Migraine by Prescription? A Cautionary Tale on Headache Meds
When you sense the first niggling indications of a migraine headache beginning, what is the first thing you do? Probably rush to your medicine cabinet and pop a painkiller automatically. Sometimes you may even be taking a pain reliever in advance often or even daily, in order to stave off chronic headaches or because you are anticipating a stressful situation ahead.
Whatever the case, pause for a moment and analyze the pattern of your headaches. Do they seem to have become more frequent and more intense over time, requiring medication more often than before? If you answered yes, then you may be getting rebound headaches, also known as medication overuse headaches or MOHs.
The cycle goes like this. Your headaches prompt you to take pain meds, more often or in greater doses than recommended or prescribed. Your system adjusts to the larger, more frequent dosages by becoming less responsive. And the next time you need a larger dose sooner to dull the headache pain. And as you up the dose, the frequency and intensity of your headaches increases, so much so that headaches become a daily phenomenon. You may even wake up with a dull headache that continues throughout the day.
Coffee drinkers experience something similar. That first shot of coffee heads off the niggling beginnings of a headache. Each day you need that shot of coffee a bit earlier and perhaps then you need another one later in the day, until eventually, passing up that cup of coffee results in a headache. With time, the frequency of the headaches increases and so does your requirement for coffee. And the whole vicious cycle continues. Although the caffeine is the culprit here, pain pills work the same way.
Rebound headaches are usually accompanied by restlessness and irritability. Rebound headaches can be triggered by any overused pain med, however, some pain pills are more likely to do so. Of the popular over the counter (OTC) drugs, which can cause rebound headaches, the most likely ones are acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, especially when caffeine is included in the ingredients list. Prescription drug culprits include most migraine medicines, opium-based medications, and those containing butalbital (Esgic, Fioricet, & Fiorinal). Get the details on your pain reliever here.
Most people do not realize that over-the-counter pain meds are meant to give quick relief from occasional headaches. They were never intended for daily routine use against recurring headaches because of the potential for causing rebound headaches. And the only way to break this cycle is to withdraw the medication that is fuelling it. Period. But, although the task is simple, it is not always easy. Especially in the case of opium drugs, withdrawal must be closely medically supervised, because it is potentially dangerous.
For further rebound headache information, see Total Headache Relief or consult your doctor. Signs you may need medical help with rebound headaches include:
- Your headaches get worse
- You take migraine or pain meds regularly or in greater than recommended doses
- You get headaches 3 or more times in a week.
The doctor will recommend whether to stop the medication right away or to withdraw it gradually. Frequently during the withdrawal period, the headaches will initially get worse, and then get better as your body returns to its normal function.
Most natural headache remedies focus on prevention and ultimately, headache prevention is worth a pound of any headache cure. With a bit of attention, you can identify and avoid your headache triggers. Alternative therapies like meditation and yoga teach you to relax and develop a positive attitude towards life. Even small lifestyle changes, can make big differences in stopping headaches before they start. So do little things like eat meals on time, exercise, get enough sleep and even stop smoking to prevent headaches.
