Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of medication overuse headaches may differ according to the type of original headache being treated and the medication used. Medication overuse headaches tend to:

• Occur every day or nearly every day, often waking you in the early morning
• Improve with pain relief medication but then return as your medication wears off

Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Irritability

When to see a doctor

Occasional headaches are common. But it's important to take your headaches seriously. Some types of headaches can be life-threatening.

Seek immediate medical care if your headache:

• Is sudden and severe
• Accompanies a fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking
• Follows a head injury
• Gets worse despite rest and pain medication
• Is a new type that's persistent, especially in someone older than 50
• Occurs with shortness of breath
• Happens when you're upright but goes away if you're lying flat

Consult your doctor if:

• You usually have two or more headaches a week
• You take a pain reliever for your headaches more than twice a week
• You need more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter pain remedies to relieve your headaches
• Your headache pattern changes