ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Combined withdrawal and early preventive medication was the most effective treatment for medication overuse headache (MOH) within the first 6 months in a previous study, but results from a longer follow-up period are lacking. OBJECTIVE: (1) To measure the efficacy at 1 year of three different treatment approaches to MOH; (2) to compare withdrawal and early preventives (W+P), preventives with potential withdrawal therapy after 6 months (P+pW), and withdrawal with delayed potential preventives (W+pP); and (3) to identify predictors of chronic headache after 1 year. METHODS: Patients with MOH and migraine and/or tension-type headache were randomly assigned to one of the three outpatient treatments. Headache calendar and questionnaires were filled out. Primary outcome was a reduction in headache days/month after 1 year. RESULTS: Of 120 patients, 96 completed 1-year follow-up, and all were included in our analyses. Overall headache days/month were reduced from 24.6 (23.4-25.8) to 15.0 (13.0-17.0) (p < 0.0001), and only 11/96 patients (11%) relapsed. Reduction in monthly headache days was 10.3 days (95% CI: 6.7-13.9) in the W+P group, 10.8 days (95% CI: 7.6-14) in the P+pW group, and 7.9 days (95% CI: 5.1-10.7) in the W+pP group. No significant differences in treatment effect were seen between the three groups (p = 0.377). After 1 year, 39/96 (41%) had chronic headache. Predictors of chronic headache after 1 year were higher headache frequency (aOR 1.19; 1.09-1.31), more days with acute medication (aOR 1.11; 1.03-1.19), higher pain intensity (aOR 1.04; 1.01-1.08), and depression (aOR 4.7; 1.38-18.95), whereas higher self-rated health (aOR 0.61; 0.36-0.97) and high caffeine consumption (aOR 0.40; 0.16-0.96) were predictors of a lower risk of chronic headache. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: All treatment strategies proved effective in treating MOH with a low relapse rate. The W+P strategy leads to the fastest effect, confirming earlier treatment recommendations. Identification of predictors for chronic headache may help identify more complex patients.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders, Secondary/therapy , Migraine Disorders/drug therapy , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Tension-Type Headache/drug therapy , Adult , Chronic Disease , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Headache Disorders, Secondary/diagnosis , Headache Disorders, Secondary/drug therapy , Headache Disorders, Secondary/prevention & control , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Recurrence , Secondary PreventionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dependence-like behaviour may complicate withdrawal and increase risk of relapse of medication overuse headache (MOH). The most effective treatment for reducing dependence-like behaviour is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To compare patient-reported outcomes among three treatment strategies for MOH. The primary outcome was change in Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) score from baseline to 6 months. METHODS: Patients with MOH were randomized to (1) withdrawal combined with preventive medication from start (W+P), (2) preventive medication without withdrawal (P), or (3) withdrawal with optional preventive medication 2 months after withdrawal (W). At baseline, 2, and 6 months, patients filled out SDS (used for measurements of dependence-like behaviour and treatment feasibility), Headache Under-Response of Treatment (HURT) and WHO Quality of Life BREF questionnaires. RESULTS: Out of 120 patients with MOH, 100 completed the 6-month follow-up and filled out questionnaires. The W+P arm was the most effective in treating MOH. After 6 months, the SDS score was reduced by 3.69 (95% CI 3.23-4.49) in the W+P arm, by 3.19 (95% CI 2.43-3.96) in the W arm, and by 1.65 (95% CI 0.96-2.33) in the P arm (p = 0.04). At baseline and after 2 months, the P arm was considered the most feasible treatment, but at 6-month follow-up, there was no difference in feasibility score, change in HURT score, or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Dependence-like behaviour was reduced most in the two withdrawal arms. Withdrawal combined with preventive medication is recommended for the treatment of MOH. SIGNIFICANCE: Withdrawal combined with preventive medication from start is the treatment strategy that reduces dependence-like behaviour the most in MOH patients. Patients initially considered preventive treatment without withdrawal as the most feasible treatment. However, no difference in feasibility between the three arms was found at 6-month follow-up. Withdrawal combined with preventive medication is recommended for treatment of MOH.
