Chronic Migraine and Medication-Overuse Headache Through the Ages

Cephalalgia ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 378-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Boes ◽  
DJ Capobianco
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
English Language ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
International Headache Society ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Headache Frequency ◽  
Ihs Criteria ◽  
Acute Headache

We set out to review early descriptions of chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache. The International Headache Society (IHS) recently gave criteria for chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache. Chronic migraine was absent from the 1988 IHS criteria. Peters and Horton described ergotamine-overuse headache in 1951. In the 1980s it was more fully appreciated that overuse of other acute headache medications could increase headache frequency. We reviewed published English-language papers and book chapters. Willis (1672), Oppenheim (1900), Collier (1922), Balyeat (1933), and von Storch (1937) all described chronic migraine. Lennox (1934), O'Sullivan (1936), Silfverskiöld (1947), Graham (1955), Friedman (1955), and Lippman (1955) wrote about ergotamine-overuse headache. Graham (1955), Friedman (1955), Lippman (1955), and Horton and Peters (1963) outlined withdrawal protocols. Chronic migraine has been mentioned in the literature for centuries, while medication-overuse headache has been written about for decades. Graham, Friedman, and Lippman deserve credit for separately reporting the first ergotamine withdrawal programmes.

scholarly journals P.033 Eptinezumab reduced acute medication use in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache: subgroup analysis of Promise-2

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (s3) ◽  
pp. S29-S29
Author(s):  
MJ Marmura ◽  
H Diener ◽  
J Hirman ◽  
R Cady ◽  
T Brevig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Baseline Period ◽  
Migraine Treatment ◽  
Medication History ◽  
Medication Class ◽  
The Us ◽  
Acute Headache ◽  
The Impact

Background: Eptinezumab is a preventive migraine treatment approved in the US. We evaluated the impact of eptinezumab on acute headache medication (AHM) use in patients diagnosed with chronic migraine (CM) and medication-overuse headache (MOH) in PROMISE-2. Methods: PROMISE-2 randomized patients with CM to eptinezumab 100mg, 300mg, or placebo for 2 intravenous doses administered every 12 weeks. Trained investigators diagnosed MOH at screening using 3-month medication history and ICHD-3b criteria. Endpoints included days/month of any AHM use (days of ≥1 medication class), total AHM use (summed days for each medication class), and triptan use over Weeks 1-12 and 13-24. AHM classes included triptan, ergot, opioid, simple analgesic, and combination analgesic. Results: Of 1072 PROMISE-2 patients, 431 (40.2%) were diagnosed with MOH (100mg, n=139; 300mg, n=147; placebo, n=145). During the 28-day baseline period, mean days of any AHM was ~16.4, total AHM was ~20.4, and triptan was ~8.9 across treatment arms. Over Weeks 1-12, mean days/month of any AHM was 8.8 (100mg), 9.9 (300mg), and 11.8 (placebo); total AHM was 10.8, 12.2, and 14.8; triptan was 4.3, 4.4, and 6.4. Similar or lower rates were observed over Weeks 13-24. Conclusions: In patients diagnosed with both CM and MOH, eptinezumab treatment reduced AHM use.

The International Classification of Headache Disorders Revised Criteria for Chronic Migraine—Field Testing in a Headache Specialty Clinic

Cephalalgia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
ME Bigal ◽  
AM Rapoport ◽  
FD Sheftell ◽  
SJ Tepper ◽  
RB Lipton
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
International Headache Society ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
International Classification ◽  
Headache Disorders ◽  
Transformed Migraine ◽  
Probable Migraine

