Rates and predictors for relapse in medication overuse headache: a 1-year prospective study

Neurology. 2003 May 27;60(10):1682-3. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000063322.14078.90.

Abstract

The authors prospectively studied 98 patients with medication overuse headache. The 1-year relapse rate was 38% but was lower for patients with migraine compared with tension-type headache (22% vs 73%, p < or = 0.002) and combination of migraine and tension-type headache (22% vs 77%, p < or = 0.0001). The rate was also lower for patients overusing triptans than ergots (19% vs 20%, NS) and analgesics (19% vs 58%, p < or = 0.001). The long-term success of withdrawal depends on the type of primary headache and the type of overused medication.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analgesics / adverse effects*
  • Ergot Alkaloids / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Headache Disorders / chemically induced
  • Headache Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine Disorders / drug therapy
  • Migraine Disorders / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recurrence
  • Self Medication
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / adverse effects*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tension-Type Headache / drug therapy
  • Tension-Type Headache / epidemiology

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Ergot Alkaloids
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists