Chronic headaches interfere with every aspect of life. They can literally stop you in your tracks, preventing you from working or enjoying social activities. More and more migraine sufferers are turning to corticosteroids for relief. This medication has been approved to treat certain types of prolonged headaches. And it is proven to be effective in nearly 75% of headache sufferers who use it.
Diagnosis of Headache
There are many types of headaches. Corticosteroids are not recommended for the occasional short-term stress headache. People who have migraines that last more than three days have a high risk of developing an aneurysm. Treatment that includes a corticosteroid can alleviate pain faster. Cluster headaches may not occur as often as migraines but can last for several stays. The severity of the pain is often as intense as with migraines and the risks are equally dangerous.
Using Corticosteroids and Prednisone
This medication is not intended for daily use by headache sufferers. Rather, it should be used to treat extended episodes. Your doctor will give you a certain number of pills to take for a specific period of time. You will be given a higher dose to begin with and then you will cut back until you have completed the entire medication cycle. A typical course of treatment is one week to make sure the headache does not return. It may be necessary to take the medication at the same time each day. Plan to take the drug with food because it can cause irritation if taken on an empty stomach.
Talk to Your Doctor
If you see a neurologist who may be unfamiliar with other health conditions you have, be sure to let him know if you are diabetic because corticosteroids can increase blood sugar levels. Consumers who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis may be required to take calcium supplements at the beginning of their treatment when corticosteroid doses are the highest.
When the medication does not work within 48 hours, you should let your doctor know. There may be an undiagnosed underlying cause of the headache that needs to be addressed. You should not stop daily medications you take for your headaches while on prednisone unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor.