Do I Have Medication Overuse Headache (MOH)?

Do you regularly take painkillers to treat your migraine, cluster headaches, or tension-type headaches)?

Do you take pain medication continuously for 10 to 15 days a month, maybe for several months in a row?

Do you have a headache that occurs every day or nearly every day, often waking you in the early morning?

Do you have nausea?

Do you feel restless and irritable?

Do you have difficulty concentrating or memory problems?

Do you have runny or stuffy nose, or teary eyes?

Do you have neck pain or sleep poorly?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have medication overuse headache. Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a type of headache also known as rebound headache. It is caused by a long-term use of painkillers in people who have migraines or a tension-type headache. Painkillers can be used to relieve headaches, however if used daily for an extended period of time they can be the cause of this specific type of headache. Medication overuse headache occurs more than 15 days each month. It can be a very painful and disabling condition. It is often without specific features and can be withdrawn after you stop using painkillers.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have medication overuse headache. Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a type of headache that occurs as a result of long-term, regular use of painkillers to treat headaches such as migraines. The exact reason why the medications cause this type of headache is not known. However, it is known that pain medications that are regularly taken by people with other health problems such as arthritis do not lead to the development of medication overuse headache. A diagnosis is based on your personal history of chronic headaches and the fact that you frequently use pain medications.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have medication overuse headache. Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a chronic daily headache that is caused by excessive use of pain medication in people who have migraine, cluster, or tension-type headaches. Various painkillers can contribute to the development of this type of headache if taken for 10 or more days during the month. MOH is rare and occurs in 1 percent of the general population. Treatment includes stopping the use of painkillers. Depending on the type of medicine you are using, your doctor may recommend that you abruptly stop taking the medicine or gradually reduce the dose.