Medication overuse headache

Medication overuse headache
Other namesRebound headache
SpecialtyNeurology

A medication overuse headache (MOH), also known as a rebound headache, usually occurs when painkillers are taken frequently to relieve headaches.[1] These cases are often referred to as painkiller headaches.[2] Rebound headaches frequently occur daily, can be very painful and are a common cause of chronic daily headache. They typically occur in patients with an underlying headache disorder such as migraine or tension-type headache that "transforms" over time from an episodic condition to chronic daily headache due to excessive intake of acute headache relief medications. MOH is a serious, disabling and well-characterized disorder, which represents a worldwide problem and is now considered the third-most prevalent type of headache. The proportion of patients in the population with Chronic Daily Headache (CDH) who overuse acute medications ranges from 18% to 33%. The prevalence of medication overuse headache (MOH) varies depending on the population studied and diagnostic criteria used. However, it is estimated that MOH affects approximately 1-2% of the general population, but its relative frequency is much higher in secondary and tertiary care.[3]

  1. ^ Garza, Ivan; Robertson, Carrie E.; Smith, Jonathan H.; Whealy, Mark E. (2022). "102. Headache and other craniofacial pain". In Jankovic, Joseph; Mazziotta, John C.; Pomeroy, Scott L. (eds.). Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. Vol. II. Neurological disorders and their management (8th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. p. 1756. ISBN 978-0-323-64261-3.
  2. ^ "Medically unexplained symptoms". nhs.uk. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ Colás, R.; Muñoz, P.; Temprano, R.; Gómez, C.; Pascual, J. (2004-04-27). "Chronic daily headache with analgesic overuse: Epidemiology and impact on quality of life". Neurology. 62 (8): 1338–1342. doi:10.1212/01.WNL.0000120545.45443.93. ISSN 0028-3878. PMID 15111671. S2CID 27740384.