Detoxification

Because of the problem of rebound and daily headache as a result of rebound, it is imperative that we detoxify patients off medications which we think are creating the problem of rebound. Patients who have been on narcotic medications, like codeines or Demeral, Stadol, and also patients who are taking large quantities of Fiorinal, Fioricet, Esgic, Excedrin Migraine, etc have to be detoxified. In other words, the body has to get rid of the medication. Unless it is done, new treatments will not be successful. So, the first step in our treatment for patients who have daily (or near daily) headaches and who are on too many pain medications, is to detoxify them. We take them off the pain medications either gradually over a period of days or abruptly in many cases. If they are taken off medications abruptly, we might use medications like a Catapres Patch to reduce the withdrawal effects from those pain medications.

Withdrawal symptoms from medications include restlessness, diarrhea, sleeplessness, unexplainable jittery feeling, tremor, excessive sweating, etc. These symptoms can be minimized if the patient is put on a Catapres Patch.

In extreme cases, there have been incidences of seizures when the patient suddenly withdraws from medications like Fiorinal. When the detoxification is done under supervision in the hospital, unwanted side effects from withdrawal can be counteracted by appropriate medications.

Once detoxification is done and the patient's body is totally free of pain medications, they show a very rapid improvement.