Brain & Nervous System Headaches Treatment Medications That Cause Medication Overuse Headaches By Teri Robert linkedin Teri Robert is a writer, patient educator, and patient advocate focused on migraine and headaches. Learn about our editorial process Teri Robert Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD on September 16, 2019 Claudia Chaves, MD, is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. She is an associate professor of neurology at Tufts Medical School and medical director of the Lahey Clinic Multiple Sclerosis Center in Lexington, Massachusetts. Learn about our Medical Review Board Claudia Chaves, MD Updated on January 29, 2020 Print A medication overuse headache, also known as a rebound headache, occurs from over-utilization of acute headache therapies. Let's explore what this headache feels like, when it occurs, and which medications can cause it. Vladimir Godnik / Getty Images What Is Medication Overuse Headache? A medication overuse headache occurs when a person takes a headache pain reliever for 10 to 15 or more days per month, depending on the medication, for more than 3 months. It occurs in people who have a pre-existing headache disorder. This means that you should not be getting headaches if taking a pain-reliever for another health condition. Also, doctors believe that it's not the total dose of headache medications that causes medication overuse headaches, but the frequency — meaning how often it's taken during a week. What It Feels Like It can feel like a person's usual headache, or it can shift between feeling like a migraine to feeling like a tension headache, even within the same day. It's important that a medication overuse headache is diagnosed properly, as patients usually do not respond to headache preventive medication while overusing acute headache medications. Causes Really any medication used for the acute treatment of headaches can cause medication overuse headache. These include: TriptansErgotamines such as DHE, Migranal, and CafergotSimple over-the-counter analgesics such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofenOpioids, such as codeine and DilaudidCombination medications may be especially likely to cause rebound headaches although there is no robust scientific data to back this up. Examples of combination medications include:Butalbital compounds containing aspirin or acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeineVicodin, which contains acetaminophen and the hydrocodone Treatment Immediately discontinuing the medication causing the medication overuse headache is the preferred plan of action. Depending on the medication, withdrawal symptoms may occur. These include: Withdrawal headacheVomitingLow blood pressureFast heart rateSleep disturbancesRestlessness and anxiety In some cases, where the medication overuse is being caused by large amounts of butalbital compounds, seizures can occur if the medication is abruptly withdrawn. In these cases, a tapered withdrawal or supervised detoxification is necessary. The best approach is to ask your doctor for help and advice. A Word From Verywell The good news is that if you are currently experiencing medication overuse headaches, they usually improve after the overused medication is stopped. That said, it seems that any medication we take for headache or migraine relief has the potential to cause a medication overuse headache if used more than two or three days a week. In the long run, a good preventive medication is probably your best bet in overcoming frequent tension headaches or migraines. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Headache Society. Chronic Daily Headache and Chronic Migraine. Goadsby, Peter J., MD, PhD, DSc, FRACP, FRCP; Silberstein, Stephen D., MD, FACP; Dodick, David W., MD, FRCPD, FACP. Chronic Daily Headache for Clinicians. Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker. 2005. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. "The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition (beta version)". Cephalalgia 2013;33(9):629-808. Tepper SJ. Debate: analgesic overuse is a cause, not consequence, of chronic daily headache. Analgesic overuse is a cause of chronic daily headache. Headache. 2002 Jun;42(6):543-7.