Dagny Holle-Lee, Steffen Nägel und Kasja Solbach, Essen
Headache treatment options during pregnancy
Headache is a common symptom during pregnancy. In most cases, these are primary headache disorders (e. g. migraine, tension type headache, cluster headache), which may present for the first time or change their clinical picture during pregnancy. To ensure a successful treatment a secondary symptomatic headache has to be ruled out. Acute and prophylactic therapies should focus on non-medical treatment options because all drugs may potentially have teratogenic effects. However, headache might become so severe that a medical treatment is necessary. Some drugs can be used for acute and prophylactic treatment based on the diagnosis. Potentially, neuromodulatory approaches may be used in the future, but based on current scientific data these treatment options cannot be recommend so far.
Key words: Pregnancy, headache, drugs, amitriptyline, metoprolol
Headache is a common symptom during pregnancy. In most cases, these are primary headache disorders (e. g. migraine, tension type headache, cluster headache), which may present for the first time or change their clinical picture during pregnancy. To ensure a successful treatment a secondary symptomatic headache has to be ruled out. Acute and prophylactic therapies should focus on non-medical treatment options because all drugs may potentially have teratogenic effects. However, headache might become so severe that a medical treatment is necessary. Some drugs can be used for acute and prophylactic treatment based on the diagnosis. Potentially, neuromodulatory approaches may be used in the future, but based on current scientific data these treatment options cannot be recommend so far.
Key words: Pregnancy, headache, drugs, amitriptyline, metoprolol
Psychopharmakotherapie 2015; 22(06)