Table 3 Medical drugs for pain relief and their effect in patients with headache in three months after first-ever ischemic stroke compared to acute treatment of headache at onset of stroke

Simple analgesics < 15 days per month

5 (10.9%)

3 (8.8%)

7 (23.3%)

6 (28.6%)

0.7

Simple analgesics ≥ 15 days per month

n/a

8 (23.5%)

2 (6.7%)

3 (14.3%)

0.4

Effect of simple analgesics

  No effect

2 (4.3%)

3 (8.8%)

4 (13.3%)

5 (23.8%)

0.3

  Minor effect

2 (4.3%)

4 (11.8%)

2 (6.7%)

1 (4.8%)

0.8

  Medium effect

1 (2.2%)

3 (8.8%)

2 (6.7%)

2 (9.5%)

0.7

  Complete effect

0 (0%)

1 (2.9%)

1 (3.3%)

1 (4.8%)

0.8

  Combine analgesics < 10 days per month

10 (21.7%)

6 (17.6%)

8 (26.7%)

6 (28.6%)

0.9

  Combine analgesics analgesics ≥ 10 days per month

n/a

4 (11.8%)

1 (3.3%)

5 (23.8%)

0.03;

0.11;

0.1–1.0

Effect of combined analgesics

  No effect

2 (4.3%)

2 (5.9%)

3 (10.0%)

3 (14.3%)

0.6

  Minor effect

3 (6.5%)

3 (8.8%)

3 (10.0%)

5 (23.8%)

0.2

  Medium effect

4 (6.2%)

4 (11.8%)

2 (6.7%)

2 (9.5%)

0.7

  Complete effect

1 (2.2%)

1 (2.9%)

1 (3.3%)

1 (4.8%)

0.8

  Triptans at the day of stroke onset < 10 days per month

2 (4.3%)

1 (2.9%)

10 (33.3%)

3 (14.3%)

0.1

  Triptans ≥ 10 days per month

n/a

0 (0%)

1 (3.3%)

0 (0%)

0.2

Effect of triptans

  No effect

1 (2.2%)

0 (0%)

1 (3.3%)

2 (9.5%)

0.4

  Minor effect

1 (2.2%)

1 (2.9%)

2 (6.7%)

1 (4.8%)

0.8

  Medium effect

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

3 (10.0%)

0 (0%)

0.1

  Complete effect

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

5 (16.7%)

0 (0%)

0.49