Drug-induced headache: an analysis of therapeutic strategies

Abstract

To manage patients with drug-induced headache (DIH) is an unsolved problem of modern neurology in developed countries, since DIH is becoming a common cause of temporary disability and leads to lower quality of life in patients. Patients with primary headache (for example, those with tension headache or migraine) frequently take symptomatic headache relief medications uncontrollably, which can result in the higher frequency and intensity of DIH episodes. In turn, new headache attacks make the patients take the increasing number of symptomatic medications, which leads to the development of DIH.The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3 rd Edition, defines DIH as a distinct form of secondary headache. To date, there is no consensus on the tactics of DIH treatment and prevention. The paper discusses different approaches to DIH prevention and treatment, the effectiveness and appropriateness of their use, as well as factors influencing illness course and possible outcomes. Particular attention is paid to the management of patients during the withdrawal period, risk factors for DIH recurrences, and ways of their prevention.