An Algorithm for Opioid and Barbiturate Reduction in the Acute Management of Headache in the Emergency Department.

Objective: To develop and implement an algorithm for the management of headaches presenting to the emergency department (ED) in order to decrease the frequency of opioid and barbiturate treatment both acutely as well as on discharge.

Background: Headache is the fifth leading cause of ED visits in the United States. In the case of primary headache, particularly migraine, treatment in the ED can be highly variable.