Table 17 Non-pharmacological treatment of medication overuse headache

Elements of treatment

• Complete stop of all kinds of short-term medication, including analgesics and acute migraine medication for 2 months. Alternatively, reduced intake of short-term medication to maximum 2 days a week, but this approach works less effectively.

• Detailed information to patients, relatives and health care professionals.

• Support, information and treatment of withdrawal symptoms.

• In-patient care at a neurology department when substantial co-morbidities or high risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.

• Recommendation of 2–3 weeks of sick leave.

• Close follow-up during the first year after withdrawal.