[The treatment of chronic headache]

The diagnosis of chronic headache can be put forward on clinical grounds, if the character of the pain did not change over several years. The most often encountered and treatable cause is a misuse of pain-killers, especially over-the-counter drug combinations. In this situation, only an inpatient treatment will have a chance of success. The basic types of medication are calcium-entry blockers, beta-blocking agents, dihydroergotamine and antidepressive medication of the tricyclic type. The main aim should be to educate the patient to develop self-responsibility instead of offering unapproved methods of treatment.