[Antidepressant drugs in the treatment of tension-type headache]

Med Clin (Barc). 2008 May 24;130(19):751-7. doi: 10.1157/13121080.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Tension-type headache is the most common form of headache. Eighty percent of cases occur before 40 years of age. A wide variety of antidepressants have been used to treat it. Tricyclics are the only antidepressants that have demonstrated their effectiveness in treating chronic tension-type headache, amitriptyline being the drug of choice. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other families of antidepressants have not shown conclusive results yet. The present study is a review of the scientific evidence available on antidepressants for treatment of this kind of headache.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Tension-Type Headache / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic