USE AND ABUSE OF ANALGESICS IN TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE

Eighty patients suffering from tension-type headache for an average of 21 years were asked to report on all drugs they had ever taken (type, dosage, duration of intake, efficacy) or were taking currently. The p atients had consumed on average 6.3 different drugs. The cumulative do ses of derivatives of para-aminophenol, pyrazolone, and salicylic acid in some cases reached a maximum of several kilograms. Most drugs were classified by the patients as ''moderately.effective''. The rating '' very effective'' was assigned primarily to barbiturates; however, barb iturates are no longer used as components of compound analgesic drugs in Austria. At the time of investigation, patients consumed 2.5 (mean) different drugs, primarily as compound preparations. Seventeen patien ts (21%) showed signs of possible analgesics- or ergotamine-induced he adache and were therefore advised to undergo withdrawal therapy. Our r esults show that patients with tension-type headache are at considerab le risk of becoming drug-dependent and of acquiring analgesics-induced headache.