We Fully Understand What You’re Going Through: Break Free from Medication Overuse Headaches
Medication overuse headaches create a vicious cycle that is hard to escape. You take medication to relieve your migraines, but over time, it becomes the very cause of your pain. The more you use it, the more frequent the headaches become, forcing you to take even more. This dependence gradually takes hold, leaving you feeling trapped with no clear way out, unable to imagine a life without pain.
At Clinique La Migraine, we have spent over twenty years helping patients break free from this cycle. We understand the underlying mechanisms, the hidden pitfalls of medication overuse, and the real impact on your quality of life. Our mission is to provide you with a lasting and tailored solution so you can escape this spiral and regain control of your health.
>Tangible Solutions, Proven Results
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Reduction of over 70% in the intensity, frequency, or duration of episodes in the greater majority of our patients.
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Personalized approaches tailored to your history and lifestyle.
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Over 20 years of proven expertise in treating chronic, hormonal, vestibular migraines, and more.
>A team that understands and supports you.
- Attentive listening to your unique situation and needs.
- Treatment plans tailored to your progress, continuously reviewed for optimal effectiveness.
- Compassionate care with Dr. Daniel Lachance, chiropractor, to help you take control of your life again.
>Do not let your migraines dictate your day
You deserve to regain peace and freedom. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and discover how our methods can alleviate your headaches… or even make them disappear.
Contact us now or call 450-689-1223.
Life is too short to spend it in pain. Don’t wait any longer: you have the right to live fully.
Medication Overuse Headache (MOH): Description, Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Synonym: Rebound Headache, Headache from overconsumption of medication
The third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) defines Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) as a headache caused by excessive use of acute or symptomatic headache medications (10 or more, or 15 or more days per month, depending on the medication) for over 3 months. MOH affects about 5% of the general population, though it may be underreported. It primarily occurs in people who take pain medication frequently for pre-existing headaches, such as migraines.
MOH is associated with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It can be classified as simple or complex, depending on the type and number of medications used. While there is no universal treatment, the best approach is medication discontinuation.
MOH affects an estimated 63 million people worldwide. Studies suggest its prevalence in the general population ranges from 0.5% to 7.2%, but in headache specialty centers, 30% to 50% of patients suffer from MOH. In children and adolescents in the U.S., the prevalence of chronic migraine is 0.79% without medication overuse but rises to 1.75% when MOH is included. Among chronic headache patients in pediatrics, 21%–52% meet MOH criteria. In older populations, 30%–35% of patients over 64 overuse medications.
Possible Causes
- Excessive use of pain medications for headaches (more than 10–15 days per month for over 3 months)
- Migraine, which is the most common risk factor (affecting 78% of MOH patients)
- Other headache disorders, such as tension-type headaches or cluster headaches
- Long-term use of analgesics (pain relievers), particularly in people with chronic migraines
- Underlying psychological disorders such as depression (affecting 40% of MOH patients) and anxiety (affecting 58%)
- Active smoking, which is common among MOH patients
- Obesity (BMI ≥30), which is strongly associated with MOH compared to the general population
Symptoms
- Chronic, daily or near-daily headaches that worsen with continued medication use
- Headaches that improve temporarily after taking pain medication but return once the medication wears off
- Morning headaches or headaches that occur upon waking up
- Increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smells (similar to migraines)
- Nausea, irritability, difficulty concentrating
ICHD-3 Diagnosis
The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition Beta (ICHD-3) diagnostic criteria for MOH are as follows;
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Headache that occurs 15 or more days per month in a patient who already has a headache disorder.
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Overuse of one or more drugs that can be used to treat acute and/or symptomatic headaches for more than 3 months:
Regular intake of ergotamines, triptans, opioids, or combination analgesics for 10 days per month for more than 3 months, or any combination of ergotamines, triptans, simple analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)[AINS], and/or opioids without overuse of any single drug or drug class alone, or when the pattern of overuse cannot be reliably established.
Simple analgesics (i.e., acetaminophen, aspirin, or NSAIDs) taken on a regular basis for 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months.
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Not better explained by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.
Patients who meet both MOH and chronic migraine criteria receive both diagnoses. A high frequency of drug use does not necessarily mean that MOH is the only headache disorder present. Most MOH patients have an underlying primary headache disorder, such as migraine or tension-type headache, which gradually or abruptly worsens with increased analgesic intake. Over time, MOH overlaps with and worsens the primary headache condition.
All statistics on this page comes from the following sources:
ICHD-3 (International Classification of Headache Disorders)
Kebede, Y.T., & al.”Medication Overuse Headache: A Review of Current Evidence and Management Strategies”, Frontier in Pain Research, August 8 2023, vol 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2023.1194134
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