When you feel the first niggling indications of a headache beginning, what is the first thing you do? Probably rush to your medicine chest and take a pill automatically. Sometimes you may even be taking a pain pill in advance frequently or even daily, in order to fend off chronic headaches or because you are anticipating a stressful situation ahead.



Whatever the case, pause for a moment and analyze the pattern of your headaches. Do they seem to have become more frequent and more intense with time, requiring medication more often than before? If yes, then most likely you are suffering from what are , which are simply medication overuse headaches.

The cycle goes like this. When you start taking pain pills more often than what the doctor prescribed or the label recommends, your body kind of adapts to the medication. The result is that each successive time you need a higher dose to combat headaches. And as you up the dose, the frequency and intensity of your headaches increases, so much so that headaches become a daily phenomenon. You may even wake up with a dull headache that continues throughout the day.

The effect is similar to what happens when at the slightest hint of a headache, you reach for your cup of coffee because coffee seems to cure your headache. Each day you need that shot of coffee a bit earlier and perhaps then you need another one later in the day, until eventually, passing up that cup of coffee results in a headache. With time, the frequency of the headaches increases and so does your requirement for coffee. And the whole vicious cycle continues. Although the caffeine is the culprit here, pain pills work the same way.

Rebound headaches are usually accompanied by restlessness and irritability. Although any pain pill can trigger rebound headaches, some are more likely to fuel them than others. Of the popular over the counter (OTC) drugs, which can cause rebound headaches, the most likely ones are acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, especially when caffeine is included in the ingredients list. Rx drug culprits include most migraine medicines, opium-based medications, and those containing butalbital (Esgic, Fioricet, & Fiorinal). Get the details on your .

Most people do not realize that over-the-counter pain pills are meant to give quick relief from occasional headaches. They were never intended for daily routine use against recurring headaches because of the potential for causing rebound headaches. And the only way to break this cycle is to withdraw the medication that is fuelling it. Period. But, although the task is simple, it is not always easy. Especially in the case of opium drugs, withdrawal must be closely medically supervised, because it is potentially dangerous.

For further rebound headache information, see or consult your doctor. Seek medical help if you:

• have a headache more than 3 times a week
• are regularly on pain pills
• your headaches seem to be getting worse despite medication and rest

The doctor will recommend whether to stop the medication right away or to withdraw it gradually. Your headaches may become worse before they get better because of medication withdrawal symptoms, but if you persist, you can successfully break the rebound cycle.

Most focus on prevention and ultimately, headache prevention is worth a pound of any headache cure. This requires a conscious effort on your part and can be achieved by identifying and avoiding things that trigger headaches for you. Yoga, meditation, and other alternative therapies can improve your mental state and help control your stress. Also, making small lifestyle changes like getting sufficient sleep, eating meals in time, exercising regularly and quitting smoking can go a long way in preventing nagging headaches.