scholarly journals Medication Overuse Headache

Migraine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhruv Bansal ◽  
Pritesh Pranay ◽  
Fayyaz Ahmed

Medication overuse headache (MOH) is defined in the latest ICHD-3 criteria as a secondary headache caused by worsening of a pre-existing headache (usually a primary headache) owing to overuse of one or more attack-aborting or pain-relieving medications. MOH can be debilitating and results from biochemical and functional brain changes induced by certain medications taken too frequently. Various risk factors some modifiable, other non-modifiable (Multiple Gene Polymorphisms) have been hypothesised in MOH. Psychiatric co-morbidities in MOH are noticeably (anxiety and depression) found to be co morbid disorders by more than chance. This has to be managed effectively along with treatment strategies for MOH for efficacious response to withdrawal treatment. Ample literature and clinical evidence shown in prospective trials, that withdrawal therapy is the best treatment for MOH. The mainstay of MOH treatment is not only to detoxify the patients and to stop the chronic headache but also, most likely, to improve responsiveness to acute or prophylactic drugs. Studies advocating prophylactic treatment with good response to mainly topiramate and OnabotulinumtoxinA do exist, less prominent for prednisolone, however, not recommended for every patient. Management may be complex and must be done via MDT approach with involvement of specialists when needed along with incorporating adequate treatment of acute withdrawal symptoms, educational and behavioural programs to ensure patient understanding of the condition and compliance. There are arguments on either sides of inpatient and outpatient withdrawal for MOH patients dependent heavily on the individual circumstances i.e. patient’s motivation, the duration of the overuse, the type of overused drugs, possible previous history of detoxification failures and co morbidities. Treatment trials are still required to determine for clinicians the best evidence-based approach for helping these patients break their headache cycle.

Cephalalgia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1527-1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Moon ◽  
Kamran Ahmed ◽  
Ivan Garza

Introduction: Nummular headache is a rare primary headache disorder described by a focal circumscribed area of pain (2–6 cm in diameter). Literature on this disorder is sparse. Patients and methods: Here, we describe a case series of 16 patients (6 men, 10 women) seen at the Mayo Clinic. Results: Mean age of onset was 50 years (range, 19–79 years) and mean duration of headache was 7.9 years (range, 0.33–40 years). Location of headache varied and was found to be an average of 3.9 cm in diameter (range, 2–10 cm). Headache was episodic (<15 days/month) in four patients and chronic (>15 days/month) in 12 patients. Attention was paid to therapeutic interventions. Resolution was seen in 38% of patients. Migraine was present in the history of 56% of patients and medication overuse headache was found in 25%. Conclusions: Our series results support previous findings. In our population, no specific therapy was identified to be effective in more than one patient.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Sances ◽  
N Ghiotto ◽  
F Galli ◽  
E Guaschino ◽  
C Rezzani ◽  
...  

To investigate factors influencing prognosis in medication-overuse headache (MOH), we conducted a 12-month follow-up of patients with probable MOH. We recruited 215 patients consecutively admitted to our headache centre for an inpatient detoxification treatment. We analysed likely predictor factors for headache resolution (sex, age, primary headache, psychiatric comorbidity, type and timing of overuse). Mann–Whitney U-test and chi-squared test were used. One year after withdrawal, we had complete data on 172 patients (80%): 38 of these patients (22%) had relapsed into overuse and 134 (78%) had not. The negative prognostic factors for relapse were: intake of more than 30 doses/month ( P = 0.004), smoking ( P = 0.012), alcohol consumption ( P = 0.037), non-confirmation of MOH diagnosis 2 months after detoxification ( P = 0.000), and return to overused drug(s) ( P = 0.000). The 1-year relapse rate was 22%. The existence of sub-groups of MOH patients with such risk factors could influence treatment strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiane Teru Takahashi ◽  
◽  
Raffaele Ornello ◽  
Giuseppe Quatrosi ◽  
Angelo Torrente ◽  
...  

