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Analgesic/abortive overuse and misuse in chronic daily headache

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Abstract

The frequent use (> 15 times/month) of medication for the treatment of acute migraine attacks may cause medication overuse headache. This kind of headache can be caused by the intake of combination analgesics, opioids, ergot alkaloids, and triptans. The delay between first intake and daily headache is shortest for triptans (1 to 2 years), longer for ergots (3 years), and longest for analgesics (5 years). Treatment includes drug withdrawal followed by structured acute therapy and initiation of migraine prophylactic treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Hans-Christoph Diener MD & Zaza Katasarva MD

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  1. Hans-Christoph Diener MD
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  2. Zaza Katasarva MD
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Diener, HC., Katasarva, Z. Analgesic/abortive overuse and misuse in chronic daily headache. Current Science Inc 5, 545–550 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-001-0061-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-001-0061-7

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