Excessive Painkiller Use Can Cause Recurring Headaches, Doctor Warns

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Dr. Ramdinal Aviesena Zairinal, Sp.N(K), a neurologist and neurocritical care subspecialist from the University of Indonesia Hospital (RSUI), has warned that excessive consumption of painkillers can cause recurring headaches. Speaking to ANTARA on Friday, Dr. Sena, as he is commonly called, explained that medication habits have two perspectives. When used as directed, medication can help relieve symptoms. Conversely, if taken without following a doctor’s instructions, it can cause medication-overuse headache (MOH), or headaches due to excessive dosage. The doctor noted that one reason for taking medication without a doctor’s guidance is self-diagnosis without medical consultation. Self-diagnosis can occur after someone sees information circulating on social media. Dr. Sena also observed that non-adherence to medical advice includes buying medication independently after the initial prescription runs out, without further consultation. This practice can affect dosage, for example, a drug originally taken twice daily might be increased to four times daily. “At some point, the situation can reverse; the consumption of these drugs is precisely what causes the headache to persist,” he said. Dr. Sena also addressed the common belief that all headaches can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers without needing a doctor’s examination, calling it a myth. According to him, the cause is not only migraines but could also be other conditions such as brain haemorrhage, which requires a medical facility examination.