AbstractChronic headache is particularly prevalent in migraineurs and it can progress to a condition known as medication overuse headache (MOH). MOH is a secondary headache caused by overuse of analgesics or other medications such as triptans to abort acute migraine attacks. The worsening of headache symptoms associated with medication overuse (MO) generally ameliorates following interruption of regular medication use, although the primary headache symptoms remain unaffected. MO patients may also develop certain behaviors such as ritualized drug administration, psychological drug attachment, and withdrawal symptoms that have been suggested to correlate with drug addiction. Although several reviews have been performed on this topic, to the authors best knowledge none of them have examined this topic from the addiction point of view. Therefore, we aimed to identify features in MO and drug addiction that may correlate. We initiate the review by introducing the classes of analgesics and medications that can cause MOH and those with high risk to produce MO. We further compare differences between sensitization resulting from MO and from drug addiction, the neuronal pathways that may be involved, and the genetic susceptibility that may overlap between the two conditions. Finally, ICHD recommendations to treat MOH will be provided herein.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Pijpers ◽  
MA Louter ◽  
ME de Bruin ◽  
EW van Zwet ◽  
FG Zitman ◽  
...  

Aim J.A.P. and M.A.L. contributed equally to this manuscript. The aim of this article is to determine whether support by a headache nurse in the treatment of medication-overuse headache (MOH) increases successful withdrawal, and to study determinants of response to withdrawal therapy. Methods A retrospective, controlled follow-up study was performed with 416 MOH patients. All patients were treated with outpatient withdrawal therapy, with two treatment arms: with or without the support of a specialised headache nurse. The outcome measures were: i) successful withdrawal, defined as discontinuation of all headache medication according to the study protocol; and ii) the responder rate, defined as the percentage of patients with ≥50% reduction in headache days after successful withdrawal and iii) relative reduction in headache days after successful withdrawal. Results Successful withdrawal percentages were significantly higher in the group supported by the headache nurse than in the group without support (73.1% vs. 60.7%; p = 0.008), which was confirmed in multivariate analysis (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11–2.71, p = 0.016). Support by a headache nurse was not associated with response. The underlying primary headache diagnosis, determined after withdrawal, was significantly correlated with response. Conclusion The support by a headache nurse results in an increased adherence to detoxification.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 033310242094223
Author(s):  
Kati Toom ◽  
Mark Braschinsky ◽  
Mark Obermann ◽  
Zara Katsarava

Background Secondary headaches attributed to exposure to or the overuse of a substance are classified under chapter eight in the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. Three distinct sub-chapters consider: 1. Headache attributed to exposure to a substance, 2. Medication overuse headache, and 3. Headache attributed to substance withdrawal. Headache attributed to exposure to a substance refers to a headache with onset immediately or within hours after the exposure, while medication overuse headache is a headache occurring on 15 or more days per month that has developed as a consequence of regular usage of acute headache medication(s) for more than three consecutive months in a patient with a pre-existing primary headache disorder. The withdrawal of caffeine, oestrogen, and opioids is most often associated with the development of headache. Discussion Despite the current headache classification, there is no certainty of a causal relationship between the use of any substance and the development of headache. Some substances are likely to provoke headache in patients that suffer from a primary headache disorder like migraine, tension-type headache or cluster headache, while others were described to cause headache even in people that generally do not get headaches. Toxic agents, such as carbon monoxide (CO) are difficult to investigate systematically, while other substances such as nitric oxide (NO) were specifically used to induce headache experimentally. If a patient with an underlying primary headache disorder develops a headache, in temporal relation to exposure to a substance, which is significantly worse than the usual headache it is considered secondary. This is even more the case if the headache phenotype is different from the usually experienced headache characteristics. Medication overuse headache is a well-described, distinct disease entity with only marginally understood pathophysiology and associated psychological factors. Managing medication overuse headache patients includes education, detoxification, prophylactic treatments and treating comorbidities, which is reflected in available guidelines. Viewing medication overuse headache as a separate entity helps clinicians and researchers better recognise, treat and study the disorder. Conclusion Identification of substances that may cause or trigger secondary headache is important in order to educate patients and health care professionals about potential effects of these substances and prevent unnecessary suffering, as well as deterioration in quality of life. Treatment in case of medication overuse and other chronic headache should be decisive and effective.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 033310242110571
Author(s):  
Hong-Kyun Park ◽  
Min Kyung Chu ◽  
Sun-Young Oh ◽  
Heui-Soo Moon ◽  
Tae-Jin Song ◽  
...  

