Neurol. praxi. 2010;11(5):317-319

How recognize and treat medication overuse headache

MUDr.David Doležil, Ph.D.

Univerzita Karlova v Praze, 3. LF a FN Královské Vinohrady, Neurologická klinika, Praha

In 1988, it used term „drug-induced headache“, but the new term medication overuse headache was introduced in the 2004. Medication

overuse headache is a biobehavioral disorder and may be response to both chronic pain or, in headache-prone patients, medication

overuse, which can induce the headache. The accurate prevalence is uncertain, probably 4–10 % patients with headache had medication

overuse headache, and about 1–2 % of the general population suffered from chronic daily headache associated with the overuse

of analgesic. Stopping the acute medication may result in withdrawal symptoms and a period of increased headache, subsequent headache

improvement occurs usually but no always. In 2006, a revision of diagnostic criteria was done for medication overused headache.

Keywords: headache, medication overuse, acute treatment, prophylactic medication

Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation