Medication overuse headaches
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Medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches are caused by regular, long-term use of medication to treat headaches, such as migraines. Pain relievers offer relief for occasional headaches. But if you take them more than a couple of days a week, they may trigger medication overuse headaches.
If you have a headache disorder, any medication you take for pain relief can cause rebound headaches. Pain relievers taken regularly for another condition, such as arthritis, haven’t been shown to cause medication overuse headaches in people who never had a headache disorder.
Medication overuse headaches usually stop when you stop taking pain medication. It’s tough in the short term, but your doctor can help you beat medication overuse headaches for long-term relief.
Signs and symptoms of medication overuse headaches may differ according to the type of original headache being treated and the medication used. Medication overuse headaches tend to:
Other signs and symptoms may include:
Occasional headaches are common. But it’s important to take your headaches seriously. Some types of headaches can be life-threatening.
Seek immediate medical care if your headache:
Consult your doctor if:
Doctors don’t yet know exactly why medication overuse leads to rebound headaches. The risk of developing medication overuse headaches varies depending on the medication, but any acute headache medication has the potential to lead to medication overuse headaches, including:
Combination pain relievers. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers that combine caffeine, aspirin and acetaminophen (Excedrin, others) are common culprits.
This group also includes prescription medications such as Fiorinal, which contains the sedative butalbital. Butalbital-containing compounds have an especially high risk of causing medication overuse headaches, so it’s best not to take them to treat headaches.
Daily doses of caffeine — from coffee, soda, and pain relievers and other products containing this mild stimulant — may fuel medication overuse headaches, as well. Read product labels to make sure you’re not wiring your system with more caffeine than you realize.
Risk factors for developing medication overuse headaches include:
To help prevent medication overuse headaches:
Taking care of yourself can help prevent most headaches.
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Medication overuse headaches
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