{"id":37778,"date":"2021-08-17T09:30:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T13:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=37778"},"modified":"2024-05-22T14:54:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T18:54:26","slug":"medication-overuse-headache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-overuse-headache\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you get a headache from treating your headache? Medication overuse explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have a headache so you reach for a couple of Tylenol, aspirin, or maybe something your healthcare provider prescribed. It\u2019s a common routine played out by millions of people every day. For most, it\u2019s an effective remedy. The pain medication gets to work and the headache goes away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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But for some people\u2014especially those with recurrent headache disorders such as chronic <\/span>migraine<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>cluster headaches<\/span><\/a>\u2014long-term or frequent use of pain relievers can trigger what\u2019s known as medication overuse headaches (MOH).<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a medication overuse headache?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A medication overuse headache, also known as a rebound headache, is a regular headache that stems from the repeated or excessive use of acute pain-relieving medications. Here\u2019s what happens: The medication quells the pain for a few hours, but as it starts to wear off and the pain is no longer suppressed, the headache \u201crebounds.\u201d So you take more medication\u2014which can become less effective with repeated use. The medication again tapers off and the headache returns. Again. It\u2019s a vicious cycle that can lead to the development of a chronic daily headache that produces more and more disabling pain. This type of headache can be caused by over-the-counter medications, like aspirin or acetaminophen, or prescription drugs, such as migraine medications like triptans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether an MOH is a headache that\u2019s secondary to the one that first made you reach for pain medication or a continuation of the original one is a matter that\u2019s debated by researchers. According to the <\/span>International Headache Society<\/span><\/a>, people with medication overuse headaches are typically people with a headache disorder, such as episodic migraines. The diagnostic criteria listed in the international classification of headache disorders specify that patients have headaches 15 or more days per month, regularly take pain medications 10 or more days a month for three or more months, and the headache can not be classified as any other medical condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDevelopment of medication overuse is linked to the baseline frequency of headache days per month and acute medication class used, among other risk factors,\u201d says <\/span>Cristina Cabret-Aymat, MD<\/span><\/a>, a neurologist and headache care specialist at Ochsner Health Center in Covington, Louisiana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How long do migraines last?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s at risk?<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cMedication overuse headaches most commonly occur in people with primary headache disorders like migraine or tension-type headache who use less effective or nonspecific medications resulting in an inadequate treatment response with the need to repeat dosing,\u201d explains <\/span>Brian Grosberg, MD<\/span><\/a>, director of the Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute Headache Center in West Hartford, Connecticut. According to experts at the <\/span>Cleveland Clinic<\/span><\/a>, medication overuse headaches occur three times more often in women than men and are most common in midlife.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Medication overuse headaches are rare in the general population. According to current <\/span>research<\/span><\/a>, 2.6% of people live with them. However, they\u2019re very common in those with persistent headaches. In fact, up to 70% of people with chronic daily headaches get headaches from medication overuse. What\u2019s more, \u201cPeople with migraine could develop overuse even if they\u2019re using the <\/span>analgesics<\/span><\/a> [drugs that relieve pain] for other medical conditions,\u201d Dr. Cabret-Aymat says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Symptoms<\/span><\/h3>\n

Symptoms of medication overuse headaches include:<\/span><\/p>\n