In the absence of a biological marker and expert consensus on the best approach to classify chronic migraine (CM), recent revised criteria for this disease has been proposed by the Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. This revised criteria for CM is now presented in the Appendix. Herein we field test the revised criteria for CM. We included individuals with transformed migraine with or without medication overuse (TM+ and TM-), according to the criteria proposed by Silberstein and Lipton, since this criterion has been largely used before the Second Edition of the International Classification of the Headache Disorders (ICHD-2). We assessed the proportion of subjects that fulfilled ICHD-2 criteria for CM or probable chronic migraine with probable medication overuse (CM+), as well as the revised ICHD-2 (ICHD-2R) criteria for CM (≥15 days of headache, ≥8 days of migraine or migraine-specific acute medication use—ergotamine or triptans). We also tested the ICHD-2R vs. three proposals. In proposal 1, CM/CM+ would require at least 15 days of migraine or probable migraine per month. Proposal 2 required ≥15 days of headache per month and at least 50% of these days were migraine or probable migraine. Proposal 3 required ≥15 days of headache and at least 8 days of migraine or probable migraine per month. Of the 158 patients with TM-, just 5.6% met ICHD-2 criteria for CM. According to the ICHD-2R, a total of 92.4% met criteria for CM ( P < 0.001 vs. ICHD-2). The ICHD-2R criterion performed better than proposal 1 (47.8% of agreement, P < 0.01) and was not statistically different from proposals 2 (87.9%) and 3 (94.9%). Subjects with TM+ should be classified as medication overuse headache (MOH), and not CM+, according to the ICHD-2R. Nonetheless, we assessed the proportion of them who had ≥8 days of migraine per month. Of the 399 individuals with TM+, just 10.2% could be classified as CM+ in the ICHD-2. However, most (349, 86.9%) had ≥8 days of migraine per month and could be classified as MOH and probable CM in the ICHD-2R ( P < 0.001 vs. ICHD-2). We conclude that the ICHD-2R addresses most of the criticism towards the ICHD-2 and should be adopted in clinical practice and research. In the population where use of specific acute migraine medications is less common, the agreement between ICHD-2R CM and TM may be less robust.

scholarly journals Clinical features of medication overuse headache following overuse of different acute symptomatic medications: A preliminary study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun-Young Oh ◽  
Jin-Ju Kang ◽  
Hong-Kyun Park ◽  
Soo-Jin Cho ◽  
Min Kyung Chu
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
International Headache Society ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Daily Headache ◽  
Multiple Drugs ◽  
Acute Headache

Abstract Background Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a growing problem worldwide and is defined as daily or near-daily headache in patients with a primary headache disorder who overuse acute medications. There is debate about whether there are differences in the clinical features and risks of MOH induced by different drugs. Here we investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with MOH following overuse of different acute headache drugs such as triptans and other medications.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional observation study, REgistry for Load and Management of MEdicAtion OveruSE Headache (RELEASE), prospectively collected demographic and clinical data from 114 consecutive patients with MOH according to the International Headache Society criteria between May 2020 and January 2021. We calculated the mean duration until onset of MOH from chronic daily headache (MDMOH), mean monthly frequency of severe headache (MMFSH), mean monthly frequency of seeking medical services (MMFMedS), and mean monthly intake frequency (MMIF) as well as headache impact and neuropsychological tests in patients with MOH after overuse of acute headache drugs.Results A total of 105 eligible MOH patients was included in this study. The patients showed overuse of triptans (31/105, 29.5%), ergotamines (8/105, 7.6%), simple or combination analgesics (37/105, 35.2%), opioids (1/105, 0.9%), and combination of two of more drugs (28/105, 26.7%). The MDMOH was significantly longer for the analgesics group (10.6 years) than the ergotamines (4.1 years), triptans (4.3 years), or multiple drugs group (4.8 years) (p = 0.011, Kruskal–Wallis test). The MMFMedS was lower for the analgesics group (0.37 days per month) than the multiple drugs (0.85 days) or triptans (0.58 days) group (p = 0.008, Kruskal–Wallis test). The MMFSH was significantly lower in the triptans group (7.4 days per month) than in the analgesics (14.4 days) or multiple drugs group (13.7 days) (p = 0.005, Kruskal–Wallis test). The MMIF was higher in the multiple drugs group (25 days per month) than the triptans (18.1 days) or analgesics (19.5 days) group (p = 0.007, Kruskal–Wallis test).Conclusion Data from this prospective multicenter study suggest that the clinical characteristics of MOH depend on the type of overused symptomatic headache medications.

