Painkillers can cause headaches, GPs told

DOCTORS were yesterday urged to warn patients about the risks of overusing drugs to treat headaches.

New guidance on managing headaches says using too much medication is in itself a cause of the problem.

NHS group the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (Sign) said that doctors should discuss the issue of "medication overuse headache" with patients when starting treatment.

The problem is greatest for "opioid" painkillers, such as over-the-counter remedies like Migraleve and Solpadeine.

But headaches can also be caused by overuse of other analgesics such as paracetamol and aspirin.

More than 90 per cent of people will suffer headaches during their lifetime.

Sign said that most patients could be dealt with in primary care, with more complex investigations rarely needed.