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Medication-overuse headache

Cephalaea ex abusu medicamentorum · Bolest hlavy z nadužívání léků

What it is

Daily headache driven by frequent use of headache medicine itself — painkillers on 15 or more days a month, triptans, codeine or combination pills on 10 or more; affects 1–2 in 100 people.

Symptoms & signs

  • Headache on most days, often on waking
  • original migraine or tension headache getting worse
  • relief from pills gets shorter
  • neck pain, tiredness

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden worst-ever headache
  • call 112 / 911 now Headache with weakness, confusion or a fit
  • call 112 / 911 now Headache with fever and stiff neck
  • see a doctor soon Headache that changes or gets worse after stopping painkillers

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Headache diary
  • Stop or limit the overused drug with education — most improve trials support
  • Start migraine prevention at the same time trials support
  • short steroid or other bridge — evidence weak
  • avoid opioids and barbiturate combinations

Natural & lifestyle

  • Regular meals, sleep and fluids
  • less caffeine
  • exercise

Emerging & experimental

  • CGRP antibodies without withdrawal first — trials promising

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Acupuncture — helps migraine prevention; limited data here mixed evidence
  • Relaxation and biofeedback — help prevent headaches trials support
  • Magnesium — migraine prevention data, not specific mixed evidence

ICD codes