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Medication overuse headache: withdrawal and prophylactic therapeutic regimen
Marco Trucco1, Piero Meineri, Luigi Ruiz
1Department of Neurology, Santa Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure (SV), Italy.
Headache
|March 19, 2010
Summary
This study shows a new treatment effectively reduces medication overuse headache (MOH) by stopping overused drugs and providing preventative care. Patients experienced significant, lasting relief from MOH symptoms and drug use.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a prevalent secondary headache disorder.
- Diagnostic criteria for MOH are established by the International Classification of Headache Disorders.
- MOH presents a growing global challenge for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of a treatment regimen for MOH.
- To evaluate drug withdrawal and headache prophylaxis in MOH patients.
- Study conducted across 8 hospitals in the Piemonte-Liguria-Valle d'Aosta region.
Main Methods:
- 70 patients with MOH were treated as inpatients or in Day Hospital.
- Treatment involved abrupt discontinuation of overused medication.
- Therapeutic protocol included IV hydration, dexamethasone, metoclopramide, and benzodiazepines, with prophylactic medication initiated concurrently.
Main Results:
- Mean Headache Index (HI) significantly decreased from 0.92 at admission to 0.19 at discharge and remained low at 6 months (0.42).
- Mean Daily Drug Intake (DDI) significantly reduced from 2.72 at admission to 0.22 at discharge and stabilized at 0.47 after 6 months.
- Statistical analysis confirmed the high significance of these improvements.
Conclusions:
- The therapeutic protocol demonstrated effectiveness, safety, and good tolerability in MOH patients.
- Treatment results remained stable over the 6-month follow-up period.
- Findings are encouraging for the long-term application of this protocol in managing MOH.
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