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Primary stabbing / ice pick headache - medication?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Cheetah
Cheetah

I get migraine, but, as I've got older I only get the aura and, thankfully, no longer get the debilitating headache.  However, I do occasionally get what I believe are called primary stabbing or ice pick headaches.  Flashes of severe pain on one side of my head, over the temple, that last for up to 30 seconds.  They can make my head feel numb and my eye water.  They used to be very infrequent, but lately I've been getting them a lot, up to about 20 a day.  From what I've read they're harmless and, apparently, they're more frequent in people who get migraine.  I've been taking paracetamol, but wonder if anybody else has suffered from these and had any sort of medication that has helped.

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Jan999
    Jan999 Cheetah

    Posted

    Hello Rosidmags. If Paracetamol helps I would stick with that. When I get those symptoms I tend to take Co-codamol but not sure if that helps or the symptoms would have subsided on their own! I now take Amitriptyline 20 MGM's on a night and this has helped.
  • StevenRose
    StevenRose Cheetah

    Posted

    Hi Rosiemags,

    These new symptoms you describle are typical of cluster headache, I know because I get these too, or I would do if I didnt take preventative meds.  Which are pregabalin and verapimil.  To deal with the onset of the cluster I use sumatriptan epipen style injection, which is the gold standard of treatment.

    Cluster headache is a neurological comdition like classic mugraine and can be the most severest type of pain!

    Good luck with your quest to deal with this condition

  • annag77
    annag77 Cheetah

    Posted

    Hello

    I know this is an old post but just wondering if you are still suffering with your Icepick headaches and what medication you took to control them?  I have just been diagnosed with the same thing.

    Thanks

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