Rebound Headache | Vibepedia

A rebound headache, more formally known as Medication Overuse Headache (MOH), is a debilitating condition where the very medications taken to alleviate headaches paradoxically trigger more frequent and severe head pain. This phenomenon typically arises in individuals with pre-existing headache disorders like [[migraine|migraine]] or [[tension-type headache|tension-type headache]], whose episodic attacks transform into chronic daily suffering due to the excessive and regular use of acute pain-relief drugs. Affecting an estimated 1-4% of the general population, MOH is a significant global health concern, often presenting as a daily, intensely painful headache that disrupts work, social life, and overall well-being. The diagnostic challenge lies in differentiating it from the primary headache disorder it stems from, requiring careful patient history and medication review. Treatment involves a supervised withdrawal from the offending medications, often accompanied by preventive therapies and behavioral support to manage the underlying headache condition and prevent relapse.