- RAG rating
- n/a
- Document type
- Decision document
- Place
- South and West Hertfordshire
- Output type
- Pharmacy / Prescribing
Clinical Pathways - Pathway
- Medication Overuse Headache Pathway
Medication Overuse Headache
Pathway Publish Date: October 2024
Pathway Next Review Date: October 2026
Medication overuse headache:
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- Headache occurring on 15 or more days per month in a person with a pre-existing primary headache disorder, which develops as a consequence of regular overuse of one or more drugs that can be taken for acute and/or symptomatic treatment of headache, for more than 3 months. It usually, but not always, resolves after the overused medication is stopped.
- Ergotamines, triptans, opioids, or combination analgesics are taken on 10 days or more per month.
- Simple analgesics such as paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or aspirin (either alone or in any combination) are taken on 15 days or more per month.
- Medication overuse headache is a chronic headache disorder, and the pre-existing primary headache is migraine in 60–80% of people, or more rarely tension-type headache.
- Medication overuse headache is generally of the same phenotype as the primary headache.
- Medication overuse headache is generally of the same phenotype as the primary headache.
- Complications may include stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and an increased risk of transition from episodic to chronic migraine if untreated.
- Most people with medication overuse headache improve after withdrawal of overused medication.
Please see pathway attached for further information