Symptoms such as fatigue, joint
pain, nausea, etc. are being caused by the Lupus, other minor
medical conditions (i.e. a virus), or even medicine side effects.
Headaches are certainly no exception. Many of the
medicines used to treat Lupus
list headache as a common side effect. Some of these are
NSAIDs, Plaquenil, prednisone, CellCept, and Methotrexate.
People with Lupus, just like the general population, can get sinus
headaches, tension headaches, and migraines unrelated to their
Lupus. Evaluation by your doctor is suggested for anyone who
has regular headaches or headaches that interfere with your normal
daily activities.
What is a Lupus Headache?
A Lupus headache is very
similar in characteristics to a migraine. Those with
Antiphospholipid Syndrome or
Raynaud's Phenomenon
may be more likely to get these headaches.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary greatly
but some of the more common ones include moderate to severe pain
lasting several hours to several days, nausea, vomiting,
sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, sensitivity to
smell, throbbing or pulsing pain, pain on one side of the head
at a time, and pain that gets worse with movement.
Cause
Lupus headaches are thought
to be caused by an abnormality in the way the blood vessels
constrict. They can also be caused by
vasculitis.
Treatment
These headaches are treated
in the same manner as typical migraines with the exception that
corticosteroids are sometimes helpful distinguishing it from
other migraines. Typical migraine treatments vary
depending on the severity and frequency of the headaches.
Abortive therapy is used to
get rid of a migraine after it has started. Medications
such as Imitrex, and Axert.
Narcotic pain relievers such as
Hydrocodone can also be used but are not as specific and can be
habit forming.
Preventative treatment is
used for patients that get migraines more often. These are
medications taken every day with the hopes of preventing
migraines from ever coming on. Some
Antihypertensives such as Inderal and Covera are
sometimes used for preventative treatment. Some Antiseizure
medications such as Topamax,
Neurontin and Depakote are also
used for this purpose. Some
Antidepressants such as Elavil and Pamelor may
be used as well.
