What Are Rebound Headaches

A cycle of reoccurring headaches is known as rebound headaches. The cycle begins when you take too much headache medication. You take more than the label instructions say to take and then before you...

A cycle of reoccurring headaches is known as rebound headaches. The cycle begins when you take too much headache medication. You take more than the label instructions say to take and then before you know it your body adapts to the level of medication and your head starts to hurt more intensely than previously. The only way to stop the cycle is to start reducing the amount of pain medication or to stop taking the pain medication all together. Ask your doctor for help if you suspect that you may be having rebound headaches.

What are the symptoms of rebound headaches?

Rebound headaches are associated with the overuse of pain medications, so the first symptom is that you are using pain medications more than 2 to 3 times a week on a consistent basis or you are taking a higher dose than is prescribed or directed to take on the bottle.

You have headaches everyday, even waking you up.

The pain is worse at the beginning of the headache.

The headache is persistent throughout the day.

You may experience nausea, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

You may experience memory lapses.

Depression

Difficulties getting to sleep

The cause of rebound headaches:

Just about any pain medication can lead to this cycle of pain med – headache – pain med – headache. There are however some pain medications that are more likely to lead to rebound headaches than other medications will.

Medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen which are common pain medications that are over-the-counter can lead to rebound headaches when higher than recommended doses are taken.

Pain medications that are the combination kind (contain more than one ingredient) such as caffeine, or are combined with aspirin and acetaminophen such as Excedrin. Prescription medications can be combination medications too such as Fioricet, Fiorinal and Esgic, and also the sedative butalbital.

Migraine medicines are also known to cause rebound headaches. Medications such as Ergomar, Imitrex, and Zomig.

Opiates, which are pain medications that are derived from opium or synthetic opium compounds, also contain combinations of codeine and acetaminophen such as Tylenol with Codeine No. 3 and No. 4.

Rebound headaches can also be caused by drugs such as caffeine as in drinking too many cups of coffee, drinking too many sodas that contain caffeine or any product that contains a mild stimulant may also trigger rebound headaches.

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