6533b7dafe1ef96bd126f2bb

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Use of amitriptyline for the treatment of chronic tension-type headache : review of the literature

Eulalia Torrente CastellsEduardo Vázquez DelgadoCosme Gay Escoda

subject

Síndrome de dolor miofascialTractament del dolorMyofascial pain syndromesUNESCO::CIENCIAS MÉDICASPain treatmentAntidepressiusAntidepressants:CIENCIAS MÉDICAS [UNESCO]

description

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, considered the treatment of choice for different types of chronic pain, including chronic myofascial pain. Its antinociceptive property is independent of its antidepressant effect. Although its analgesic mechanism is not precisely known, it is believed that the serotonin reuptake inhibition in the central nervous system plays a fundamental role in pain control. Although this medication is widely used in the prevention of chronic tension-type headache, few studies have investigated the efficacy of this treatment and the published results are contradictory. The objective of this article was to review the literature published on the use of amitriptyline in the prophylactic treatment of chronic tension-type headache, considering the level of scientific evidence of the different studies using the SORT criteria. From this review, 5 articles of evidence level 1, and another 5 articles of evidence level 2 were selected. Following analysis of the 10 studies, and in function of their scientific quality, a level A recommendation was made in favor of using amitriptyline in the treatment of chronic tension-type headache.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2008-09-01
http://hdl.handle.net/10550/61109