Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for a headache. The doctor thinks your headache is likely not caused by something serious. You can recover at home.
You might be waiting on test results. The staff will notify you if there are concerning results.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). But if you have to take these every day for your headaches, call your doctor.
●Lie down in a quiet, dark room, if possible.
●Eat at regular times, and do not skip meals. Drink plenty of fluids. Try to get enough sleep.
●Keep a "headache diary" if you have headaches often or if they interfere with your daily activities. This might help you see if there is a pattern to your headaches. Write down:
•Where the pain is on your head or neck
•When you have pain, and how long it lasts
•How the pain feels, like if it is dull, sharp, burning, stabbing, or cramping
•What causes the pain
•What makes the pain better or worse
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
•Have a headache that starts suddenly, quickly becomes severe, or could be described as "the worst headache of your life"
•Have a seizure or personality changes
•Have symptoms of a stroke, like sudden:
-Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on 1 side of the body
-Confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding
-Trouble seeing in 1 or both eyes
-Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
-Severe headache with no known cause
•Feel extremely weak, confused, or lethargic
•Pass out
•Have a headache and also have neck pain, neck stiffness, fever, chills, a rash, or severe nausea or vomiting
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●The headache lasts more than a few days, or the pain gets worse or comes more often.
●You get frequent or severe headaches.
●You have new headaches, especially if you are pregnant or older than 50.
●You have new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Headaches in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Migraine in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Headache causes and diagnosis in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Headache treatment in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Migraine in adults (Beyond the Basics)
