Providers use 2 different treatment strategies for treating migraines. The first treatment strategy is known as preventative therapy. This treatment’s purpose is to prevent migraines or headaches. The second strategy is called abortive therapy which is used to stop the migraine or headache at the time it is occurring.
Patient’s who are not getting good relief from their preventative therapy may use their abortive medication more frequently, often taking more doses than recommended. This creates a cycle of use that results in rebound headaches as the medication wears off.
Medication overuse headaches often occur daily or almost daily and often occur in the morning. These headaches are associated with the use of certain types of abortive medications including NSAIDS (aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen), butalbital, combination over-the-counter analgesics (Excedrin Migraine) and triptans.
Call The Manhattan Center for Headache & Neurology, if you think you may be suffering from medication overuse headaches,
Brooke Steiger, NP