UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Concussion headaches

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: head injury, medication (PubMed Search)

Posted: 12/8/2018 by Brian Corwell, MD
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Retrospective chart review at a headache clinic seeing adolescent concussion patients

70.1% met criteria for probable medication-overuse headache

Once culprit over the counter medications (NSAIDs, acetaminophen) were discontinued,

68.5% of patients reported return to their preinjury headache status

Take home: Excessive use of OTC analgesics post concussion may contribute to chronic post-traumatic headaches

If you suspect medication overuse, consider analgesic detoxification

Heyer and Idris., 2014. Pediatr Neurol. Does analgesic overuse contribute to chronic post-traumatic headaches in adolescent concussion patients?