Table 1.

International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3 beta) diagnostic criteria for medication-overuse headache and its subtypes.

Criterion A	Headache occurring on ⩾15 days/month in a patient with a pre-existing headache disorder
Criterion B	Regular overuse for >3 months of one or more drugs that can be taken for acute and/or symptomatic treatment of headache. 8.2.1. Ergotamine-overuse headache, 8.2.2. Triptan-overuse headache, 8.2.4. Opioid-overuse headache • Ergotamine, triptans, or opioids • Regular intake on ⩾10 days/month for >3 months 8.2.3. Simple analgesic-overuse headache • Paracetamol, ASA, or other NSAID • Regular intake on ⩾15 days/month for >3 months 8.2.5. Combination-analgesic-overuse headache • One or more combination-analgesic medications described as formulations combining drugs of two or more classes, each with analgesic effect or acting as adjuvants • Most commonly combinations of simple analgesics with opioids, butalbital and/or caffeine • Regular intake on ⩾10 days/month for >3 months 8.2.6. Medication-overuse headache attributed to multiple drug classes not individually overused • Any combination of ergotamine, triptans, simple analgesics, NSAIDs and/or opioids • Regular intake for a total of ⩾10 days/month for >3 months without overuse of any single drug or drug class alone. 8.2.7. Medication-overuse headache attributed to unverified overuse of multiple drug classes • Any combination of ergotamine, triptans, simple analgesics, NSAIDs and/or opioids • The identity, quantity and/or pattern of use or overuse of these classes of drug cannot be reliably established. • Regular intake on ⩾10 days per month for >3 months
Criterion C	Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

ASA, acetylsalicylic acid; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

(Summarized from: Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society [2013].)