Management of the headache patient with medical illness

The recent development of new drug therapies for headache disorders has allowed for the tailoring of treatment to specific patient needs. This paper reviews the pharmacologic management of patients with both headache and concomitant medical illness. The discussion specifically includes the treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease, mitral valve prolapse, asthma, peptic ulcer disease, obesity, and chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection, occurring concomitantly in patients with headache. Medications that can exacerbate either the headache or concurrent medical condition are noted, and alternative therapies are advised.