Medication Overuse Headache and Chronic Migraine in a Specialized Headache Centre: Field-Testing Proposed New Appendix Criteria

Cephalalgia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Zeeberg ◽  
J Olesen ◽  
R Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
International Headache Society ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Tension Type Headache ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Headache Centre ◽  
Type Headache

The classification subcommittee of the International Headache Society (IHS) has recently suggested revised criteria for medication overuse headache (MOH) and chronic migraine (CM). We field tested these revised criteria by applying them to the headache population at the Danish Headache Centre and compared the results with those using the current criteria. For CM we also tested two alternative criteria, one requiring ≥ 4 migraine days/month and ≥ 15 headache days/month, the second requiring ≥ 15 headache days/month and ≥ 50% migraine days. We included 969 patients with migraine or tension-type headache (TTH) among 1326 patients treated and dismissed in a 2-year period. Two hundred and eighty-five patients (30%) had TTH, 265 (27%) had migraine and 419 (43%) had mixed migraine and TTH. The current criteria for MOH classified 86 patients (9%) as MOH, 98 (10%) as probable MOH and 785 (81%) as not having MOH after a 2-month drug-free period. Using the appendix criteria, 284 patients (29%) were now classified as MOH, no patients as probable MOH and 685 (71%) as not having MOH. For CM only 16 patients (3%) fulfilled the current diagnostic criteria. This increased to 42 patients (7%) when we applied the appendix criteria. Using the less restrictive criteria of ≥ 4 migraine days and ≥ 15 headache days, 88 patients (14%) had CM, whereas the more restrictive criteria of ≥ 15 headache days and ≥ 50% migraine days resulted in 24 patients (4%) with CM. Our data suggest that the IHS has succeeded in choosing new criteria for CM which are neither too strict, nor too loose. For MOH, a shift to the appendix criteria will increase the number of MOH patients, but take into account the possibility of permanent changes in pain perception due to medication overuse and the possibility of a renewed effect of prophylactic drugs due to medication withdrawal. We therefore recommend the implementation of the appendix criteria for both MOH and CM into the main body of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Chronic Migraine and Medication Overuse Headache: Clarifying the Current International Headache Society Classification Criteria

Cephalalgia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Sun-Edelstein ◽  
ME Bigal ◽  
AM Rapoport
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
International Headache Society ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Classification Criteria ◽  
Daily Headache ◽  
Considerable Controversy ◽  
Chronic Daily Headaches ◽  
International Headache Society Classification

Despite the recent advances in the understanding and classification of the chronic daily headaches, considerable controversy still exists regarding the classification of individual headaches, including chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse headache (MOH). The original criteria, published in 2004, were difficult to apply to most patients with these disorders and were subsequently revised, resulting in broader clinical applicability. Nonetheless, they remain a topic of debate, and the revisions to the criteria have further added to the confusion. Even some prominent headache specialists are unsure which criteria to use. We aimed to explain the nature of the controversies surrounding the entities of CM and MOH. A clinical case will be used to illustrate some of the problems faced by clinicians in diagnosing patients with chronic daily headache.

A prospective pilot study of the effect on catecholamines of mindfulness training vs pharmacological prophylaxis in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache

Cephalalgia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 655-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Licia Grazzi ◽  
Alberto Raggi ◽  
Domenico D’Amico ◽  
Emanuela Sansone ◽  
Matilde Leonardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Headache Frequency ◽  
Pharmacological Prophylaxis ◽  
Prophylaxis Group ◽  
Medication Intake ◽  
Tyrosine Metabolism ◽  
History Of

Aim To address whether, in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache, mindfulness-based treatment is associated with changes in plasma levels of catecholamines and elusive amines that are similar to those observed in patients undergoing pharmacological prophylaxis. Methods In this non-randomized, clinic-based effectiveness study, patients aged 18–65, with a history of chronic migraine ≥ 10 years and overuse of triptans or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ≥ 5 years, were enrolled. Upon completion of a structured withdrawal program, patients received either pharmacological prophylaxis or six weekly sessions of mindfulness-based treatment and were followed for 12 months. Daily headache diaries were used to record headache frequency and medication intake; catecholamines (noradrenaline, epinephrine and dopamine) and levels of elusive amines were assayed from poor platelet plasma. Results Complete follow-up data were available for 15 patients in the pharmacological prophylaxis-group (14 females, average age 44.1) and 14 in the mindfulness treatment-group (all females, average age 46.4), and all variables were comparable between groups at baseline. At 12 months, significant improvement ( p < .001) was found in the pharmacological prophylaxis group for headache frequency and medication intake (by 51% and 48.7%, respectively), noradrenaline, epinephrine and dopamine (by 98.7%, 120.8% and 501.9%, respectively); patients in the mindfulness treatment-group performed similarly. For elusive amines, no longitudinal changes were found. Conclusions The similar improvement trends observed in the two groups of patients further support the utility of mindfulness-based treatment in migraine care, and reinforce the hypothesis that alteration and normalization of tyrosine metabolism are implicated in migraine chronification and in remission of chronic migraine.

