Therapeutic blockades and reflexotherapy in the complex treatment of tension headache

The analysis of treatment effectiveness was carried out in 138 patients with tension headache. Patients of group 1 received fluoxetine in dose 20-40 mg/day during not less than 3 months and tizanidini in dose 4-8 mg/day during not less than 2 weeks. Patients of group 2 were assigned to therapeutic blockades of the occipital nerve and trigger points of cervico-cranial area using local anesthetics (2,5 ml of 0,5% marcain solution and 0,5-1 ml dexazone, for 1-5 blockades course) and needle reflexotherapy. The further treatment was based on the decision of the necessity of using analogous drugs in dose regime. Effectiveness was assessed on the basis of clinical neuroorthopedical examination, scores on the Visual Analogous Scale and questionnaires of McGill and A.M. Vein. The inclusion of therapeutic blockades of the cervical zone and reflexotherapy increased the effectiveness of the treatment and minimized the use of drugs. In group 2, the amount of analgesics was decreased by more than 60%, central myorelaxants were prescribed in 34,8% of cases and antidepressants - in 19,1%. The decrease of daily and course doses of the drugs allowed to completely avoid the side-effects.