NEW DAILY PERSISTENT HEADACHES, ALSO REFERRED TO AS NDPHS, BEGIN WITHOUT WARNING AND GO ON FOR 3 MONTHS OR LONGER.
New daily persistent headaches begin abruptly in people without a history of headaches. Sometimes the headaches are triggered by an infection, surgery, or stressful life event; but often there’s no recognized trigger. The pain is often described as throbbing, dull, achy, stabbing or burning, or as pressure or tightness. The pain continues unabated throughout the day. Some new daily persistent headaches go away within several months. Others persist for years or even decades.
Medications used to treat NDPH include:
- Antiseizure or anticonvulsant drugs
- Muscle relaxants
- Antidepressants
- Migraine drugs called triptans
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Physical therapy may also help ease the pain of NDPH. Researchers continue to look for new and better ways to treat it.
