Certain conditions may raise concerns for patients taking headache medications. Patients who have ulcers or who experience gastrointestinal upset when taking aspirin, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for headaches should cease taking these drugs. Patients should inform their physician if they are pregnant or have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions:

• Allergies to headache medications
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Diabetes or other endocrine disorders
• Gout
• Heart disease
• Hemophilia or other bleeding problems
• High blood pressure
• History of gastrointestinal problems
• History of nasal polyps
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Kidney or liver disease

Patients who are planning to have surgery should inform their physician if they are taking headache medications regularly. Depending on the medications being used, patients may be asked to stop taking these for one week before surgery to lower the risk of excessive bleeding.