G44.4
DESCRIPTION
Medication overuse headache generally occurs for ≥15 days per month for more than 3 months; and develops as a consequence of regular overuse of analgesics for acute pain-relief. The headache develops or markedly worsens during medication overuse, and usually, but not invariably, resolves after the overuse is stopped.
GENERAL MEASURES
Stop all analgesics.
Counsel patient regarding the link between overuse of analgesics and the development of and/or worsening of the headache syndrome.
The headache usually resolves after the overuse is stopped, but may transiently worsen.
MEDICINE TREATMENT
- Amitriptyline, oral, 10 mg at night.
- Increase to a maximum of 75 mg at night. LoEII [49]
- May be used during withdrawal of acute or symptomatic headache treatment.