Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) is a chronic headache caused by frequent painkiller use — the medication that treats headache becomes its cause.
How It Happens:
- Painkillers work temporarily — but the brain adapts to them.
- When medication wears off — headache rebounds stronger (Rebound headache).
- Take more medication → brain depends more → vicious cycle.
Dangerous Limits:
- Simple painkillers (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen): More than 15 days/month = MOH risk.
- Triptans: More than 10 days/month.
- Combination analgesics (Caffergot, Codeine+Paracetamol): More than 10 days/month.
Treatment:
- Stop painkillers: Complete cessation — hardest step but most important. First 2 weeks: headache worsens (normal).
- Bridge therapy: Temporary medication to ease withdrawal (Naproxen or short Prednisolone).
- Start prevention: Propranolol or Amitriptyline — to prevent recurrence.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we advise a safe stopping plan and manage the withdrawal period.