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Drug Induced Refractory Headache ‐ Clinical Features and Management
Author(s) -
Mathew Ninan T.,
Kurman Rochelle,
Perez Francisco
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1990.hed3010634.x
Subject(s) - medicine , concomitant , headaches , refractory (planetary science) , prophylactic treatment , anesthesia , drug , symptomatic treatment , physical therapy , surgery , psychiatry , disease , physics , astrobiology
SYNOPSIS Two hundred patients who were taking daily symptomatic or immediate relief medications, often in excessive quantities, yet suffering from daily or near daily severe headaches were studied. One hundred and sixteen (58%) of them were also taking concomitant prophylactic medications and they were ineffective. Low tyramine, low caffeine dietary instructions and biofeedback training were given to all patients. The effect of continuing symptomatic medications, discontinuing symptomatic medications, and adding or changing prophylactic medi‐cations were studied in the various treatment groups. It is concluded that; 1.) Daily use of symptomatic or immediate relief medications result in chronic daily headache. 2.) Discontinuing daily symptomatic medications itself result in improvement of headache. 3.) Concomitant use of symptomatic medications nullifies the effect of prophylactic medi‐cations. 4.) Discontinuing daily symptomatic medications enhances the beneficial effect of prophylactic medications.