Pharmacologic Management of Headaches

Headache is one of the most common presenting symptoms in primary care and represents a high proportion of patients referred to a neurology specialist. Poorly managed acute headaches can lead to a chronicity of symptoms, and poorly managed chronic headaches can lead to depression, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life.
Nurse Practitioners need to know how to differentiate primary versus secondary headaches, particularly when s secondary headache can be the result of a serious life limiting condition. Thankfully the vast majority of headaches presenting in primary care are of the “primary” variety and knowledge of management with pharmacotherapies and non-pharmacotherapies is vital to a primary care practice. This lecture will focus on the most up to date pharmacotherapies available for primary headache disorders.

Credits: 1.50 Contact Hours; 1.25 are Pharmacology
Expiration Date: December 31st, 2025

$40

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After taking part in this educational activity, participants should be better able to:

-Differentiate between primary and secondary headaches
-State the 4 primary headache types
-Discuss preventative and acute pharmacotherapies for each primary headache disorder

CE INFORMATION

Obtain Your Credits

To earn credits for this activity, navigate to the Content(s) tab and complete all course components in the following order: 1) watch the course presentation video; 2) complete the course evaluation; 3) pass the post-test with a score of 2/3 (66.7%) or higher. You may retake the post-test until a passing score is achieved, at which point you will be able to view/print a copy of your certificate of completion. This online certificate will also be saved within your profile 'My Dashboard' -> 'Transcript/Certificates Earned'  for future access.

Designation Statement

NPACE designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.50 contact hours, of which 1.25 is pharmacology credit. Participants should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Accreditation Statement

Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).

In addition to ANCC, NPACE is approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by: the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP8720 and Florida CE Broker #50-1476.

DISCLOSURES

Faculty

Contributing faculty, Theresa Mallick-Searle, MS, PMGT-BC, ANP-BC has disclosed:

Salix Speakers’ bureau OIC Relistor
AbbVie Speakers’ bureau Migraine Ubrelvy
Averitas Speakers’ bureau DPN, PHN Qutenza

Planners

All planners and contributors involved in this educational activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Disclaimer

The material presented in this continuing education program is being made available for educational purposes only and is not intended to represent the best or only methods, medications and/or guidelines appropriate for the medical situation discussed. Rather the material is intended to present an approach, view, statement, or opinion of the presenter(s), which may be helpful, or of interest to other practitioners and should not be used by clinicians without the evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. NPACE disclaims any liability, loss, injury, or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any information given in a presentation.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may mention the uses of products that are not approved by the FDA for the indication(s) being discussed. The presenter(s) are instructed to notify participants when they are discussing unapproved uses or investigational agents. The opinions related to unapproved uses of products are solely those of the presenter(s) and are not endorsed or recommended by NPACE. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Commercial Support

There is no commercial support for this activity.