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Corresponding author: Evelina Z. Gavazova ( gavazova.evelina@gmail.com ) © 2022 Evelina Z. Gavazova, Daniela D. Grekova-Kafalova.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Gavazova EZ, Grekova-Kafalova DD (2022) Pharmaceutical care for patients with headache. Folia Medica 64(3): 373-379. https://doi.org/10.3897/folmed.64.e63095
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Introduction: Headache cephalalgia is the condition in which individuals feel pain in different parts of the head. It is one of the most common disorders believed to be amenable to self-treatment. The pharmacist can provide significant support to patients.
Aim: The aim of this study was to present the role of pharmacists in the prevention of headaches.
Materials and methods: We reviewed the available information in the biggest databases on the problem.
Results: Drug therapy is only part of an effective approach to the management of headaches. In many cases headache triggers can be identified and lifestyle changes instituted that reduce the frequency of attacks. Rest, sleep, and adequate hydration are often important components of successful management regimes. Patient education and detailed information for their disease can play an active role in the treatment. The reviewed literature shows the importance of the involvement of community pharmacists of the treatment of headache disorders.
As the most easily approachable healthcare providers pharmacists can assist patients in finding appropriate relief of headaches and ensure rational and safe headache treatment.
Conclusions: Pharmacists have a crucial role in optimizing the results of the medical therapy.
analgesics, counseling, OTC, migraine, pharmacists
A minor illness or a sign of a serious medical condition, headache disorders are among the most prevalent symptoms reported by patients globally. Headache or cephalalgia can be primary (migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache) or can occur secondarily to a long list of other conditions including the medication overuse headache (MOH).[
Pharmacists meet patients with headaches on a daily basis. Pharmacological treatments for headaches include many medical products available over the counter (OTC). Pharmacists have a significant role to play in the supervision of self-treatment, ensuring safe use of medicines, and identifying drug-related problems. Pharmacists can recognize that the patient needs further diagnosis and doctor assessment.[
To present the role of pharmacists and pharmaceutical care in the prevention and treatment of headaches with different etiological origins.
A review is done of the existing information on the topic in the largest databases up to this date. A search in PubMed, Scopus and Embase was conducted using the following keywords: headache, migraine, pharmacists, analgesics, and self-treatment. Fifty-seven articles were selected and analysed.
Wide variety of causes and complicated comorbidities associated with headache accompany the diagnostic process. The International Headache Society (IHS) provides a classification of headache disorders. Headaches fall into three categories according to their etiology (Fig.
Although there is an overlap between tension-type headache (TTH), cluster headache, and migraine, there are typical features that are used in the diagnostic process.[
The guidelines for the treatment of migraine and chronic headaches propose the use of a simple screening questionnaire for the initial diagnosis of headaches.[
The socio-economic burden of headaches is substantial. WHO has estimated that almost half of the adult population have a headache at least once a year. Globally, it has been estimated that prevalence among adults of current headache disorder is about 50%. Half to three-quarters of adults aged 18 to 65 in the world have had a headache in the last year and of these individuals, 30% or more have reported migraines. Headache for 15 or more days every month affects 1.7% to 4% of the world’s adult population.[
Patients with TTH usually describe the pain as pressure like, constricting or giving a sense of fullness in the head.[
The main principles for the effective management of migraine include diagnostic screening, individualized care, and encouragement of patients to manage their migraine. Patients are monitored using migraine calendars or diaries.[
Cluster headache (CH) is characterized by severe pain and agitation. It is more common in men than in women and both chronic and acute forms are recognized.[
Patients should also be reminded that excessive use of analgesics could lead to rebound headaches or medication overuse headaches. Medication overuse headaches are secondary disorders caused by regular, long-term use of analgesics.[
Headache disorders are not perceived by the public as serious since they are mostly episodic, do not cause death, and are not contagious.[
Pharmaceutical care can help improve self-efficacy and health-related quality of life of headache patients.[
Pharmacists can use their expert knowledge of medications to evaluate a patient’s current medication regimen for a potential headache etiology and provide appropriate pharmacotherapy recommendations based on patient-specific factors and headache-disorder classification. Part of the screening process is the provision of information to the patient, in the form of oral advice, leaflets, website addresses and details of patient support organizations.[
The study shows the importance of the involvement of community pharmacists in the treatment of headache disorders. Being the most easily approachable healthcare providers, pharmacists can assist patients in finding appropriate relief of headaches and ensure rational and safe headache treatment. A considerable number of studies suggest that pharmacists might need further training to improve their knowledge on the subject and to participate more actively in the management of headaches.[
The pharmaceutical care process ensures that the patient shall obtain the most appropriate medical product in the most effective dose in order to minimize the risk of side effects. The increase in self-efficacy and mental health associated with the implementation of pharmaceutical care may be instrumental in improving long-term pharmacotherapy of patients with headaches.[