Medication-Overuse Headache

What is the Medication Overuse Headache?

The overuse of medications leads to a persisting chronic headache in some individuals. This is known as the Medication Overuse Headache(MOH). Intake of any medications more than the threshold limit might lead to a chronic headache or migraine. Especially the people who are more prone to getting headaches, suffer from MOH(Medications Overuse Headache) very easily.

In the case of the usage of the certain classes of acute medications such as barbiturate-containing analgesics and butalbital, aspirin and caffeine the risk of the chronic migraine increases. 

What are the causes of the Medication Overuse Headache?

The Medication Overuse Headache mainly depends on the type of medication being used. Acute medications always have high chances of leading to Medication Overuse Headaches(MOH). Some of the most common medications which can cause the Medication Overuse headache are:

• Simple pain relievers: When the intake of the simple pain relievers such as the aspirin and the acetaminophen(Tylenol, etc) exceeds the recommended daily dosage, it can lead to Medicine Overuse Headache(MOH).
• Migraine Medications:The medications for migraine like triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, others) and certain ergots — such as ergotamine (Ergomar, others), can lead to the Medication Overuse Headaches if used more than the threshold point.
• Opiates:The painkillers which are derived from the opium or synthetic opium compounds are generally a combination of codeine and acetaminophen(Tylenol with Codeine No. 3 and No. 4). These medications when overused can lead to a persisting migraine or a chronic headache which is known as the Medication Overuse Headache(MOH).
• A daily dosage of caffeine from coffee, soda, coke, pain killers, etc also acts as a mild stimulant for the Medicine Overuse Headache.

What are the symptoms of the Medication Overuse Headache?

There are various symptoms which are associated with the MOH(Medication Overuse Headache). The most common symptoms related to it are as follows:

• Persisting and recurrent headaches almost every day.
• Nausea and irritability
• Restlessness and fatigue 
• Difficulty in concentrating or loss of concentration
• Memory problems such as forgetting things often
• Depression and anxiety 
• Sudden and severe headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, rashes etc
• Double vision
• Persisting weakness and tiredness 
• Numbness 
• Difficulty in speaking 
• Irregular heartbeat; especially increased rate of the heart.
• Seizures 
• Loss of consciousness or frequent fainting
• High blood pressure
• Dizziness and frequent vomiting 

What are the treatments available for the MOH(Medication Overuse Headache)?

The treatments for the MOH(Medication Overuse Headache) are  elaborated below:

• Breaking The Cycle of the medications

The first step towards curing the MOH(Medication Overuse Headache) is to break the cycle of the intake of the mediations which had been causing the headache. At first, there will be various withdrawal symptoms before it gets better. The most common withdrawal symptoms are as follows:

• Restlessness and anxiety
• Nauseatic feeling
• Often feeling like vomiting
• Constipation
• Insomnia 
• Nervousness 
• Sweating of palms and feet

The withdrawal symptoms stay for almost 8 to 10 days generally but they can exist for a few weeks as well.

• Hospitalization

You might have to get hospitalized for a couple of days if you have the following conditions:

• If you are going through depression and anxiety, a few days of hospitalization is recommended.
• In the case of the high dosage intake of the drugs containing opiates, hospitalization is generally suggested.
• Usage of abusing substances like tranquillizers, opioids or barbiturates

Preventive medications

There are various preventive medications which can be used for breaking the cycle of the medication overuse which causes the chronic headache.

• Injections 

The number of headaches experienced per month can also be reduced by using the injection of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox).

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

This is talk therapy in which an individual learns the ways to cope with your headache. This treatment also helps a person start and follow a healthy lifestyle.

What are the ways of preventing the MOH(Medication Overuse  Headache)?

There are several ways of preventing the MOH(Medication Overuse Headache). Some of the most important preventive measures for the MOH(Medication Overuse Headache) are:

• The medications for the headaches should be taken on time as prescribed.
• Medications containing butalbital or opioids should be avoided.
• OTC(Over The Counter) medications or painkillers should be taken lesser than 15 days a month.
• The usage or the consumption of the triptans or the combination of analgesics should be limited.

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