While small amounts of these medications per week may be safe (and effective) -- at some point, the continued medication use leads
to the development of low grade headaches that just will not go away.
Taking larger or more frequent doses of the offending immediate relief medication is not recommended. This not only exposes the
person to a higher level of the medication's harmful ingredients, but makes the headache worse and continue indefinitely.
What is the treatment of analgesic induced rebound headaches?
Rebound headaches are a progressive syndrome, meaning they will continue to get worse until you receive the proper treatment.
It is important to recognize what is happening and seek medical attention from a headache specialist.
Usually, discontinuing the medication or gradually tapering the medication dose will lead to more easily controlled headaches
with the use of carefully administered abortive or preventive headache medications. You will probably be asked to record your
headache symptoms, noting the frequency and duration of headaches.
Some patients may need to be “detoxified” under more carefully monitored medical conditions. Patients taking large doses of
sedative hypnotics, sedative-containing combination headache pills or narcotics such as codeine or oxycodone may need to be
admitted to the hospital so they can be detoxified and recover under supervision.
Unfortunately, for many chronic daily headache sufferers, detoxification for the first several weeks leads to increasing
headaches. Supervision and treatment by a headache specialist are therefore very important.
Eventually, the headaches disappear and resume their previous intermittent nature. Patients then find that prescribed preventive
medications are more effective.
How can rebound headaches be prevented?
Always follow the labeling instructions of your medications and the advice of your physician.
Use pain-relieving medications on a limited basis, only when necessary. Take the smallest dose needed to relieve your pain.
Do not use headache relief medications more than once or twice a week, unless instructed otherwise by your physician.
Before taking any over-the-counter medication, including common analgesics and antihistamines, ask your doctor if the medication
has any potential for interacting with your current prescription medications.
Avoid caffeine-containing products while taking a pain-relieving medication, especially medication that already contains caffeine.