Painkiller Overuse & Medication Overuse Headache

The vicious cycle of medication overuse headache often begins with "taking medication in advance." Frequent painkiller use makes the brain more sensitive to pain, lowering the headache threshold, which results in more frequent and severe headaches. This in turn drives further medication use, reinforcing the cycle. The only way to break this cycle is to reduce use of the causative medication, but rebound headaches can worsen early in the reduction process, so medical guidance and a plan are essential.

Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective

Korean medicine views frequent headaches as a state of blocked circulation with heat rising upward. From Dongjedang's detox and weight-management perspective, we work to relieve blocked circulation and clear rising heat during the tapering process, buffering rebound headaches. This is purely supportive of the medical staff's tapering plan, and does not replace medication or encourage stopping it arbitrarily.