Medication overuse headache is a type of headache that develops and gets worse with frequent use of painkillers in people who have migraine (or tension) headaches. It occurs for more than 15 days each month and can be debilitating. It is a common cause of daily headaches.
Medication overuse is defined as taking paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication on more than 15 days per month or taking triptans/ combination analgesics (e.g. Solpadeine) on more than 10 days per month.
Around two-thirds of patients with chronic migraine have medication overuse and can develop medication overuse headaches, which is then often thought to be frequent migraine episodes.
If this condition is identified and treated appropriately, including suitable migraine management, it can have a very positive effect on daily quality of life.
The usual way of management is to wean off all medicines and then go on to preventative medicines.