Rebound headaches

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Rebound headaches (medication-overuse headaches) are caused by frequent use of headache medication. Pain relievers offer relief for occasional headaches, but if you take them more than a couple of days a week, you may trigger rebound headaches.

How frequently rebound headaches occur depends on the type of overused drug. For example, for opiates, rebound headaches may occur after eight days of use a month, whereas for barbiturates it takes only about five days of use a month. This happens because your body adapts to the medication.

To stop rebound headaches, reduce or stop taking the pain medication. It's tough in the short term, but your doctor can help you beat rebound headaches for long-term relief.

Symptoms
References
  1. Zaza K, et al. Medication overuse headache. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. 2009;9:115.
  2. Dodick DW, et al. How clinicians can detect, prevent and treat medication overuse headache. Cephalgia. 2008;28:1209.
  3. Vanderhoff BT, et al. Neurology. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/158911670-2/883980954/1481/600.html?printin. Accessed Sept. 5, 2009.
  4. Kaniecki R. Headache assessment and management. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003;289:1430.
  5. Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm. Accessed Sept. 8, 2009.
  6. Dodick DW, et al. Evidence-based understanding of medication-overuse headache: Clinical implications. Headache. 2006;46:S202.
  7. Rappaport AM. Medication overuse headache: Awareness, detection, treatment. CNS Drugs. 2008;22:995.
  8. Sun-Edelstein C, et al. Complementary and alternative approaches to the treatment of tension-type headache. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2008;12:447.
  9. Pandor SS, et al. Nonpharmacologic treatment of migraine. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2005;9:202.
  10. Taylor FR. Headache prevention with complementary and alternative medicine. Headache. 2009;49:966.
  11. Garza I (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 13, 2009.
  12. Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 10, 2009.
  13. Bigal ME, et al. Acute migraine medications and evolution from episodic to chronic migraine: A longitudinal population-based study. Headache. 2008;48:1157.
  14. Smith TR, et al. Medication overuse headache from antimigraine therapy: Clinical features, pathogenesis and management. Drugs. 2004;64:2503.
  15. Young WB. Should Butalbital-containing analgesics be banned? Yes. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2002;6:151.
  16. Silberstein SD, et al. Butalbital in the treatment of headache: History, pharmacology and efficacy. Headache. 2001;41:953.

DS00613

Dec. 8, 2009

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger