Primary Stabbing Headache
Treatment
- This type of headache is of too short duration to catch it with an abortive, or “as- needed” treatment. Therefore, the goal of treatment is focused on preventive therapy: What to take on a daily basis to try to lessen the frequency and/or severity of the headaches. Preventive medicines generally take 4-6 weeks to start working and 2-3 months for full effect, assuming the correct dose of the medication is reached. These are the medications used most commonly, although this is not an all- inclusive list.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
---Indomethacin (Indocin) (Although taking NSAIDs such as Indomethacin is not recommended as a long term treatment.)
- Anti-convulsant (Anti-seizure) medications:
---Gabapentin (Neurontin)
---Topiramate (Topamax)
---Zonisamide (Zonegran)
---Divalproex sodium (Depakote)
---Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
---Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
---Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- Anti-depressant/Anti-anxiety medications:
---Amitriptyline (Elavil)
---Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
---Venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR)
---Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
---Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Others:
---Melatonin
