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