“Is there any treatment for tension headaches?”
I often get tension headaches. Is there any treatment for tension headaches?
2 Answers
Yes, there are multiple different treatments available and if headaches chronic he should be started with preventative treatment options. Detailed exam and even imaging studies with bloodwork would be necessary to select correct approach
Most often, people use over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen tylenol), Aleve (naproxen) or excedrin. The only problem with doing this is that if you take these too often, you start what are called rebound headaches. These are headaches that are brought on by the medicine coming out of your system. causing a sort of mini-withdrawal, and the headache comes back.
There are several prescription medications that are taken daily in order to prevent headaches: an older antidepressant, amitryptiline, works in a way different from its antidepressant effect. You don't need to be depressed for it to be effective. It works in a different manner to reduce headache pain. Other antidepressants (Effexor) or antiepileptic medicines (topamax)
can be tried.
It often will take these medications 2, 3, or more weeks to start working. If the first medication tried causes side effects, or after 1-2 months at an adequate dose there is no improvement, then another one can be tried. This is not that you are being used as a "guinea pig," but the recommended way to treat all neurologic conditions: Try 1 medicine, increase the dose if it doesn't help, stop and switch if there are side effects, and try another medication from those that are known to be effective. A single medicine does not help everyone with any particular condition.
There are several prescription medications that are taken daily in order to prevent headaches: an older antidepressant, amitryptiline, works in a way different from its antidepressant effect. You don't need to be depressed for it to be effective. It works in a different manner to reduce headache pain. Other antidepressants (Effexor) or antiepileptic medicines (topamax)
can be tried.
It often will take these medications 2, 3, or more weeks to start working. If the first medication tried causes side effects, or after 1-2 months at an adequate dose there is no improvement, then another one can be tried. This is not that you are being used as a "guinea pig," but the recommended way to treat all neurologic conditions: Try 1 medicine, increase the dose if it doesn't help, stop and switch if there are side effects, and try another medication from those that are known to be effective. A single medicine does not help everyone with any particular condition.
