What Causes Headaches And Dizziness?

Posted on Fri, 5 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 5 Dec 2014 Answered on

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi - I have been having short, stabbing one or two second headaches multiple times a day for the past five or six weeks. Now I am also starting to have pressure in my left temple, though not always. I am dizzy briefly when I stand up. Also, I have been seeing stars a lot in the past month. Like, a lot more than normal. What is wrong with me?

Answered by Dr. Moumita Chakraborty,MD (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Primary Stabbing headache

Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,

I would like to know since when are you taking Lexapro and Wellbutrin?

Here my first possibility:
I understand your concern and feel sorry for the pain you are going through. By the symptoms you mentioned, I could think of Primary Stabbing headache (aka Ice pick headache) as a provisional diagnosis. Other differentials can be Migraine or Cluster headache.

Primary stabbing headache is a condition in which a patient gets single or a series of stabs felt in the orbital region (around or behind your eye), temporal area, or parietal area of the head. This does not need any provocation such as cough or straining or exercise.

This generally requires no scans or tests because reason of it is still unknown. I would suggest you to avoid excessive stress stay hydrated and have proper sleep cycle. You can use indomethacin or OTC pain killers if it is too much.

If it become a consistent problem later, then you should visit a doctor o neurologist and get evaluated.

Hope I answered your query. Feel free to ask more.
Dr.Moumita Chakraborty

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju