Table 2

- Comparison between all the diagnostic criteria of medication overuse headache by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) 1, 2, and 3.

ICHD-1ICHD-2ICHD-3

  • A- Occurs after daily dose of a substance for ≥ 3 months.

  • B- A certain required minimum dose should be indicated.

  • C- Headache is chronic (≥ 15 days/month).

  • D- Headache disappears within 1 month after withdrawal of the substance.

  • A- Headache present on ≥ 15 days/month fulfilling criteria C and D.

  • B- Regular overuse for > 3 months of one or more drugs that can be taken for acute and/or symptomatic treatment of headache.

  • C- Headache has developed or markedly worsened during medication overuse.

  • D- Headache resolves or reverts to its previous pattern within 2 months after discontinuation of overused medication.

  • A- Headache occurring on ≥ 15 days/month in a patient with pre-existing headache disorder

  • B- Regular overuse for > 3 months of one or more drugs that can be taken for acute and/or symptomatic treatment of headache*

  • C- Not better accounted for by another International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) diagnosis.

  • ↵* Regular intake of simple analgesics for ≥ 15 days /month OR ergotamine, opioids, and triptans for ≥ 10 days/month.