Headache After Sleeping

by Rab Nawaz M.
(London)

It remains a few hours. It is severe headache, unable to read any thing. Pressure goes to the head. I am suffering from it for the last 20 years. I keep taking Paracetamol and codeine with paracitamol. Still I do not get relief. I am recommended Amitriptyline 10mg. I am taking it for the last three years still the same pain, I am keep getting. Will you please recommend better drug than the above mention.

Answer:

Hi Rab,

Part of you headache syndrome may be due to medication overuse also known as analgesic rebound headaches.

Amitriptyline is an excellent medication for chronic daily headache, but you are a bit under dosed. 10mg is a starting dose and most probably should be raised until you can get some relief.

You do not mention any testing that has been performed. A sleep study could rule out sleep apnea. The headache associated with sleep apnea is one that occurs after sleeping and lasts for a few hours.

There are several headache specialists in London, including a free clinic. I would highly suggest that you make an appointment to see a specialist in headaches, not just a neurologist.

Cases like yours are more common than you think, but effective treatment needs a true headache specialist.

Best of luck...
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C