Regular painkiller counter-productive

NEW DELHI: Health experts claimed that over-the-counter medication to treat recurrent headaches may actually cause more headache.

According to health experts, having painkillers more than two or three times a week or more than ten days in a month for a headache can set off a cycle called “medication-overuse headaches” (MOH), where patients develop a headache due to the medication itself.

 Professor, department of neurology, AIIMS, Dr Vinay Goyal said, “Headache from analgesic overuse is the commonest cause of chronic migraine. Availability of drugs over the counter is another reason for high number of cases seen in hospital. These patients need treatment under strict supervision of physician. Almost 30 per cent of chronic headache are now due to analgesic overuse.”

Explaining the disorder, director neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Dr Praveen Gupta said, “Characterised by a chronic headache and overuse of different headache medications, MOH is a fairly common disorder. This is probably because a headache is not a feared condition and patients do not hesitate in taking acute pain relief. Although this is fine sometimes, when it starts coming into a routine, it can kick off a cycle of pain, where the pain is actually triggered by the medication itself.”

According to health experts, pain upon awakening is the classic symptom of MOH. While painkillers reduce the pain briefly, it returns as the medication wears off. Other symptoms that may accompany the headaches are nausea, anxiety, irritability, asthenia, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and depression.

Explaining further about the treatment process Dr Gupta says, “However, just like any other drug withdrawal therapy, during the start of MOH treatment, headaches will get worse. Sometimes it may also accompany nausea.”