Hi I take at least two anadin a day and when I went to my gp he said that I was over using that medication and should stop

[Poppet1]

He never gave me any other guidance or said anything else just stop so. I get a headache most every day and if I don't take anything it just gets worse so I don't know really wot else to do any ideas please

[rosianna]

The gp is right and youre lucky your gp did point out medicatio overuse headache to you. he should howeevr given you some gulideline. you just simply have to come off all meds and detox, i did for 3 months and started to to break the pattern but was on a lot of meds for migraine.

once youve broken the pattern and can see how your head is without the drugs you can see how severe your headaches are and what meds you should try. then go back to your gp or if it is migraines you get ask to go to a neuro specialising in migraines and theyll work through different meds with you.

[Poppet1 in reply to rosianna]

Thanks for that I will give it a try

[Lupylass]

Hi there

Patient UK gives some good guidance which may help you

patient.co.uk/health/medica...

[Poppet1 in reply to Lupylass]

Thanks for that I will give it a try

[Imgram]

I had a similar situation. At the migraine clinic they put me on a programme to reduce painkillers using ibuprofen.It took about three weeks in which l reduced the tablets slowly. This was a planned programme from the doctor. It worked but l think you need to see a doctor to help you with this.

[Poppet1 in reply to Imgram]

Thanks for that I will give it a try

[zigzag in reply to Imgram]

Were you at NMC London? They told me to stop all meds abruptly ,no weaning off. But I would prefer to wean off slowly. Any comments anyone?

[Gambit62]

Long term use of painkillers such as aspirin can actually cause headaches - bit ironic really. I suspect your doctors remarks are probably more to do with the length of time that you have been using the medication for rather than the actual daily dosage. The instructions in the packet that none of us ever read usually tell you that you shouldn't take them for more than a certain number of days before you consult a doctor.

As per others - probably best not to go cold turkey on your own - if you don't feel comfortable talking to your GP again then a pharmacist might be able to give you some advice.

[Poppet1 in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks for that I will give it a try

[Hidden]

I would also suggest that you consult another GP or ask to see a headache specialist.

[Emma1024]

You are definitely taking too much. More than 10-15 days a month is likely to generate worse headaches than you would have with fewer painkillers. BUT you may need medication to ease you off the Anadin. I went cold turkey and stopped all over the counter painkillers but my doc prescribed a course of naproxen (with a reducing dose) for six weeks. It REALLY worked - much better headache situation (frequency and severity). You can also ask about a course of preventatives, eg amitriptyline.

[zigzag in reply to Emma1024]

Hi, NMC told me to go cold turkey. Said I can use Naproxen. Do you think Naproxen will help me cos its related to nurofen which has never helped me in the past.?

[Poppet1 in reply to Emma1024]

Thanks for that I will give it a try

[zigzag]

Im feeling your pain right now

[KaliC10]

I went cold turkey off tramadol and high cocodamol ( for severe spinal damage) amitripyline and another pill and they didnt give me anything. It was awfull for 5 days. Im still suffering now with my spine

[Emma1024]

I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties people have. Managing pain is such a struggle!

're: naproxen, I'd say it's definitely worth a try. Even tho it is in the same category of drugs add ibuprofen, it could still work. I've tried other similar drugs, eg, ketoprofein, which was no help at all. I must admit though, that ibuprofen has worked for me, too. But I had to come off it due to medication overuse, and naproxen was really helpful in making this more manageable.

[Krishnashram]

My wife had severe migraine frequently. In 1985 in Betul(MP)one morning she was to accompany me on a tour, but had a severe attack, one of my friend said within 10 minutes it will go,went out brought some leaves and ask one drop of its extract to be dropped in the nose. Within 10 minutes she was normal. My daughters have inherited migraine but have never agreed to test this in the absence of scientific proof. I can get those leaves only from Betul, if some organisation is ready to do research on it.

[babs1234]

I have just been told by the neurologist that too many painkillers can actually cause migraine