Management of an acute primary headache.

Abstract

Effective management of primary (benign) headaches generally depends upon proper diagnosis and rational use of medications. Successful treatment requires adequate dosing plus choosing the optimal route for drug delivery. When oral remedies fail, transnasal, rectal, or parenteral therapy may succeed. While cure of headaches is not currently possible, control is possible for the majority of sufferers. Most patients can adequately treat their headaches without resorting to the doctor's office or emergency room. Many therapies may not only relieve head pain, but also alleviate associated symptoms.