For tension-type headache abortive therapy, which option is NOT listed?

Prepare for the Pharmacology IV – Headache Therapeutics Test. Review the therapeutic approaches, tackle multiple-choice questions with explanations, and boost your test-taking confidence. Ace your exam with precision!

Multiple Choice

For tension-type headache abortive therapy, which option is NOT listed?

Triptans are specific migraine therapies. They target the underlying mechanisms of migraine—trigeminal activation, CGRP release, and associated vasodilation—and are most effective for acute migraine attacks. Tension-type headache, by contrast, is treated with simple analgesics and NSAIDs and does not respond to migraine-specific agents. That’s why this option is not listed as an abortive therapy for tension-type headache. OTC products (like acetaminophen or NSAIDs) are commonly used as first-line abortive treatments for tension-type headache. Ketorolac is a potent NSAID and can be used for acute pain management, though it’s not typically the first-line choice; it can appear in broader lists of NSAID options. Metoclopramide with diphenhydramine is an antiemetic combination frequently used in migraines to address nausea, not a standard component of tension-type headache abortive therapy.

Triptans are specific migraine therapies. They target the underlying mechanisms of migraine—trigeminal activation, CGRP release, and associated vasodilation—and are most effective for acute migraine attacks. Tension-type headache, by contrast, is treated with simple analgesics and NSAIDs and does not respond to migraine-specific agents. That’s why this option is not listed as an abortive therapy for tension-type headache.

OTC products (like acetaminophen or NSAIDs) are commonly used as first-line abortive treatments for tension-type headache. Ketorolac is a potent NSAID and can be used for acute pain management, though it’s not typically the first-line choice; it can appear in broader lists of NSAID options. Metoclopramide with diphenhydramine is an antiemetic combination frequently used in migraines to address nausea, not a standard component of tension-type headache abortive therapy.

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