MANAGEMENT OF AN ACUTE PRIMARY HEADACHE

Effective management of primary (benign) headaches generally depends u pon proper diagnosis and rational use of medications. Successful treat ment 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 of fice or emergency room. Many therapies may not only relieve head pain, but also alleviate associated symptoms. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.