Der Schmerz
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Many types of headache that occur in the form of attacks show a notably high incidence at certain times of the day. Attacks are often accompanied by emotional instability, irritability, exhaustion and other impairments of well-being. The cause for the frequent daytime occurrence of attacks is not clear. ⋯ These findings show that headache sensitivity follows circadian patterns. Daytime variations, however, are only significant for sensitivity to high intensities. Thus these results may explain, in part, why violent attacks of pain occur predominantly at night and in the early morning.
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If migraine attacks occur more frequently than 2 times a month, treatment of the acute attack with analgesics and ergotamine becomes problematic. An acute relief of migraine symptoms will be achieved only at the risk of developing a drug-induced chronic headache. Therefore, if migraine attacks occur frequently prophylactic treatment should be considered. ⋯ There is, however, convincing evidence that neither clonidine, nor anti-histamines, nor barbiturates, nor antiepileptic drugs, nor anxiolytics are effective in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. Successful prophylactic treatment cannot be achieved by drug therapy alone. Any form of drug treatment should be complemented by providing the patient with detailed information about the nature of the disease and the properties of the prescribed drugs, as well as careful investigation of the patient's situation and habits and a careful search for precipitants, combined with an attempt to change the patient's habits and to avoid factors that trigger the attacks.