Headaches

• Migraines are located on one side of the head
• Migraines are typically associated with photophobia and nausea
• Analgesics for most headaches

  Paracetamol, Aspirin and Ibuprofen
• Migraine specific treatment


  Migraleve or Midrid
• Tension headaches are normally a tight band around the head
• Cluster headaches are more common in men and require referral
• Medication overuse headaches occur after using painkillers for more than two weeks for over three months
• Treatment for medication overuse is cold turkey for a month
• Refer hormonal contraceptive headaches
• Tension headaches are the most common form of heacaches
• Cluster heachaches are more common in men, located behind the eyes
• Refer if headache is due to trauma
• Ask about work to see if they work at a computer
• Family history of migraines?
• Sumatriptan, Ibuprofen and Aspirin are all first line treatments for migrane
• Sumatriptan is POM
• Paracetamol for patients who cannot take other options, e.g age, heart conditions or pregnancy
• Avoid missing meals, dehydration and irregular sleep
• Hot or cold pads on forehead for non-medical treatments
• You should not be using painkillers for more than 2 days per week
• Migraleve is for 16 plus
• Midrid is 18+ only
• Buccastem is for 18+
• Triptains can only be sold OTC if a person has been previously diagnosed with migraines