Tension headaches are very painful for 20 years, and the frequency and intensity of attacks can improve and get better with aggressive treatment, but they are usually not curable. Common treatment modalities include non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments.
1. Non-pharmacological treatment: Psychological treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and pain control training may be able to relieve pain.
2. Pharmacotherapy: This includes medication during acute attacks and preventive medication.
(1) Pharmacological treatment for acute attacks: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used for analgesia, commonly used drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and so on.
(2) Preventive medication: Patients with chronic tension headache should consider preventive medication. The most important drugs are tricyclic antidepressants, amitriptyline as a first-line choice.
If chronic tension headache occurs, it should be promptly admitted to the hospital and treated under the guidance of the doctor. Studies have shown that the frequency and intensity of attacks in patients with tension headache can be improved with multiple therapies.