Due to my back pain, I occasionally need to take 10/325 hydrocodone/apap. Works OK, calms the pain but doesn't completely remove it.

Anyway, I often have incredible rebound headaches a day or two after I stop taking them (if, for example, I have to take a couple a day for several days.)

Are there any good remedies (short of more hydrocodone) for these rebound headaches?

From what I understand the only thing that will stop a rebound headache is not taking anything - at all - no motrin, no tylenol, no anything. Even the OTC meds can cause this. I get them too. As well as all other types of headaches.

I would try some plain apap or motrin on those days.

I have tried excedrine - the caffeine with the apap seems to help some. Just wondering if there was something better. I also get migraines so I'm sensitive to headaches (sucks all around!)

Oh and since I mentioned Excedrine - everyone should know there is absolutely NOOO difference chemically between Excedrine (and the generics) and "Excedrine Migraine."

Really that seems odd. No difference?

Ya it is quite common, especially among headache sufferers, but I would rather take them than be in pain. Anyway, when I get a rebound, i usually get a cold pack, take a bath, take an excedrin, and if is bad and at night, maybe .25 alprazolam. the alprazolam really can do the trick with rebounds, but I never take that stuff more than say once a week. Besides that, a muscle relaxer like Soma might work also. Midrin is like excedrin but with a sedative in it, something like regular fioricet, thats also an option. You really just need to experiment to get it right. One thing you do not want to do, if you are not on a daily dose of opiates already, is to perpetuate a cycle by taking hydro again for the headache.

Does anyone ever notice that they get a rebound with one opiate but not another?

I have been suffering from migraines for years. For the first few years, hydrocodone was the only thing the doctor would give me. Rebounds are really annoying. You may want to try changing you last normal dose by taking about a half or a quarter of your normal dosage and add some asprin and a little more tylenol. The step done dose, once or twice helps. Also, my doctor said to consume large amounts of water. Dehydration is thought to be partly to blame for rebounding. Stranger still, really spicey food helps break the cycle sometimes. I don't know why. My doctor suggested it so I used to have some very hot wing and lots of water. Not that I need an excuse to eat wing

Had multiple nurses suggest simple ibuprofen along with 500mg of vitamin c 3 times daily after post-op vicodin use. It actually worked quite well.

I suffer from migraines and any time I take a vic for other pain it gives me one heck of a headache. I have to either suffer a headache to have relief for what I need it for at the time or suffer through the original pain.

I take fiornal for migraines and it has always helped, but the only thing I have had that helped while taking a Vic was Soma and that was when they were prescribed together for a badly pinched nerve.

Percocet on the other hand has never brought on a headache when used for me.

I have been fortunate to not suffer from headaches (other than sinus headaches during parts of the year - which are bad enough).

Rebound headaches from opiates are fairly common, especially if you are new to them or don't take them often.

But if you are a migraine sufferer - terrible. I've never had one, but I can imagine. My daughter gets them - vomiting, unable to tolerate light or patterns. When she is here - which is most of the time - I am always careful to wear clothes w/o patterns. Only white or black. Scrolling down a page will also bring one on. Then it is a dark room, on the couch. She doesn't get them often, but when she does, I see her suffer and I feel helpless.

I have enough health issues, yes, but headaches are not one of them (other than the sinus stuff). I am thankful.

Taking more hydro to compensate for the headache will only make it worse. Others have given good advice.

It has been said but alot of water is a good thing for your headaches. I usually drik alot to prevent or lessen the duration especailly on medication!! This seems like a cheasy answer but the only other thing I have found in 15 years of suffering is an ice pack.Headaches can be severe , I believe there are alot of people that need treatment that do not get it , headaches are severly underestimated by the medical community and most people I know. Evry person responds differently to headache treatments, it has been a lifetime of learning and adjusting to lesson the suffering caused by headaches, good luck ,there is no amount of toughness that can quote "will" your headaches away just good old fashioned trial and error.
TM

i also get horrible migraines...have one right now.. and i agree I definately get a rebound headache from vicoden and percocet. i remember i had breast surgery and got percocet, which definately helped with the pain, but i had a migraine and a half for a few days. only thing that really helps is fiorocet. i also agree that spicey food or i find salty food and lots of water helps. Funny huh, the pain killer narcotics cause the pain!

Does anyone know what the etymology of a rebound headache is, is it dehydration?

I just took a couple of hydrocodones a couple of days ago after aggravating my sciatic nerve again. And sure enough, yesterday I was incredibly sick. Nausea, blinding headache, all night and day.

What is odd - sometimes I have no negative after effect at all, other times I get this. Today I still have severe sciatic pain, but I just am now getting over the sick after effect and I'm scared to take the vicodin to help the severe back pain!!!!

Vicodin is not very effective for sciatica (I know this from personal experience, and my Doctor has concurred that vicodin is virtually useless for sciatica); I'd try IBU or Naproxen.

