Medication overuse headache

Abstract

Medication overuse headache is a secondary headache occurring 15 or more days/month in a patient with a pre-existing primary headache and developing as a consequence of regular overuse of acute or symptomatic headache medication (10 to 15 or more days/ month, depending on the medication) for more than 3 months. Medication overuse headache is a grave medical problem since it becomes more and more frequent, but it also represents a serious socioeconomic problem since it negatively affects patient quality of life and is a substantial financial burden not just for the patient but for the economy in general. Medication overuse headache can be prevented by education of patients as well as doctors and pharmacists about the headache as a consequence of medication overuse. The most important step in therapy is reduction or complete withdrawal of medication that caused the medication overuse headache. Introducing prophylactic therapy for primary headache is also very useful. Close follow-up of patients after therapy warrants prevention of relapses.