Treatment of Tension-Type Headaches in Adolescents (14–15 Years Old): the Efficacy of Aminophenylbutyric Acid Hydrochloride

Abstract

The paper represents a modern view on the problem of tension-type headache (TTH) in adolescents, which is caused by the following factors: information overload and other types of stress, sleep deprivation, and physical activity deficiency, impaired posture with myogenic trigger points developing. The research covered 64 adolescents aged 14–15 with tension-type headaches: 33 boys and 42 girls (11 boys and 20 girls with frequent episodic tension-type headache (ETTH) and 12 boys and 21 girls with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH)). We assessed accompanying symptoms over the last 6 months according to the Likert scale. All children were prescribed GABA receptor agonist—aminophenylbutyric acid hydrochloride 250 mg three times a day for 3 weeks. The reduction of tension-type headache intensity was assessed by 3-grade scale: “no change,” “significantly reduced,” and “completely stopped”: 0—no, 1—very seldom, 2—often, and 3—permanently. ETTH/CTTH associated symptoms are as follows: (1) difficulty of falling asleep and restless sleep (0.91 ± 0.83/1.54 + 1.26), (2) difficulty of concentrating during the day (0.61 + 0.92/2.04 + 1.21), (3) morning sickness (0.32 + 0.87/1.81 + 1.29), (4) feeling ill in the morning with improvement in the second half of the day (0.17 + 0.57/1 95 + 0.95), (5) meteosensitivity (0.58 + 1.01/1.59 + 1.22), and (6) decrease in physical capability (0.20 + 0.64/1.72 + 0.82). After 3 weeks, the pain in ETTH subgroup completely stopped in 27 children (79%) and significantly reduced in 7 (21%). In CTTH subgroup, the pain completely stopped in 9 children (41%) and significantly reduced in 13 (59%). Associated symptoms of ETTH/CTTH are as follows: (1) difficulty of falling asleep and restless sleep (0.26 + 0.44, p = 0.000093/0.45 + 0.80, p = 0.000224), (2) difficulty of concentrating during the day (0.17 + 0.38, p = 0.003707/0.54 + 0.85; p = 0.000007), (3) morning sickness (0.08 + 0.28, p = 0. 058101/0.77 + 1.06, p = 0.001682), (4) feeling ill in the morning with improvement in the second half of the day (0.08 + 0.28, p = 0.083119/0.27 + 0.45; p = 0.000000), (5) meteosensitivity (0.32 + 0.63, p = 0.010304/1.36 + 1.09, p = 0.021450), and (6) decrease in physical capability (0.058 + 0 23; p = 0.133706 / 0.95 + 1.04, p = 0.005055). Aminophenylbutyric acid hydrochloride (GABA receptor agonist) reduces the intensity of tension-type headache and has a positive effect on associated symptoms. It can be recommended for inclusion into the scheme of tension-type headache treatment in schoolchildren.