Treatment of medication overuse headache- guideline of the EFNS headache panel
European Journal of Neurology, 08/15/2011
Clinical Article
LastName FI et al. (Type summary here)
Methods- Evaluation of the scientific literature was done.
- Abrupt withdrawal or tapering down of overused medication is recommended, the type of withdrawal therapy is probably not relevant for the outcome of the patient.
- However, inpatient withdrawal therapy is recommended for patients overusing opioids, benzodiazepine, or barbiturates.
- It is further recommended to start individualized prophylactic drug treatment at the first day of withdrawal therapy or even before.
- The only drug with moderate evidence for the prophylactic treatment in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse is topiramate up to 200 mg.
- Corticosteroids (at least 60 mg prednisone or prednisolone) and amitriptyline (up to 50 mg) are possibly effective in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms.
- Patients after withdrawal therapy should be followed up regularly to prevent relapse of medication overuse.
