Medication-overuse headache: a worldwide problem

Medication overuse and subsequent medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a growing problem worldwide. Epidemiological data suggest that up to 4% of the population overuse analgesics and other drugs for the treatment of pain conditions such as migraine and that about 1% of the general population in Eur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lancet neurology 2004-08, Vol.3 (8), p.475-483
Main Authors: Diener, Hans-Christoph, Limmroth, Volker
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analgesics
Caffeine
Classification
Diagnosis, Differential
Drug dosages
Drug withdrawal
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Headache - diagnosis
Headache - epidemiology
Headache - etiology
Headache - prevention & control
Headache Disorders - classification
Headache Disorders - diagnosis
Headache Disorders - epidemiology
Headache Disorders - etiology
Headache Disorders - prevention & control
Headaches
Humans
Migraine
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Pharmaceutical industry
Prognosis
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Summary:Medication overuse and subsequent medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a growing problem worldwide. Epidemiological data suggest that up to 4% of the population overuse analgesics and other drugs for the treatment of pain conditions such as migraine and that about 1% of the general population in Europe, North America, and Asia have MOH. Recent clinical studies gave further insights in clinical and pharmacological features, such as critical monthly doses and frequencies. These features seem to vary significantly and depend on the primary headache disorder and the type of drug that is overused. Along with these findings the new international classification of headache disorders has now incorporated additional criteria and new headache entities that will facilitate the diagnosis of MOH. Withdrawal therapy is the only treatment for this disorder and clear restriction of monthly doses is the central requirement for successful prevention.
ISSN:1474-4422
1474-4465
DOI:10.1016/S1474-4422(04)00824-5