Migraine and Opioid Narcotics

Opioid narcotics have no primary function in treating migraine.  They are Class 4 narcotics with the potential for addiction.  Doctors need a narcotic license and a special electronic prescription set up to prescribe them.

This is an article by Britt Talley Daniel MD, member of the American Academy of Neurology, migraine textbook author, podcaster, YouTube video producer, and blogger.

No current legitimate articles are written in the headache literature promoting opioid narcotics for treating migraine.  During a Migraine attack once the neuro-inflammatory chemicals are released in the brain, pain medications like opiates can aggravate the condition by continuously causing the release of inflammatory chemicals which keep the headache going, sometimes for years.  This can result in Chronic Migraine due to medication overuse.

The International Classification of Headache 3 Beta criteria for medication overuse headache from Opioids is:

Opioids-more than 10days/month may cause medication overuse headache.

Many headache experts say only 4-5 days of narcotic treatment per month can cause medication overuse headache.

Typical Narcotics are:  opium, heroin, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol, morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl, and carfentanil.

See www.doctormigraine.com for my blog article on medication overuse headache.

Google “hydrocodone or tramadol and medication overuse headache” and read what comes up.

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All the best.

Britt Talley Daniel MD