title: Should we educate about the risks of medication overuse headache?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is caused by the regular use of medications to treat headache. There has been a lack of research into awareness of MOH. We distributed an electronic survey to undergraduate students and their contacts via social networking sites. Analgesic use, awareness of MOH, perceived change in behaviour following educational intervention about the risks of MOH and preferred terminology for MOH was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  485 respondents completed the questionnaire (41% having received healthcare training). 77% were unaware of the possibility of MOH resulting from regular analgesic use for headache. Following education about MOH, 80% stated they would reduce analgesic consumption or seek medical advice. 83% indicated that over the counter analgesia should carry a warning of MOH. The preferred terminology for MOH was painkiller-induced headache.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the lack of awareness of MOH. Improved education about MOH and informative packaging of analgesics, highlighting the risks in preferred lay terminology (i.e., painkiller-induced headache), may reduce this iatrogenic morbidity and warrants further evaluation.
authors: James T F
authors: JT
authors: Lai
authors: John D C
authors: JD
authors: Dereix
authors: Ravi P
authors: RP
authors: Ganepola
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Nightingale
authors: Kiera A
authors: KA
authors: Markey
authors: Paul N
authors: PN
authors: Aveyard
authors: Neurotrauma and Neurodegeneration, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. a.b.sinclair@bham.ac.uk.
authors: Alexandra J
authors: AJ
authors: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics