peak: acute vs subacute
Relieving features: posture, headache
Exacerbating features: posture, valsalva, diurnal variation
Assoc features; autonomic, photophobia, phonophobia, positive visual symptoms, ptosis, miosis, nasal stuffiness
Consider demographic
2
What are the red flags in terms of headaches?
New onset headache >55yrs
Known/ previous malignancy
Immunosuppressed; think about intracranial infection
Early morning headache
Exacerbation by valsalva
3
What is the demographics of a migraine?
Commoner in women
Most will have an attack once a month
Migraine without aura: 80%
Migraine with aura: 20%
4
What is the IHS criteria for a migraine without aura?
At least 5 attacks of duration 4-72 hours
2 of: moderate/severe pain, unilateral, throbbing, worse with movement
1 of: autonomic features, photophobia, phonophobia, N+V
5
What is the pathophysiology of migraines?
Vascular and neural influences
Stress will trigger changes in the brain resulting in the release of serotonin
Blood vessels constrict and dilate
Chemicals including substance P, neurokinin A and CGRP irritate nerves and blood vessels resulting in pain
6
In what stages of a migraine will the blood vessels constrict and dilate?
Constrict: aura phase
Dilate: headache phase
7
What are common triggers of migraines?
Lack of sleep
Dietary; dark chocolate, cheese, alcohol, hangovers
Stress
Hormonal; menstrual cycle
Physical exertion
8
What are the non-pharma treatments of migraines?
Set realistic goals
Education; avoid triggers
CHOCOLATE:
Chocolate
Hangovers
Orgasms
Cheese/ caffeine
OCP
Lie-ins
Alcohol
Travel
Exercise
Headache diary
Relaxation/ stress management
9
What are the pharmacological principles to treating migraines?
Acute treatment
Prophylactic treatment
10
What drugs are used in the acute management of a migraine?
NSAID; 900mg aspirin, 350mg naproxen, 400mg ibuprofen
+/- antiemetic
Triptans - selective 5-HT agonists
11
Do NSAIDs help with migraine pain?
60% significant reduction in headache at 2 hours
Only 25% to complete pain relief
12
What are triptans?
5-HT agonist
13
When should triptans be give?
At the start of the headache; similar efficacy to NSAIDs
14
What are examples of triptans?
Rizatriptan
Eletriptan
Sumatriptan
Fovatriptan
15
How can triptans be given?
Oral
Sub-lingual
Subcut
16
When should you consider prophylaxis for migraines?
More than 3 attacks a month or very severe
17
What is the aim with prophylaxis?
Titrate drug as tolerated to achieve efficacy at the lowest dose possible
Must trial each for a minimum of 3 months
GO SLOW AND KEEP LOW
18
What are examples of migraine prophylaxis?
Amitriptyline
Propranolol
Topiramate
Gabapentin
Pizotifen
Sodium valproate
Botulinum toxin
Anti calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) Ab
19
What dose of amitriptyline is given in migraine prophylaxis and what are the adverse effects?
10-25 mg - max 75mg
Adverse: dry mouth, postural hypotension, sedation: Anticholinergic effects
20
What dose is given on propranolol in migraine prophylaxis and what are the contraindications?
80-240 mg daily
Avoid in asthma, PVD
21
What mechanism of action of topiramate?
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
22
What dosage of topiramate is given in migraine prophylaxis and what are the adverse effects?
25-100mg
Adverse: weight loss, paraesthesia, impaired concentration, enzyme inducer, teratogenic
23
Should you give sodium valproate in young women?
No - highly teratogenic
Give in menopausal women
24
What lifestyle factors can be used as prophylaxis of migraines?
Diet; regular intake, avoid triggers, healthy balanced diet
Hydration; at least 2 L/ day, decrease caffeine
Stress - decrease
Regular exercise
25
What are the rare subtypes of migraines?
Basilar
Retinal/ ophthalmic
Hemiplegic
Abdominal
26
What is a tension type headache?
Episodic vs chronic
Pressing tingling quality
Mild to mod
Bilateral
Absence of N+V
Absence of photophobic or phonophobia
27
What is the treatment for tension type headaches?
Relaxation physiotherapy
Antidepressant; dothiepin or amitriptyline
Reassure
28
What are trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TAC)
Primary headache disorders characterised by unilateral trigeminal distribution pain that occurs in assoc with prominent ipsilateral cranial autonomic features
29
What are ipsilateral cranial autonomic features?
Ptosis
Miosis
Excess lacrimation
Injection of conjuntiva
Nasal stuffiness
N+V
Eye lid oedema
30
