CLINICAL REVIEW
Suzanne Florczyk, PharmD, BCMTMS; Taiwona Elliott, DO; Kelley Lawrence, MD, IBCLC, FAAFP, FABM; Lauren Penwell-Waines, PhD; Cecile Robes, DO, FAAFP
Corresponding Author: Suzanne Florczyk, PharmD, BCMTMS; Novant Health Family Medicine Residency Program
Email: smflorczyk@novanthealth.org
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230450R1
Keywords: Acupuncture, Behavior Therapy, Headache, Migraine, Neuromodulators, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Pain, Pharmacology, Triptans
Dates: Submitted: 12-05-2023; Revised: 03-05-2024; Accepted: 03-11-2024
FINAL PUBLICATION: |HTML| |PDF|
Family medicine physicians often see headache as the chief complaint when meeting patients within their practice. The goal is to try different treatment modalities without having to send the patient to a specialist. Headaches affect different individuals during their lifetime. Before any treatment begins, it is best that one rules out possible causes of the headache, for example drug interactions or structural cerebrum conditions. Non-pharmacological treatment is recommended first before attempting a stepwise approach to cost-effective pharmacological treatment options. Pharmacological treatment options should include preventive and on-demand options. A family physician has all the resources to assist patients with different types of headaches for their patients.