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Headache Rebound

Rebound headache is one type of chronic headache which occurs as a result of overuse of pain medications. This type of headache mostly occur daily and a patient experiences more severe pain during the attack. The person becomes habitual after taking one dose and takes higher doses to stop the pain. So, the treatment of this disease is quite difficult.

Causes

Overuse of medications can be the cause of rebound headache such as:-

Combination pain relievers – Over the counter pain relievers are taken along with the aspirin, caffeine and acetaminophen. It is also taken with the prescription medications like esgic, fioricet and fiorinal which can lead to rebound headache.
Opiates – Painkillers which are derived from synthetic opium compounds and opium like Tylenol is one of the cause of rebound headache.
Simple pain relievers – The overuse of some medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin and Tylenol can cause rebound headache.
Migraine medications – Some migraine medications such as triptans and ergotamine etc lead to this disease.
Daily doses of caffeine

Signs and Symptoms

There are various symptoms by which rebound headache occurs such as:-

Dull and achy pain
Memory problems
Anxiety
Trouble sleeping
Nausea
Depression
Irritability, restlessness and difficulty in concentrating

Risk Factors

The person having a history of tension headache, migraine headache or other type of chronic headaches can increase the risks of developing rebound headaches due to the overuse of pain relievers. Sometimes pain relievers are used for treating arthritis which cannot increase the risk of rebound headaches.

When to seek medical advice

Medical advice should be taken in case of:-

If headache pattern changes
If pain reliever taken for headache everyday or almost everyday
If headache persists for three or more weeks
If headache becomes worse

Some headaches seek prompt medical advice such as:-

Follows a head injury
Is sudden and severe
Accompanies a rash, double vision, fever, weakness etc

Diagnosis

The doctor does a physical examination and various tests such as urine and blood tests, MRI, X-ray and CT scan for diagnosis the symptoms of rebound headache.

Treatment

The doctor can recommend various treatments to help the patient from getting rid of headache pain. The doctor can prescribe the patient daily pain relievers such as:-

A beta blocker like propranolol
A tricyclic antidepressant like pamelor and amitriptyline
An anticonvulsant like topamax, valproic acid and neurontin

The patient can be hospitalized in case of taking high doses of drugs, experiencing prolonged and regular headaches and having conditions such as depression or anxiety.

Prevention

Exercise regularly
Avoid headache triggers
Don’t skip meals
Relax
Reduce stress
Avoid smoking
Get enough sleep

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