Headache with medication overuse: treatment strategies and proposals of relapse prevention.

Abstract

The diagnosis of medication overuse headache (MOH) is clinically important, because patients rarely respond to preventive medications whilst overusing acute medications. Properly treating medication overuse and preventing relapse require recognition of the different factors that contribute to its development and perpetuation, including some behaviours and psychological elements that are important in sustaining the overuse of medication. This article reviews current clinical experiences of MOH patients treated with different approaches. Moreover, initial outcomes and long-term durability of treatments are discussed.

• Authors: Licia Grazzi, Frank Andrasik, Susanna Usai, Gennaro Bussone
• Journal: Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (Neurol Sci) Vol. 29 Issue 2 Pg. 93-8 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1590-1874 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 18483706 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Analgesics

Topics

• Analgesics (adverse effects)
• Behavior Therapy (methods, standards)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Headache Disorders, Secondary (physiopathology, psychology, therapy)
• Humans
• Patient Education as Topic (methods, standards)
• Secondary Prevention
• Self Medication (adverse effects, psychology)
• Social Support
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (physiopathology, prevention & control, therapy)