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How often do you take over-the-counter painkiller? Every time you feel the first pangs of a headache or menstrual cramps?
If this sounds like you, it might be time to lay off the painkillers.
This is especially true if you’re someone who experiences chronic pain. If you’re used to constantly popping painkillers, the nature of your chronic pain may have changed.
It’s called “medication overuse headache,” or MOH, and it affects one to two percent of the population.
What does it mean?
Essentially, that you’re addicted to over the counter painkillers and begin to experience withdrawals when you don’t have them.
The body gets used to how often you take Advil, Aleve, Motrin, whatever it is, and your body begins to rely on it to feel normal.
Tayla Rose, PharmD, professor at Northeastern School of Pharmacy, said that this condition can happen to anyone who takes over-the-counter medication.
“Any medication can cause MOH if you’re taking too much of it. Advil, Motrin, or even Tylenol can cause it. If you’re using any of these for more than 15 days a month, you should talk to your doctor about other options.”
And that’s the guideline for diagnosis: 15 headaches in a month for 3 or more months, alongside medication use, usually ibuprofen, acetaminophen, opioids, barbiturates, and triptans.
As with any addiction, the solution is to eliminate it from your life. Those suffering from MOH are likely to experience even worse headaches at first, and the whole process of weaning your body off of it could take around four weeks.
It’s painful to stop, but less painful than the $4000 a year a medication dependency can set you back.
It’s easier to catch early than it is to break, so tell your doctor if you’re headache-prone or experience frequent headaches.
