Avoid prescribing medications for acute headache without informing the patient about medication overuse headache. In cases of frequent headache, the intake of medication should be tracked using a diary

Rationale:

Medication overuse headache can develop in all patients if they use acute pain medication too frequently. The use of opioids, triptans, ergotamines, or any combined medications on more than 9 days per month, or NSAIDs or paracetamol on more than 15 days per month, increases the risk of developing a chronic daily headache. Patients should be informed of this when discussing the use of pain medication and before any prescriptions are issued. The simplest way to track medication use is by keeping a headache diary, either on paper or using a mobile app.  

References:

• Cheung V, et al. Medication overuse headache Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2015.
• Espen S. Kristoffersen Medication-overuse headache: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014