Discontinuation of Medication Overuse in Headache Patients: Recovery of Therapeutic Responsiveness

Cephalalgia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1192-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Zeeberg ◽  
J Olesen ◽  
R Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Withdrawal ◽  
Medication Overuse ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Headache Frequency ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Headache Centre ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Almost All

It is generally accepted that ongoing medication overuse nullifies the effect of prophylactic treatment, although few data support this contention. We set out to describe the treatment outcome in patients withdrawn from medication overuse and relate any improvement to a renewed effect of prophylaxis. For patients with probable medication-overuse headache (pMOH), treated and dismissed from the Danish Headache Centre in 2002 and 2003, we assed, from prospective headache diaries, the headache frequency before and after withdrawal of offending drugs and compared these frequencies with the headache frequency at dismissal. Among 1326 patients, 337 had pMOH. Eligible were 175, mean age 49 years, male/female ratio 1: 2.7. Overall, there was a 46% decrease in headache frequency from the first visit to dismissal ( P < 0.0001). Patients with no improvement 2 months after complete drug withdrawal ( N = 88) subsequently responded to pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological prophylaxis with a 26% decrease in headache frequency as measured from the end of withdrawal to dismissal ( P < 0.0001). At dismissal, 47% were on prophylaxis. Former non-responders to medical prophylaxis had a 49% decrease in headache frequency from first visit to dismissal ( P < 0.0001), whereas those who had never received prophylaxis had a 56% reduction ( P < 0.0001). This difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.22). Almost all MOH patients benefit from drug withdrawal, either just from the withdrawal or by transformation from therapeutic non-responsiveness to responsiveness. According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn, the MOH diagnosis requires improvement after drug withdrawal. Our data suggest that these diagnostic criteria are too strict.

Treatment of medication-overuse headache: A systematic review

Cephalalgia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Chun Chiang ◽  
Todd J Schwedt ◽  
Shuu-Jiun Wang ◽  
David W Dodick
Keyword(s):  
Medication Overuse ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Early Discontinuation ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Preventive Medication ◽  
Long Term Prognosis ◽  
Acute Headache

Introduction The objective of this review is to provide an evidence-based discussion of different treatment strategies for medication-overuse headache (MOH). Method We searched PubMed for articles discussing the treatment and prognosis of MOH published between 2004 and August 2014. Titles, abstract and articles were reviewed systematically. The level of evidence provided by each study of the included articles was determined according to the American Academy of Neurology Clinical practice guideline manual. We discuss the level of evidence to support the early discontinuation/withdrawal of overused medications, the level of evidence to support the use of preventive treatment, the short- and long-term prognosis, and the outcome according to the class of drug overused in patients diagnosed with MOH. Results The initial search resulted in 1313 articles; 68 articles met our inclusion criteria and were discussed. The level of evidence to support early discontinuation of overused medications alone is low due to the absence of controlled studies. Adding preventive medication to early discontinuation led to a better outcome than early discontinuation alone. For patients with chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse (MO), there are large randomized control trials supporting the use of onabotulinumtoxinA and topiramate without early discontinuation of overuse; however, the evidence is limited since data were obtained from post hoc analysis. Conclusion Considering current available evidence and the systemic toxicity of overusing acute headache medication, we suggest discontinuation of the overused medication with the addition of preventive medication. Appropriately sized, randomized controlled trials evaluating the safety and long-term efficacy of preventive medication plus early discontinuation of overuse vs preventive medication alone vs early discontinuation of overuse alone are needed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document