Hmmm. Ibuprofen has never done much for me with it, but I must admit I'm not sure the vicodin is a lot more effective - but it does feel at least somewhat more effective. Don't know how much is placebo effect (but now you've ruined THAT! LOL! JK.)

Motrin/ibuprofen is the ONE THING that does NOT cause rebound headaches.

The rebound headache for migraine people is not just the headache coming back a few hours later, but also a daily headache that is not a migraine.

Tylenol and aspirin taken more than 3-4 times a week can cause rebound/daily headaches, as can a narcotic.

BTW, someone expressed surprise that Excedrin Migraine is the exact same thing as Excedrin regular - look at the contents on the package. Exact Same Ingredients. I was taking excedrin (generic) a long time ago when I felt a migraine coming on, it sometimes would head it off before it got to the level Fiorinal was required. I saw the Excedrin Migraine ads, etc. and so I checked it out.

Apparently this deceptive advertising is a way Excedrin's makers can lure you into buying their more expensive product rather than the generic of Excedrin.

Exactly. I had a feeling it was the same before I ever checked it. There was nothing that could be added to an OTC medicine.

I noticed that when teh Migraine Excedrine first came out. I am never without it because like you say, if i feel one comming on and i take the excedrin it works. It is such a scam. It is the exact same ingrrdirnts and doses.

Hi,

New to this forum. I am very happy to have found it amongst all of the really terrible forums on these topics.

Sometimes a 'cheasy' recommendation is a fantastic one. I have my own 'cheasy remedy to lessen my migraines/sinus headaches. I take a long shower (warm/hot) for usually about 30-minutes, and have the water beat on my head, kind of like a hot compress. This sometimes helps lessen the headache enough to where some Excedrin will do the trick. A nap in a dark room sometimes helps right after the shower.

I sometimes get relief with 2-3 diet Cokes or a coffee. Maybe the caffeine helps (in combination with the hydration), but I usually follow that with an Excedrin or in worse cases, a Fiornal w/Codeine.

Ok, Young inspired me. For bad headaches (migraine or tension) I drink chocolate Cokes. And the combo helps me. But if chocolate is one of your triggers I wouldn't recommend it!

Late to part of the thread, but the part about hydrocodone not being good for sciatica is interesting. Id have to say that it depends upon the person and the cause of sciatica rather than make a blanket statement that it doesnt work.
It helped for me, and still does to an extent. But then sciatica is a symptom of a disease process or physical problem, so if you treat the source, then you treat the problem (meaning why IBU would work just as well also).

As for the original post, after having a variety of headaches for years, even resorting to using imitrex pens, Ive found the simpliest solution for myself. I take one (two if really bad) 325mg aspirin.

I am also late to thread and sorry if I repeat other's good wisdom. Hydro 10/325 is a medium pain reliever and I am not surprised that you still feel "some" pain. That is normal. My rebound headaches were related to high BP and dental issues. Make sure BP is controlled. For me, the best remedy was water, caffeine and ibuprofen. Other than that, a balanced diet.

I suffered from severe headaches and migraines for many years. Still did after my back problems and my regular hydro until my Dr got my BP under control. Now I rarely get them, when I do though, I always include caffeine with whatever I take. They say it speedes the delivery of the meds into your system.

I also sometimes get headaches after I have to take hydrocodone, and personally I feel like it's caused by dehydration. I recommend drinking lots of water as soon as you start the vicodin, and keep it up for a few days following. A good rule of thumb to follow regarding hydration is that your urine should always be very light yellow, and the darker in color it is, the less hydrated you are.

Yes Youngchang, if I am not vomiting too hard a hot shower helps, good one. For me rebound headaches are much less painful than a real migraine. Another really hard rule to follow for chronic migraine syndrome is consistency , you need to eat(healthier the better), sleep, exercise, and most other daily things regularly migraines can be triggered by fluctuations. Seems to be helping me anyway.

Tm

As a daily migraineur, variety of meds is my answer.
2 months ago, I had my second brain surgery but was told
that it would not stop the migraines (but they needed to
remove the cyst on the brain stem).

By juggling diff meds as needed daily, the hydro still
takes the edge off, but does not relieve the pain and consequently, does not make me drowsy so I can go on with life; and as others have said, sometimes I just do without so I do not favor one med over another.
I have to save the "big boys" for the #10 level headaches.

But it has taken years to reach this level of knowledge -
I thought I could find one med that was always the answer
and that has not been the case - changing up the meds has
helped a lot.
All the best to you.

hydro will not help with my migraines i have to try
a few things i hate taking pills give me the cure
i always try sutafed first to make shur that its no sinus
then i go for the maxalt now if they dont work i try fiornal#3
and i still have a bad a** headache
i have trie heat and ice cryopractioner
or whatever they are called