The medications you take to relieve headaches can sometimes actually make them last longer, according to an article in The Conversation.
. There can be many causes of headaches, so the general practitioner often has to carefully collect anamnesis, conduct an examination, and sometimes refer the patient to a specialized specialist.
Treatment methods depend on the type of headache. For example, migraines can be treated with antiemetics or beta blockers, and pain associated with anxiety or depressive disorders can be treated with psychological support. Lifestyle changes—including a balanced diet and regular exercise—also help manage many chronic forms of headaches. However, doctors often encounter another type of chronic headache that has a certain pattern. Patients describe recurrent attacks that occur or worsen after long-term regular use of pain medications.
This condition can develop in people who suffer from migraines, tension headaches, or chronic pain of other origins, such as in the back or joints. Some patients take several types of drugs at the same time, gradually increasing the dose and frequency of use, and end up in a vicious circle from which it is difficult to escape: pain causes taking the drug, and the drug causes new pain. The most likely diagnosis in such cases is medication overuse headache. The condition is estimated to affect around 1-2% of the population, with women being affected three to four times more often than men.
Often the source of the problem is the painkillers themselves. For example, opioids like codeine, which are used to relieve moderate pain after injury or surgery, often cause side effects ranging from constipation and drowsiness to nausea, hallucinations and, paradoxically, headaches. However, not only strong opioids can provoke this condition. Even common painkillers such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, can contribute to the development of headaches when used frequently. Some drugs combine both types of substances – for example, co-codamol, which contains paracetamol and an opioid component.
Compared to drugs such as codeine, paracetamol has a milder and more predictable side effect profile. When taken at the recommended daily dosage – which varies depending on age and body weight – it is considered a safe and effective pain reliever. This is why paracetamol is so common and accessible. However, overdosing or using this drug too often can be extremely dangerous. In such cases, severe and sometimes fatal complications are possible, including acute liver failure.
Although side effects from paracetamol are relatively rare, research suggests that regular use of paracetamol may lead to the development of chronic headaches in some people. In addition to painkillers, other medications can cause similar problems. For example, frequent use of triptans, drugs used to relieve migraine attacks, can also lead to medication overuse headaches. Although the phrase “overuse” implies overdose, in practice, drug headaches often occur in people who take medications in acceptable quantities and not every day.