Don’t take painkillers for more than 15 days a month; limit combination painkillers to 10 days. Otherwise, headaches may actually be caused by the medication itself.
If you suffer from frequent headaches and take painkillers every day, you might end up with even more frequent headaches. The International Classification of Headache classifies this condition as medication-overuse headache. For regular non-opioid painkillers like acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen, taking them for 15 days or more per month for 3 consecutive months meets the criteria. For combination painkillers — which contain two or more pain-relieving ingredients or extra additives like caffeine (for example, acetaminophen with codeine) — the limit is 10 days per month over the same period. Even if you rotate between different non-opioid painkillers, the total number of days you take them still counts toward this limit. Epidemiological studies from multiple countries confirm that over half of people who experience headaches for 15 days or more each month fall into this category. Most patients see their symptoms improve after cutting back on excess medication, and other preventive headache treatments also become more effective.
No direct cost. You’ll just need to keep track of how many…
The third edition of the International Classification of Headache published by the International Headache Soci…
No direct cost. You’ll just need to keep track of how many days you’ve taken the medicine, and resist the urge to pop pills at every sign of a headache.
The third edition of the International Classification of Headache published by the International Headache Society outlines the diagnostic criteria for this condition. It applies to people who already have a history of headaches, experience headaches on 15 or more days each month, and have been regularly taking excessive amounts of headache medication for over 3 months. For standard non-opioid painkillers, the threshold for overuse is 15 days per month; for combination painkillers, it is 10 days per month. This classification is backed by robust epidemiological evidence, and most patients see positive results after reducing their medication intake.
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (2018). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia, 38(1):1-211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102417738202；ICHD-3 在线版 8.2 Medication-overuse headache（含 8.2.3、8.2.5）. https://ichd-3.org/8-headache-attributed-to-a-substance-or-its-withdrawal/8-2-medication-overuse-headache-moh/
Open source linkPainkillers with “caffeine” in their name typically contain added caffeine, so they count toward the 10-day limit for combination painkillers. If you find that your headache days are increasing month on month, it’s best to consult a neurologist rather than simply taking more medication. This evidence grade is assigned because the classification criteria serve as a diagnostic benchmark rather than being derived from controlled clinical trials. The benefit level is rated “moderate” as it primarily reduces the frequency of headaches without preventing life-threatening outcomes.