Management of Headache

Publication Date: October 1, 2023
Last Updated: October 12, 2023

Medication Overuse Headache Screening and Other Considerations

We suggest providers assess for and consider the following high-risk factors for medication overuse headache in patients with headache (in order of relative impact):
  • Headache frequency (greater than or equal to 7 days per month)
  • Migraine diagnosis
  • Medication use: frequent use of anxiolytics, analgesics (for any condition, including use of opioids or non-opioid analgesics for acute treatment of migraine), or sedative hypnotics
  • History of anxiety or depression, especially in combination with musculoskeletal complaints or gastrointestinal complaints
  • Physical inactivity
  • Sick leave of greater than 2 weeks in the last year
  • Self-reported whiplash
  • Smoking (tobacco use)
(Weak for)
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Pharmacotherapy

Headache - Preventive

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against coenzyme Q10, feverfew, melatonin, omega-3, vitamin B2, or vitamin B6 for the prevention of headache. (Neither for or against)
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Overview

Title

Management of Headache

Authoring Organization