Background Characteristics, disabilities, and optimal management of medication overuse headache remain uncertain. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients with medication overuse headache enrolled in a medication overuse headache registry in Korea. Methods The Registry for Load and Management of MEdicAtion OveruSE Headache (RELEASE), a cross-sectional prospective observational study including seven referral headache centers in Korea, started enrolling adult patients with medication overuse headache in April 2020. Data included information on headache characteristics, burden on daily function, depression, anxiety, history of acute and preventive medications, and treatment strategies. Results A total of 229 patients (85.6% females; mean age, 45.5 ± 13.5 years) were enrolled by June 2021. The average durations of chronic headaches and medication overuse were 6.5 and 4.3 years, respectively. In the past month before enrollment, patients had headaches for 25 days and severe headaches for 12 days, and used acute medications for 20 days. Patients were disabled in 66.8 days in the past 3 months and had moderate/severe depression and anxiety in 56% and 35%, respectively. The proportion of patients on preventive treatments increased from 38% to 93% during the study period. Conclusions RELEASE study reflects the current management status and opportunities to improve the quality of care in patients with medication overuse headache.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 399-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin R Wakerley

Medication-overuse headache is defined as headache occurring on more than 15days in a month in people with pre-existing primary headache, and developing as a consequence of regular overuse of acute headache treatments. Medication-overuse headache is common in general neurology clinics and can be difficult to manage. Most patients have a background of migraine, which has slowly transformed over months and years from the episodic to chronic form; with this comes an increased use of acute migraine treatment. This paper identifies who is at risk of developing medication-overuse headache, and reviews preventive measures and current treatment strategies.


Author(s):  
Eliana M. Melhado ◽  
Jayme A. Maciel ◽  
Carlos A.M. Guerreiro

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of headache in women with a previous history or new-onset headache during the current gestation, classify the findings, and describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of the headache.Methods:From January/1998 to June/2002 we prospectively evaluated 1101 pregnant women (12-45 years old), with a history of headache, at two prenatal clinics and an inpatient obstetric public hospital. Women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire during the first, second, and third gestation trimesters and immediately after delivery. All interviews were conducted by one of the authors, using the International Headache Society Classification (IHSC-2004).Results:In 1029 women there was a history of headache prior to the current pregnancy, 36 (3.4%) women first experienced headache during this pregnancy and 40 patients experienced new types of headache. In these 76 patients with new onset headache during pregnancy, 40 had secondary headache (52.6%), 31 had primary headache (40.8%), and 5 had headache not classified elsewhere (6.6%). According to IHSC- 2004 criteria, we found migraine in 848/1029 women (82.4%), with pregestational headache.Conclusions:Most of the pregnant women presented with headache, mainly in migraine, prior to pregnancy, and most of the headaches improved or disappeared during the second and third gestation trimester. In a relatively small number of pregnant women, a new type of headache started during the gestation.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Relja ◽  
A Granato ◽  
A Bratina ◽  
RM Antonello ◽  
M Zorzon

One hundred and one patients suffering from chronic daily headache (CDH) and medication overuse were treated, in an in-patient setting, with abrupt discontinuation of the medication overused, intravenous hydrating, and intravenous administration of benzodiazepines and ademetionine. The mean time to CDH resolution was 8.8 days. The in-patient withdrawal protocol used was effective, safe and well tolerated. There was a trend for a shorter time to CDH resolution in patients who overused triptans ( P = 0.062). There was no correlation between time to CDH resolution and either the type of initial primary headache or duration of medication abuse, whereas time to CDH resolution was related to daily drug intake ( P = 0.01). In multiple regression analysis, daily drug intake, age and type of medication overused were independent predictors of time to CDH resolution. At 3-months' follow-up, no patient had relapsed and was again overusing symptomatic medications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (06) ◽  
pp. 619-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigid Dwyer

AbstractPosttraumatic headaches are among the most challenging complaints after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). They are a debilitating problem experienced by patients after TBI of all severities. Up to 90% of mild TBI patients experience headache, particularly if female and with a premorbid history of primary headache. Tension headache has classically been the most common subtype, but in military populations migraine has dominated. Posttraumatic headache encompasses a spectrum of headache types that overlap heavily with common primary headache disorders, but also autonomic cephalgias as well as several secondary headache conditions. It is important to understand the evolution of postconcussion syndrome as a concept, and the challenges associated with diagnosing and treating multidomain drivers effectively. The first-line treatments for posttraumatic headache are typically the same as those used in nontraumatic headache, with additional considerations for cognitive side effects, posttraumatic epilepsy, and coexisting injuries resulting in neuropathic pain or medication overuse.


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