Abstract

Antidepressants are included in the major medication group for preventive and adjunct headache treat- ment. Although they have several side effects and are to be caution in older patients, some of them have well-documented efficacy. Amitriptyline has demonstrated a consistent efficacy in prophylactic therapy of migraine and chronic tension type headache. There is fair support for the effectiveness of serotonine reup- take inhibitors in migraine prevention. Neuroleptis and antiemetics have long been used for acute headache treatment. However, they have not been widely used because of general unfamiliarity with them and concern for adverse effects. Neuroleptics are appropriate as second line agents in outpatient clinic such as triptans have failed, and as first line agents in emergency room. Korean Journal of Headache 6(1):34-39, 2005