| Rebound headaches are caused by the very things | | | | analgesics over a period of time.* You notice a |
| that relieve headaches -- pain medication. So basically | | | | spontaneous improvement of headache pain when |
| it becomes a choice of suffer now, or suffer | | | | you discontinue the medications.* You are considered |
| later.Rebound headaches are usually daily | | | | a sufferer of a primary headache disorder and you |
| occurrences, beginning early in the morning. Rebound | | | | use prevention medication frequently and in large |
| headaches can lead to other problems including | | | | quantities.* Even the slightest physical movement or |
| anxiety, depression, irritability and | | | | bare minimum of intellectual expenditure causes the |
| sleeplessness.MedicationsMigraine medications work to | | | | onset of the headache.* Your headache is |
| raise serotonin levels to ease pain. However, when | | | | accompanied by any of these symptoms: anxiety, |
| too much medication is ingested something happens | | | | depression, difficulty in concentration, irritability, |
| to the serotonin levels, which causes the chemical to | | | | memory problems, nausea, and restlessness.* You |
| lose its effectiveness. Research has shown that | | | | suffer withdrawal symptoms when you abruptly are |
| serotonin levels are lower when you take too much | | | | taken off the medication.RecoveryIf you have |
| pain medication and then they rise slightly after the | | | | rebound headaches due to the overuse of |
| headaches gets better and you stop taking the | | | | medications, the only way to recover is to cease |
| medication.If prescription or over-the-counter drugs | | | | taking the drugs. If it is caffeine that is causing your |
| are taken too often or in greater amounts than | | | | rebound headaches, reducing your intake may be of |
| recommended, this can lead to rebound headaches. | | | | help. Before deciding on whether you want to stop |
| In addition to sedatives and tranquilizers, other | | | | abruptly or gradually, the following need to be |
| rebound-causing medications include:1. | | | | considered:1. Make sure you consult with a physician |
| Caffeine-containing analgesics (Anacin, Excedrin, etc.). | | | | before withdrawing from headache drugs. Certain |
| Caffeine, a primary ingredient in many headache | | | | non-headache medications, such as anti-anxiety drugs |
| medicines, can relieve migraine pain temporarily. | | | | or beta-blockers, require gradual withdrawal.2. The |
| However, taking medicine containing caffeine every | | | | patient (you) may need to be hospitalized if the |
| day -- as well as drinking caffeine-loaded beverages | | | | symptoms do not respond to treatment, or if they |
| such as coffee or soft drinks -- can lead to more | | | | cause severe nausea and vomiting.3. During the first |
| frequent and severe headaches. If the headache | | | | few days, alternative medications may be |
| gets worse when you stop using caffeine, the | | | | administered. Examples of drugs that may be used |
| caffeine may be the cause of some of your | | | | include corticosteroids, dihydroergotamine (with or |
| headaches.2. Butalbital compounds (Fioricet, Fiorinal, | | | | without metoclopramide), NSAIDs (in mild cases) or |
| Phrenilin, etc.); Isometheptene compounds (Duradrin, | | | | valproate.4. Whatever method you choose when |
| Midrin, etc.); Decongestants (Afrin, Dristan, Sudafed, | | | | stopping your medication, you will go through a |
| Tylenol Sinus, etc.); Ergotamines (D.II.E. 45, Ergomar, | | | | period of worsening headache afterward. Most |
| Migranal, Wigraine); Triptans (Amerge, Axert, Imitrex, | | | | people will feel better within 2 weeks, however, |
| Maxalt, Zomig); Opioids and related drugs (Darvocet, | | | | headache symptoms can persist for as long as 4 |
| OxyContin, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, etc.). | | | | months and in some rare cases even longer.Good |
| Medications that include any form of codeine, such as | | | | NewsMany patients experience long-term relief from |
| Percocet, Tylenol 3, or Vicodin, must be used with | | | | all headaches afterward. The conclusion of one study |
| care because they can cause dependency | | | | showed that over 80% of patients significantly |
| quickly.Symptoms* Your headache occurs daily or | | | | improved 4 months after withdrawal.Visit Relieve |
| almost daily (3 or 4 times a week).* Your headache | | | | Headache to learn more. Ron King is a full-time |
| deviates in form, location on the head, severity and | | | | researcher, writer, and web developer, visit his |
| strength.* You have a lower than normal threshold | | | | website at Articles for authorsCopyright 2006 Ron |
| for pain.* You begin to notice evidence of an | | | | King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box |
| increasing tolerance to the effectiveness of | | | | is left intact and the links live. |