One of the most frequent topics of discussion among people with chronic Migraines or headaches is how to break a "rebound cycle." How do they get out of a medication overuse headache (MOH) situation without being incapacitated by the horrible headaches?
A new study has revealed one potential answer to this question. The researchers for this study wrote,
"Most patients with headache are well managed as outpatients; however, a small proportion are probably better managed by a short hospital admission. For some patients, typically those with medication overuse, hospital admission with medication withdrawal can be a helpful part of their overall management. One crucial issue for inpatients is, what is to be done when the medicine they are overusing is withdrawn?"1
The study
Study methods:
- Researchers reviewed the medical records of 168 people between the ages of 18 and 75, hospitalized for Migraine or headache and given aspirin through an IV.
- Of those 168 people, 117 were women.
- All but three of the 168 had chronic daily headache.
- Most had a diagnosis of Migraine.
- Of these 168 patients, 159 were overusing medication at the time of admission
- Participants received doses of one gram of aspirin in the form of lysine acetylsalicylic acid, from one to 50 doses, with an average of five doses.
- Before, during and after treatment, 86 participants completed hourly diary entries regarding their pain.
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Pain was rated on a 10-point scale
- scores of 1-3 for mild headache,
- scores of 4-7 for moderate headache, and
- scores of 8-10 for severe headache.
- Participants’ comments, along with nurses’ notes, were also used to rate the effectiveness of IV aspirin.
Study results:
- People experienced a three-point or greater reduction in pain scores on more than 25% of occasions, downgrading the headache from severe to moderate, moderate to mild or from mild to no headache.
- 5.9% of the patients experienced side effects, none of which were considered severe.
- Side effects included nausea, pain from IV insertion and vomiting.
