There are many reasons why you might experience headaches following your stroke. Some reasons might be the same as before your stroke, such as migraines, stress, or lack of sleep.
On this page:
Why do people have headaches after stroke?
Will I get better
Are there treatments that can help?
Why do people have headaches after stroke?
If you are having headaches after your stroke, they could be a side effect of medication. If you think a medication may be causing headaches, visit your GP. They can find out what could be behind your headaches, and can give you other medications if necessary. Do not stop any treatments before talking to your doctor.
If you had a stroke due to a bleed in the brain (haemorrhagic stroke or brain haemorrhage), it can take a while for the headache to reduce while you are recovering.
Will I get better?
Headaches should lessen over time and can usually be controlled by painkillers such as paracetamol until they do.
If you have a persistent headache, you should seek medical attention. If you have any of the signs of a stroke, including a sudden, severe headache, call 999.
Are there treatments that can help?
Headaches can usually be controlled by painkillers such as paracetamol. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, as these can cause bleeding.
Drinking plenty of water (around two litres a day) and avoiding alcohol and excessive caffeine helps you to stay hydrated and may reduce headaches. Migraines may be triggered by fatigue, which is common after stroke.
Sometimes, taking painkillers for headaches too often (for more than about 10 days a month) can cause medication over-use headaches. Treatment usually involves stopping all pain relief medication for about 12 weeks. However, contact your GP first as some painkillers contain codeine, which can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.