New Daily Persistent Headaches
You probably remember exactly when your pain started. New daily persistent headaches (NDPH) begin without warning and go on for 3 months or longer.
The pain may get stronger or weaker each day, but it's always there. There are medicines that can give you relief. Pain management tools like biofeedback and relaxation techniques can also help you feel better.
Tests for Diagnosing Migraines
Angiography of the head and neck Blood glucose levels Cervical spine x-ray Chemistry screen Complete blood count (CBC) Computed tomography (CT) scan C-reactive protein (CRP) Electroencephalogram (EEG) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Facial X-ray Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Ophthalmoscopy Prolactin level Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Temporal artery biopsy Thyroid-stimulating hormon...
Read the Tests for Diagnosing Migraines article > >
The pain of NDPH becomes steady within 24 hours of its start. It may feel similar to a tension or migraine headache.
You may have pain on both sides of your head. At the same time, you may be sensitive to light or sound.
There are other serious causes of head pain that can lead to a sudden headache. Your doctor may order imaging tests such as an MRI or a CT scan to rule out conditions that may need immediate treatment. These include:
A change in pressure or volume of fluid in your spine. This can sometimes be due to procedures such as a lumbar puncture, or "spinal tap."
Meningitis. An infection that causes swelling of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
Head injury. A blow to the head can trigger a sudden, severe, and persistent headache. It can also cause an area of bleeding on the brain, known as subdural hematoma, that can trigger head pain.
Blood clots. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a condition where blood clots form near the brain, causing chronic head pain and other dangerous complications.
Your doctor will probably recommend medicine to ease your pain. It may take some trial and error until you and your doctor find a medicine that works for you.
Treatments for NDPH include:
Antiseizure, or anticonvulsant, drugs. Gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), and valproic acid (Depakote) are commonly prescribed.
Muscle relaxant drugs. These drugs relax tense muscles and include baclofen (Lioresal) and tizanidine (Zanaflex).
Antidepressants called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These include fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Tricyclic antidepressants. These are older antidepressant drugs that include amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Silenor, Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and protriptlyne (Vivactil).
The pain may get stronger or weaker each day, but it's always there. There are medicines that can give you relief. Pain management tools like biofeedback and relaxation techniques can also help you feel better.
Recommended Related to Migraines/Headaches
Tests for Diagnosing Migraines
Angiography of the head and neck Blood glucose levels Cervical spine x-ray Chemistry screen Complete blood count (CBC) Computed tomography (CT) scan C-reactive protein (CRP) Electroencephalogram (EEG) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Facial X-ray Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Ophthalmoscopy Prolactin level Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Temporal artery biopsy Thyroid-stimulating hormon...
Read the Tests for Diagnosing Migraines article > >
Symptoms of New Daily Persistent Headaches
The pain of NDPH becomes steady within 24 hours of its start. It may feel similar to a tension or migraine headache.
You may have pain on both sides of your head. At the same time, you may be sensitive to light or sound.
There are other serious causes of head pain that can lead to a sudden headache. Your doctor may order imaging tests such as an MRI or a CT scan to rule out conditions that may need immediate treatment. These include:
A change in pressure or volume of fluid in your spine. This can sometimes be due to procedures such as a lumbar puncture, or "spinal tap."
Meningitis. An infection that causes swelling of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
Head injury. A blow to the head can trigger a sudden, severe, and persistent headache. It can also cause an area of bleeding on the brain, known as subdural hematoma, that can trigger head pain.
Blood clots. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a condition where blood clots form near the brain, causing chronic head pain and other dangerous complications.
Treatments for New Daily Persistent Headaches
Your doctor will probably recommend medicine to ease your pain. It may take some trial and error until you and your doctor find a medicine that works for you.
Treatments for NDPH include:
Antiseizure, or anticonvulsant, drugs. Gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), and valproic acid (Depakote) are commonly prescribed.
Muscle relaxant drugs. These drugs relax tense muscles and include baclofen (Lioresal) and tizanidine (Zanaflex).
Antidepressants called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These include fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Tricyclic antidepressants. These are older antidepressant drugs that include amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Silenor, Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and protriptlyne (Vivactil).