What is a Rebound Headache?

Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) occurs when a person takes too much migraine medication or pain medication too often and a severe cycle of headaches starts. The term 'rebound headaches' or 'rebound migraine' is no longer used. Other terms that people may use to describe this condition include drug-induced headache and medication misuse headache. MOH is not the same as a migraine headache and has a high prevalence in people living with chronic migraine headaches.

This type of headache can occur daily for many people and typically starts in the early morning. The pain from MOH can range in severity from a dull ache to migraine headache-like pain. They occur mostly in people with migraine headaches or who have a family history of migraine headaches.

People who experience headaches on 15 days or more per month are more likely to develop MOH. This is because they typically use acute medication to treat their pain more frequently than people who experience fewer headaches. People who take ergotamine, triptans, opiates, or combination analgesics on 10 or more days each month are also at higher risk of developing MOH.

I experienced rebound headaches after using pain medication for a car accident I was in. It was definitely a difficult headache because it started in the morning and lasted all day. I found it to be very challenging to break the cycle. I used homeopathic methods to do this. My favorite was lavender and epsom bath salts. I also used used Peppermint Oil on my forehead. I applied muscle cream every day which not only helped alleviate my sore muscles, but also my migraine headaches. I still use muscle cream every day! In order to receive a diagnosis of MOH, you must experience the following three symptoms:

• Headaches must occur on 15 or more days per month, and the person must already have a diagnosis of a primary headache disorder.

• There must have been more than 3 months of misuse of acute headache medication.

• Another headache condition outlined in the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Edition cannot account for the pain.

MOH can occur in people who overuse any acute medication that treats pain. These include over-the-counter (OTC) medications as well as prescription medications. Some common medications that can cause MOH include:

• NSAIDs: These provide pain relief and have anti-inflammatory properties. They include medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.

• Acetaminophen: This is an OTC or prescription-strength pain reliever.

• Ergotamine: This is a pain relief medication combined with caffeine. Doctors often prescribeTrusted Source it for acute migraine symptoms.

• Triptans: These are part of a class of medications that people often useTrusted Source as a first-line treatment for migraine pain.

• Opiates: Also known as narcotics, opiates are medications that doctors may use to treat acute migraine episodes. Some examples include Percocet and oxycodone.

• Combination analgesics: These are combination medications that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. Doctors often use them as the first line of defense against migraine pain.

The treatment for MOH typically involves a combination of stopping the use of acute medications and using preventive medications for migraine and other headaches. Once a person stops taking the acute medication that has been causing MOH, the headaches and any other symptoms, such as nausea, may continue for 3–5 days. Eventually, MOH should go away. There are preventive medications to take to help after receiving a diagnosis of MOH. Medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and antiepileptic drugs can all help prevent migraine headaches from occurring.

MOH occurs when a person takes too much acute medication to often to treat their migraine headaches or other chronic headache condition. Once MOH occurs, treatment typically involves stopping the medication responsible for causing the headaches. A doctor may recommend increasing the use of preventive medications to help migraine headaches or other headaches from occurring.

Reference:

Medical News Today (2021, September 28). "What to know about rebound migraine." https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/rebound-migraine#definition