Standard headache and neuralgia treatments and SARS-CoV-2: opinion of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group

Introduction: In recent months, doubts have arisen among patients, general practitioners, and neurologists as to whether some drugs commonly used in patients with headaches and neuralgia may favour or complicate the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Material and methods: We collected information on the opinions of scientific societies and medicines agencies (American, European, and Spanish) to clarify doubts regarding the use of drugs such as lisinopril, candesartan, ibuprofen, corticosteroids, carbamazepine, and monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: We make recommendations about the use of standard headache treatments in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the current scientific evidence.

Conclusions: At present, there is no robust scientific argument to formally contraindicate any of the standard treatments employed for headaches and neuralgias.

Keywords: COVID-19; Candesartan; Candesartán; Cefalea; Corticoides; Corticosteroids; Headache; Ibuprofen; Ibuprofeno; Lisinopril.