Archive for the ‘skull’ Category

Cluster Headache Prevention

Monday, June 16th, 2008

Because the cause of cluster headache is unknown, you can’t prevent a first occurrence. However, a preventive strategy is crucial for managing cluster headache because trying to treat it with acute drugs only can seem hopeless. Prevention can help reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks and the risk of rebound headaches. Preventive medications can also increase the effectiveness of acute medications.

Preventive medications for cluster headache are generally used for either a short-term (transitional) strategy or a long-term (maintenance) strategy. The short-term medications work quickly but may have undesirable side effects. Long-term medications take effect more slowly but can be used safely throughout the cluster period.

Whenever a cluster period starts, you’ll likely start taking a long-term medication, many times accompanied by a short-term medication. After a couple of weeks, you’ll discontinue use of the short-term medication but continue with the long-term drug.

Short-term prevention

Short-term medications can prevent headache attacks during the period of time it takes for one of the long-term drugs to become effective. The main short-term preventive medications are corticosteroids and ergotamine. A nerve block also may be effective, particularly for some people who can’t tolerate the other medications.

* Corticosteroids. Inflammation-suppressing drugs called corticosteroids are fast-acting preventive medications. They belong to a general family of medicines called steroids. Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids if your cluster headache condition has only recently started or if you have a pattern of brief cluster periods and long remissions. Although corticosteroids are an excellent treatment for several days, serious side effects make them inappropriate for long-term use.
* Ergotamine. Ergotamine available as a tablet that you place under your tongue or available as a rectal suppository, can be taken before bed to prevent nighttime attacks. Ergotamine medications are effective for short periods but shouldn’t be used for more than two to three weeks.
* Nerve block. Injecting an anesthetic (numbing agent) and corticosteroid into the area around the occipital nerve, located at the back of your head, can prevent pain messages from traveling along that nerve pathway. The occipital nerve converges with the trigeminal nerve, which connects to all the pain-sensitive structures in your skull. An occipital nerve block can be useful for temporary relief until long-term preventive medications take effect.

Long-term prevention

Long-term medications are taken during the entire cluster period. Some people with chronic cluster headache don’t respond well to the use of one long-term medication. In this situation, your doctor may recommend that you take two or more long-term medications simultaneously.

* Calcium channel blockers. The calcium channel blocking agent verapamil is often the first choice for preventing cluster headache, although the way verapamil works with cluster headache isn’t well understood. The medication may be used from the start of a cluster period until three to four weeks after the last headache. Then its use is gradually tapered and discontinued under your doctor’s direction. Occasionally, longer term use is needed to manage chronic headache. Constipation is a common side effect of this medication, as well as dizziness, nausea, fatigue, swelling of the ankles and low blood pressure.
* Lithium carbonate. Lithium which is used to treat bipolar disorder, is also effective in preventing chronic cluster headache. Side effects include tremor, increased thirst, diarrhea and drowsiness. Your doctor can adjust the dosage to minimize side effects. While you’re taking this medication, your blood will be drawn at regular intervals to check for the development of more serious side effects, such as liver or kidney damage.

Preventive medications under evaluation

Other preventive medications used for cluster headache include the hormone melatonin, capsaicin and anti-seizure medications such as divalproex and topiramate.

In addition, you may help reduce your risk of future attacks by avoiding alcohol and nicotine, which often precipitate cluster headaches.

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Skull Pain And Esgic Plus

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

Headaches Caused by Muscle Contraction (Tension Headaches)

This type of headache begins in the back of the neck or head and develops into what is usually described as a non-throbbing, tight, cranial band that puts pressure on the head. Health professionals agree that these headaches are the result of excessive tone or contraction of the muscles in the face, head and neck areas. They are by far the most common type of headache and Esgic Plus is often prescribed. This condition varies from mild severe discomfort in pain levels and afflicts men and women equally.

There are a number of underlying causes of the muscle contraction and tension that lead to these headaches. They can be related to spinal misalignment that often starts with poor posture that comes from sitting in uncomfortable positions for long periods. Other causes include fatigue or stress that causes contraction or excess tone in various muscle groups. Pelvic irritation, poor dental health, misaligned mastication or anything else that results in stress in the muscles of the face, SkULL, shoulders and upper back can all lead to chronic tension headaches. Any of these things can lead to muscles that are constantly contracted and suffering from a reduced oxygen supply. Muscles with low oxygen levels become fatigued, which leads to a buildup of histamines and other chemicals, which accumulate and trigger neurons, creating pain.

Smoking, irregular sleep patterns, bitterness, grief, anger, depression, fear and heightened levels of anxiety can all trigger tension headaches. Poor diets, high caffeine intakes, strong light, or illness can also play a role and sufferers know that once tension headaches start, Esgic Plus or other therapies are often needed to stop the cycle.

That’s because at the first sign of a tension headache, patients develop heightened levels of fear, producing muscle tension that creates anxiety and so on. That’s why it is important to take Esgic Plus at the first sign of a headache.

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