Should a 59-year-old stop OTC meds for migraine overuse?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 59 years old and have had chronic migraines for years. Lately I have realized I am reaching for OTC pain medications almost every day just to function, and my neurologist hinted that I might be dealing with medication overuse headaches.

The thought of stopping them honestly scares me because they are my safety net, even if they are not working as well as they used to. It feels like being stuck on a hamster wheel that keeps speeding up.

For people who developed medication overuse migraines, did cutting back on OTC medications actually help in the long run, or was the transition period as rough as everyone says?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your history and can understand your concern.

I can understand your concern.

I can understand why the idea of cutting back feels frightening when those medications have become your go-to tool for getting through the day.

What you are describing is very common among people with medication overuse headaches, because the medicines often start out helpful but gradually become part of a cycle where headaches become more frequent and harder to control.

However, there are many patients who notice that less use of over-medication or completely ceasing it helps decrease the number of headaches as well as improve their reaction to treatment. The fact is that it may take several days or even weeks for headaches to become less severe due to the withdrawal process, but at some point they will.

The problem is that it is this temporary worsening of headaches that forces many people to stay on the hamster wheel you were talking about. The good news is that lots of people who manage to get off the hamster wheel notice significant improvement in terms of headache frequency.

I hope it was helpful with regard to your question.

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