What Can Cause Overuse Of Headache Medications?

Perhaps to avoid reaching a point where you feel too much pain or simply out of habit, you take some pills, and as the practice becomes more constant you no longer consider whether or not it is a good idea to use them or if you really need them, but you simply take them, sometimes even increasing the doses to achieve a more immediate or powerful effect.

Although they are considered harmless medications, painkillers can be harmful, especially when taken in excessive quantities or when the patient suffers from some other conditions such as gastritis or ulcers.

Dr. Javier Hernandez says that they cannot be taken chronically without a doctor’s prescription because they can later cause a headache due to overuse of medication. He explains that this condition normally occurs when a person needs to take one or more daily painkiller pills for 10, 15, or more days in a month.

According to Mayo Clinic professionals, the signs and symptoms of medication-overuse headaches can vary depending on the type of original headache being treated and the medications used.

They explain that medication-induced headaches have the following characteristics:

• They occur every day or almost every day and often wake you up early in the morning.
• They improve with painkillers, but return when the effect of the medication wears off.
• They cause nausea, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and irritability.

They also explain that although headaches are common, some can be fatal, so it is not a topic to be taken lightly. That is why they advise seeking medical attention in these circumstances:

• It is sudden and intense
• It is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, skin rash, confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.
• It occurs after a head injury
• Worsens despite rest and pain medication
• It occurs with difficulty breathing
• It occurs when you are upright, but goes away if you are lying down.

To avoid these complications, Dr. Oscar Ruano recommends that if you need to take medication for headaches several times a week, you should consult your trusted doctor to establish the appropriate way to proceed or the alternative that best suits your needs. In the case of over-the-counter painkillers, he explains that it is best not to exceed the dose for more than 7 days a month.

For their part, professionals from the Mayo Clinic assure that by following the following advice you can avoid most headaches:

1. Get enough sleep
2. Don’t skip meals: starting the day with a healthy breakfast and eating lunch and dinner at the same time, following a balanced diet, will help not only your health but your overall well-being.
3. Stay hydrated: To stay properly hydrated, drink eight glasses of water throughout the day. If you are not a big fan of the taste of plain water, you can opt to mix infusions, smoothies, and other liquids to achieve your goal. You can also flavor the water using herbs or fruits such as orange, watermelon blueberries, ginger, cinnamon, or mint.
4. Exercise regularly: Physical activity causes the body to release chemicals that block pain signals sent to the brain. Walking, swimming, cycling, or going to a gym are all good options.
5. Find ways to lower your stress levels: Stress is one of the most common causes of headaches. That’s why you should pay special attention to organizing your time well, simplifying your schedule, and looking for relaxing activities.
6. If you are overweight, work on it: obesity can cause headaches.
7. Say goodbye to cigarettes: Smoking is linked to an increased risk of medication-overuse headaches.