Pain relievers offer relief for occasional headaches.
But if you take them more than a couple of days a week, they may trigger rebound headaches.
Rebound headaches usually stop when you stop taking the pain medication.
Rebound headaches tend to:
Other signs and symptoms may include:
Occasional headaches are common.
But it’s important to take your headaches seriously.
Some types of headaches can be life-threatening.
This group also includes prescription medications such as Fiorinal, which contains the sedative butalbital.
These medications have a moderate risk of causing medication-overuse headaches.
The ergot dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.
- appears to have a lower potential for leading to this problem.
4, others).
These medications have a high risk of causing rebound headaches.
Read product labels to confirm you’re not wiring your system with more caffeine than you realize.
You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in nervous system disorders (neurologist).
Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
The doctor will ask questions about your headaches, such as when they started and what they feel like.
Avoid any known headache triggers.
A headache diary can be very helpful for your doctor.
The diagnosis of rebound headache usually is based on a history of chronic headache and frequent use of medication.
Testing usually isn’t necessary.
To break the cycle of rebound headaches, you’ll need to restrict your pain medication.
When you stop your medication, expect your headaches to get worse before they get better.
These symptoms generally last from two to 10 days, but they can persist for several weeks.
Your doctor may prescribe various treatments to help alleviate headache pain and the side effects associated with drug withdrawal.
Sometimes it’s best to be in a controlled environment when you stop taking pain medication.
Be sure to take medications exactly as prescribed.
During this talk therapy, you learn ways to cope with your headaches.
In CBT, you also work on healthy lifestyle habits and keeping a headache diary.
For many people, complementary or alternative therapies offer relief from headache pain.
Discuss the risks and benefits of complementary therapy with your doctor.
To help prevent rebound headaches:
Taking care of yourself can help prevent most headaches.
Updated: 2014-12-02
Publication Date: 2005-12-09
