Skip to main content

Table 23 Pharmacological treatment of headache in children

From: Reference programme: Diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders and facial pain. Danish Headache Society, 2nd Edition, 2012

The acute and prophylactic medical treatment of migraine and tension-type headache are different

Treatment of acute attack of tension-type headache (paracetamol and/or NSAID)

Treatment of acute migraine attack (paracetamol, and/or NSAID combined with domperidone; alternatively sumatriptan nasal spray)

Avoid overuse of analgesics

Prophylactic treatment is considered in very frequent or severely incapacitating headache, where the effect of non-pharmacological treatment has proven insufficient and where acute attack treatment is insufficient

Generally, scientific evidence to underpin the effectiveness of prophylactic medical treatment in children with migraine and tension-type headache is very limited

Prophylactic pharmacological treatment should be given in adequate doses for a minimum of 3 months before any decisions can be made with regard to its effect

Treatment discontinuation should be attempted after 6–12 months to ensure that daily medication is still necessary