TY - JOUR
T1 - Headache in chronic cocaine users
T2 - A cross-sectional study
AU - Fofi, Luisa
AU - Orlandi, Valerio
AU - Vanacore, Nicola
AU - Mizzoni, Maria C.
AU - Rosa, Alba
AU - Aurilia, Cinzia
AU - Egeo, Gabriella
AU - Casella, Pietro
AU - Barbanti, Piero
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Methods: We investigated headache frequency and characteristics and the correlation between headache and acute cocaine intake in a cross-sectional study in a consecutive series of chronic cocaine users. Results: Participation rate was 94.1%. Of the 80 subjects enrolled, 72 (90%) reported current headaches, in most cases migraine or probable migraine without aura. Of these 72, 29 (40.3%) had a headache history, whereas 43 (59.7%) reported de novo headache after beginning to use cocaine. After acute cocaine use, a large percentage of users reported headache attacks: 86.2% of previous headache sufferers (migraine or probable migraine without aura in all cases) and 93% of de novo headache sufferers (migraine/probable migraine without aura=35; episodic tension-type headache=three patients; cocaine-induced headache = two patients). Most subjects reported that when they used cocaine headaches worsened. Conclusion: Chronic cocaine use frequently seems to worsen or induce headache with migraine or migraine-like characteristics, probably owing to a serotoninergic and dopaminergic system impairment. In headache sufferers, especially those with migraine headaches, clinicians should enquire into possible cocaine use.
AB - Methods: We investigated headache frequency and characteristics and the correlation between headache and acute cocaine intake in a cross-sectional study in a consecutive series of chronic cocaine users. Results: Participation rate was 94.1%. Of the 80 subjects enrolled, 72 (90%) reported current headaches, in most cases migraine or probable migraine without aura. Of these 72, 29 (40.3%) had a headache history, whereas 43 (59.7%) reported de novo headache after beginning to use cocaine. After acute cocaine use, a large percentage of users reported headache attacks: 86.2% of previous headache sufferers (migraine or probable migraine without aura in all cases) and 93% of de novo headache sufferers (migraine/probable migraine without aura=35; episodic tension-type headache=three patients; cocaine-induced headache = two patients). Most subjects reported that when they used cocaine headaches worsened. Conclusion: Chronic cocaine use frequently seems to worsen or induce headache with migraine or migraine-like characteristics, probably owing to a serotoninergic and dopaminergic system impairment. In headache sufferers, especially those with migraine headaches, clinicians should enquire into possible cocaine use.
KW - chronic
KW - cocaine
KW - cocaine-induced headache
KW - disability
KW - Headache
KW - migraine
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U2 - 10.1177/0333102414520764
DO - 10.1177/0333102414520764
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84904611849
VL - 34
SP - 671
EP - 678
JO - Cephalalgia
JF - Cephalalgia
SN - 0333-1024
IS - 9
ER -