3/27/07 Podcast: Rebound - When Our Medications Cause Headaches

Some people debate just continuing to take the medication that has caused their rebound every day. After all, once they take it, the headache stops. There are problems with this theory. Many preventive medications don't stand a chance of helping if we're in rebound. Our bodies build tolerances to the medications, and it eventually takes more of them to get the same results. Additionally, if we have surgery or another issue requiring pain medications, it's more difficult to find one to address the additional pain. We also have to consider the long-term effects the medications have on our bodies. For example, recent studies have been questioning the safety of long-term use of acetaminophen because of liver damage. The bottom line though is that if we decide to just keep taking the problem medication every day, we ourselves are sentencing ourselves to a headache every day of our lives.

The only way out of a medication overuse cycle is to stop taking the medications causing the problem. It's not easy. It can take 10 days or even longer of taking none of the medications to break the cycle. Sometimes, doctors will prescribe anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medications to help us get through it. Sometimes, we have to fall back on cold packs, meditation, and sheer will power.

If you think you're experiencing medication overuse headaches, talk to your doctor. If you've never experienced medication overuse headaches, beware of your medications so you continue to avoid the experience.

After living with Migraine disease for over 40 years, I've come to realize that learning about Migraine disease can allow us to work with our doctors as treatment partners to gain control over this disease rather than the disease controlling us. Please join us at MyMigraineConnection for information and support or for a transcript of this podcast. From MyMigraineConnection.com and the HealthCentral Network, this is Teri Robert reminding you that you can live well with Migraine disease and headaches.