LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH HEADACHE AND DRUG-ABUSE AFTER INPATIENT WITHDRAWAL - 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Thirty-eight patients with ''chronic daily'' headache and ergotamine a nd/or analgesics abuse according to the criteria proposed by the Inter national Headache Society were re-investigated 5 years after inpatient drug withdrawal. At the end of the observation period, 19 patients (5 0.0%) had their headaches on only 8 days per month or less, 18 patient s (47.4%) were free of symptoms or had only mild headaches. A close co rrelation was found between the frequency of headache and the duration of drug abuse, as well as between the intensity of headache and the n umber of tablets taken per month. Frequency and intensity of headache had changed within the first 2 years after withdrawal, but remained st able afterwards. Fifteen patients (39.5%) reported on recurrent drug a buse. Patients with migraine showed a tendency towards a better progno sis compared to patients with tension-type headache or with combined m igraine and tension-type headache. The results of this study highlight the long-term efficacy of inpatient drug withdrawal in patients with headache and ergotamine and/or analgesics abuse.