Medication overuse headache

Curr Med Res Opin. 2001:17 Suppl 1:s17-21. doi: 10.1185/0300799039117003.

Abstract

The frequent use (>15 times/month) of medication for the treatment of acute migraine attacks may cause medication overuse headache. This kind of headache can be caused by the intake of a combination of analgesics, opioids, ergot alkaloids and triptans. The delay between first intake and these attacks is shortest for triptans (1-2 years), longer for ergots (3-5 years) and longest for analgesics (5-10 years). Treatment includes drug withdrawal followed by structured acute therapy and initiation of migraine prophylactic treatment.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / adverse effects
  • Ergot Alkaloids / adverse effects
  • Headache / chemically induced*
  • Headache / diagnosis
  • Headache / therapy
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Narcotics / adverse effects
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Sumatriptan / adverse effects

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Ergot Alkaloids
  • Narcotics
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Sumatriptan