| Rebound headaches are caused by the very | | | | pain. |
| things that relieve headaches -- pain medication. | | | | * You begin to notice evidence of an increasing |
| So basically it becomes a choice of suffer now, or | | | | tolerance to the effectiveness of analgesics over |
| suffer later. | | | | a period of time. |
| Rebound headaches are usually daily occurrences, | | | | * You notice a spontaneous improvement of |
| beginning early in the morning. Rebound headaches | | | | headache pain when you discontinue the |
| can lead to other problems including anxiety, | | | | medications. |
| depression, irritability and sleeplessness. | | | | * You are considered a sufferer of a primary |
| Medications | | | | headache disorder and you use prevention |
| Migraine medications work to raise serotonin levels | | | | medication frequently and in large quantities. |
| to ease pain. However, when too much | | | | * Even the slightest physical movement or bare |
| medication is ingested something happens to the | | | | minimum of intellectual expenditure causes the |
| serotonin levels, which causes the chemical to lose | | | | onset of the headache. |
| its effectiveness. Research has shown that | | | | * Your headache is accompanied by any of these |
| serotonin levels are lower when you take too | | | | symptoms: anxiety, depression, difficulty in |
| much pain medication and then they rise slightly | | | | concentration, irritability, memory problems, |
| after the headaches gets better and you stop | | | | nausea, and restlessness. |
| taking the medication. | | | | * You suffer withdrawal symptoms when you |
| If prescription or over-the-counter drugs are | | | | abruptly are taken off the medication. |
| taken too often or in greater amounts than | | | | Recovery |
| recommended, this can lead to rebound | | | | If you have rebound headaches due to the |
| headaches. In addition to sedatives and | | | | overuse of medications, the only way to recover |
| tranquilizers, other rebound-causing medications | | | | is to cease taking the drugs. If it is caffeine that |
| include: | | | | is causing your rebound headaches, reducing your |
| 1. Caffeine-containing analgesics (Anacin, Excedrin, | | | | intake may be of help. Before deciding on |
| etc.). Caffeine, a primary ingredient in many | | | | whether you want to stop abruptly or gradually, |
| headache medicines, can relieve migraine pain | | | | the following need to be considered: |
| temporarily. However, taking medicine containing | | | | 1. Make sure you consult with a physician before |
| caffeine every day -- as well as drinking | | | | withdrawing from headache drugs. Certain |
| caffeine-loaded beverages such as coffee or soft | | | | non-headache medications, such as anti-anxiety |
| drinks -- can lead to more frequent and severe | | | | drugs or beta-blockers, require gradual withdrawal. |
| headaches. If the headache gets worse when you | | | | 2. The patient (you) may need to be hospitalized |
| stop using caffeine, the caffeine may be the | | | | if the symptoms do not respond to treatment, or |
| cause of some of your headaches. | | | | if they cause severe nausea and vomiting. |
| 2. Butalbital compounds (Fioricet, Fiorinal, Phrenilin, | | | | 3. During the first few days, alternative |
| etc.); Isometheptene compounds (Duradrin, Midrin, | | | | medications may be administered. Examples of |
| etc.); Decongestants (Afrin, Dristan, Sudafed, | | | | drugs that may be used include corticosteroids, |
| Tylenol Sinus, etc.); Ergotamines (D.II.E. 45, | | | | dihydroergotamine (with or without |
| Ergomar, Migranal, Wigraine); Triptans (Amerge, | | | | metoclopramide), NSAIDs (in mild cases) or |
| Axert, Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig); Opioids and related | | | | valproate. |
| drugs (Darvocet, OxyContin, Percocet, Tylenol | | | | 4. Whatever method you choose when stopping |
| with codeine, etc.). Medications that include any | | | | your medication, you will go through a period of |
| form of codeine, such as Percocet, Tylenol 3, or | | | | worsening headache afterward. Most people will |
| Vicodin, must be used with care because they | | | | feel better within 2 weeks, however, headache |
| can cause dependency quickly. | | | | symptoms can persist for as long as 4 months |
| Symptoms | | | | and in some rare cases even longer. |
| * Your headache occurs daily or almost daily (3 or | | | | Good News |
| 4 times a week). | | | | Many patients experience long-term relief from all |
| * Your headache deviates in form, location on the | | | | headaches afterward. The conclusion of one |
| head, severity and strength. | | | | study showed that over 80% of patients |
| * You have a lower than normal threshold for | | | | significantly improved 4 months after withdrawal. |