Summary and comments:
Much has been learned about Medication Overuse Headache, aka rebound headache, in the last few years. Unfortunately, it seems that any medication we take for headache or Migraine relief has the potential to cause MOH if used more than two or three days a week. In the long run, a good preventive regimen that will reduce our need for MOH-causing medications is our best weapon against MOH. Until we perfect our preventive regimens to that point, it's essential to work with our doctors to avoid medication overuse, thus preventing MOH.
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Resources:
1 Silberstein, SD; Oleson, J.; Bousser, MG; Diener, HC; Dodick, D.; First, M.; Goadsby, PJ; Göbel, H; Lainez,MJA; Lance, JW; Lipton, RB; Nappi, G.; Sakai, F.; Schoenin, J.; Steiner, TJ. "The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II)—revision of criteria for 8.2 Medication-overuse headache." Cephalalgia, 2005, 25, 460–465.
2 Interview with Dr. Fred Sheftell. January 1, 2010.
3 Interview with Dr. Richard B. Lipton. January 1, 2010.
4 Interview with Dr. John Claude Krusz. January 4, 2010
5 The International Headache Society. "The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition." (ICHD-II) September, 2004.
6 Goadsby, Peter J., MD, PhD, DSc, FRACP, FRCP; Silberstein, Stephen D., MD, FACP; Dodick, David W., MD, FRCPD, FACP. "Chronic Daily Headache for Clinicians." Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker. 2005.
7 Bigal, Marcelo E., MD, PhD; Serrano, Daniel, MA; Buse, Dawn, PhD; Ann Scher, PhD; Stewart, Walter F., PhD; Lipton, Richard B., MD. "Acute Migraine Medications and Evolution From Episodic to Chronic Migraine: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study." Headache 2008;48:1157-1168.
8 Harold G. Wolff Lecture Award Presentation. Marcelo E. Bigal, MD, PhD. "Acute Migraine Medications and Evolution From Episodic to Chronic Migraine: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study." American Headache Society 50th Annual Scientific Meeting. Boston. June 27, 2008.
9 Sheftell, Fred D. & Bigal, Marcelo (2004) "Clinical Science: Headache Induced by Acute Medication Overuse." Headache Currents 1 (3), 64-68. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-5013.2004.10109.x.
10 Young, William B. (2004) "Clinical Science: Treatment of Medication Overuse Headache and Long-term Outcome." Headache Currents 1 (3), 55-59. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-5013.2004.10112.x.
11 Tepper SJ and Dodick DW. "Debate: Analgesic Overuse is a Cause, Not Consequence, of Chronic Daily Headache." Headache 2002;42:543-554.
Medical review by John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD
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© Teri Robert, 2004 to present. Last updated January 4, 2010.
