Recurring headaches

For the past 4 days I have had an excruciating headache which last for about 1 to 2 hours then goes away. I also experience dry heaving and vomiting usually before or after the headaches.. Barley can move when I have the headaches and it hurts like hell.

[marileew]

Hi PAHelp,

I would urge you to consult a doctor about your symptoms, as we cannot diagnose symptoms online.

I am not a doctor, although I do have experience with headaches as I have migraine headaches myself.

Headaches that are severe in nature and are accompanied by nausea and vomiting are often migraine headaches.

Migraine headaches should be treated with migraine medication, which can be prescribed by a doctor. Triptans are the first-line treatment for acute migraine attacks. There are currently seven triptans on the market, plus one triptan that is mixed with the NSAID naproxen. I believe that fast acting triptans are the best in most situations because they work the fastest. Fast acting triptans come in orally disintegrating tablets or nasal sprays. Orally disintegrating tablets and nasal sprays are also particularly a good choice when vomiting is involved since they cannot be thrown back up like a tablet could be. I personally use Zomig Nasal Spray and find it works extremely well. I also have found great success with Maxalt-MLTs. Although, everyone is different and all of the triptans on the market have been proven effective in clinical trials, so please discuss with your doctor which triptan would be the most appropriate in your situation.

Metoclopramide is a particularly useful medication for those who suffer from vomiting as one of their migraine symptoms. Metoclopramide is an antiemetic that stops nausea and vomiting, although this specific antiemetic also stops migraine pain as well. Other antiemetics can also be prescribed by your doctor if metoclopramide is not right for you, or you could go to the pharmacy and ask a pharmacist to suggest an over-the-counter antiemetic that would help stop the nausea and vomiting. Buying an over-the-counter medication for nausea and vomiting might help stop the vomiting even if this was not a migraine headache, although please consult your local pharmacist or doctor prior to taking any medication.

Dehydration can also cause headaches with nausea and vomiting, so watch for other signs of dehydration and make sure that you are drinking enough water daily. We have a water tracker that you may find helpful: http://www.medhelp.org/user_trackers/new?type=WaterConsumption

A headache with severe vomiting can also be a sign of an emergency or an underlying disease or illness, which is why you should seek medical attention for these symptoms in order to rule out more serious causes. Some examples of serious causes of headache with nausea and vomiting include: meningitis, encephalitis, and other forms of infection. Also, regardless of the cause, severe vomiting can sometimes lead to dehydration that can require IV fluids, so if you develop signs of severe dehydration or shock, please seek emergency medical attention immediately. Signs of severe dehydration and shock include: not being able to pass urine for over 12 hours; cold and clammy skin OR hot and very dry skin; fainting and becoming unconscious; not being able to stand up or walk around; rapid breathing and a rapid pulse.

Hope this information helps. Let me know how it goes and if you find an answer.

- marilee