title: Prednisone for the treatment of withdrawal headache in patients with medication overuse headache: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of prednisone for treatment of withdrawal headache in patients with medication overuse headache (MOH).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel designed multicentre trial, 96 consecutive patients with MOH were randomized to withdrawal treatment with either 100 mg prednisone or placebo over 5 days. Patients were enrolled if they met the International Headache Society criteria for MOH and were diagnosed with migraine or episodic tension-type headache as primary headache. Exclusion criteria comprised significant neurological or psychiatric disorders. Withdrawal symptoms, including headache severity and intake of rescue medication, were documented for 14 days after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with prednisone did not experience fewer hours of moderate or severe headache than patients receiving placebo. However, patients requested less rescue medication within the first 5 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During withdrawal in MOH, prednisone reduces rescue medication without decreasing the severity and duration of withdrawal headache.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Headache Center, University Duisburg- Essen, Germany. kasja.rabe@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: Kasja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pageler
authors.forename: Charly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaul
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lampl
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraya
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foerderreuther
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Diener
authors.forename: Zaza
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Katsarava
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011241:Prednisone