Drug-Induced Headache: Medical History

Medical history (history) is an important component in the diagnosis of drug-induced headache (medication-induced headache). Family history

Social history

  • What is your occupation?
  • Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
  • Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • What symptomatology have you noticed?
  • How long has the headache persisted (> 14 days/month)?
  • Are the headaches unilateral or bilateral?
  • What is the character of the headache? Dull, stabbing, etc.?
  • How often do the headaches occur? Once a week, etc.?
  • How long does the headache last?
  • On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is very mild and 10 is very severe, how severe is the pain?
  • Do you experience any other symptoms during the headache, such as nausea/vomiting?
  • Before the headache occurred, did you notice any changes such as visual disturbances, etc.?
  • On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is very mild and 10 is very severe, how severe is the pain?
  • Have you been taking pain or migraine medications regularly for more than three months (10-15 days/month)? If yes, which agents? How frequently?

Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.

  • Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
  • Do you use drugs? If yes, which drugs (heroin) and how often per day or per week?

Self history incl. drug history.

  • Pre-existing conditions (neurological disease, migraine, cluster headache, etc.).
  • Operations
  • Allergies
  • Environmental history

Note: For a comprehensive headache history questionnaire, see “Cephalgia”. Medication history