Rebound Headaches
Rebound headaches — also known as “toxic” headaches — are caused by excessive use of certain medications, including many of the analgesics and other agents used to treat chronic headaches. Preventive medications will not be effective until the medication that caused the headache is discontinued and withdrawal is complete. Withdrawal may require hospitalization.
Rebound headaches are fairly common. In fact, one study found that 73 percent of headache clinic patients suffered from chronic, daily headaches caused by overuse of medications.
You may have rebound headaches if you have some of the following symptoms. (Chances are you will not experience all, or even most, rebound headache characteristics.)
Key Rebound Headache Characteristics
- Gradual increase in headache frequency.
- Daily frequent use of rebound-headache-inducing agents at regular, predictable intervals, especially if you are taking headache medications (including over the counter or non-prescription pain relievers) regularly.
- Alternate or preventive medications fail to control the headache attacks.
- Psychological or physical dependency on rebound-headache-inducing medications.
- The headache predictably begins within hours to days of the last dose of the medication.
- Waking up with or experiencing a headache at the same time each day when this had not been your headache pattern.