Opioids can be useful in the treatment of headache

Abstract

The use of opioids in headache treatment is very controversial. In the migraine acute attack use of short-acting opioids is not recommended by the principal guidelines but is frequent in North American emergency departments. Their efficacy in migraine acute attack has not been extensively studied but seems to be similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and metoclopramide. Opioids have been never compared to triptans. The principal concerns about the use of opioids regard the possible association with an increased risk of medication-overuse headache and chronic migraine and the risk of abuse and dependence. These risks have to be considered but not overestimated. The association between frequent use and increased risk of chronic migraine has been observed for almost all categories of acute migraine attack drugs. Compared to the reference category of acetaminophen, risk of chronic migraine for opioid use is only moderately higher (with an OR = 1.48). In some cases, when treatment with triptans, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or ergotamines is contraindicated or simply in effective, a judicious prescription of a short-acting opioid for severe migraine attacks can be considered. Chronic migraine is a highly disabling condition. Although the options for prophylaxis therapy of migraine have expanded and improved considerably over recent years, chronic migraine remains very difficult to treat. The results coming from small clinical series are described, suggesting that in expert hands daily long-acting opioids provide an option for the treatment of some individuals with chronic intractable headaches. © Springer-Verlag Italia 2013.