Medication Overuse Headache Checker: Count Your Medicine Days
Medication-overuse headache (often called rebound headache) is judged by counting days: headache on 15 or more days a month, plus acute medicine on 10 or more days a month (15 for simple painkillers) for over 3 months. Enter your numbers below to see where you stand. This is an educational counter, not a diagnosis.
The day counts clinicians use
The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3, section 8.2) describes medication-overuse headache as headache on 15 or more days a month in someone who already has a headache disorder, developing with regular overuse of acute medicine for more than 3 months. What counts as overuse depends on the medicine:
| Acute medicine | Overuse threshold |
|---|---|
| Simple analgesics (paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, other NSAIDs) | 15 or more days a month |
| Triptans | 10 or more days a month |
| Ergots | 10 or more days a month |
| Opioids | 10 or more days a month |
| Combination painkillers | 10 or more days a month |
| Several classes, none overused alone | 10 or more days a month in total |
ICHD-3 notes that these day numbers rest on expert opinion rather than formal evidence, so treat them as a conversation starter.
Count your headache and medicine days
Think of a typical month. Count the days you had a headache and the days you took each type of acute medicine. Nothing leaves your device.
Days you took acute medicine
Get urgent medical care if
- a headache comes on suddenly and is the worst you have ever had
- you have a headache with fever, a stiff neck, or a rash
- you have weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision loss, confusion, or a seizure
- you have a headache after a head injury
- you are pregnant or just gave birth and have a new, severe headache
Log every dose and see your medication days
Claru records the medication you take with each attack. Pro medication-effectiveness insights and the doctor-report PDF show your medication days per month, ready for your appointment.
Download Claru freeAvailable for iOS and Android. Current availability and plans are listed in the app store.
How often is too often for triptans or painkillers?
There is no single safe number for everyone. The thresholds above are where headache specialists start to look closely at a pattern. The NHS also advises trying not to take painkillers on more than 2 days a week, because frequent use can cause more headaches and make migraine harder to treat. If you count 8 to 9 triptan days a month, you are already close to the 10-day line, so it helps to tell your clinician early.
Frequency matters too. Headache on 15 or more days a month for more than 3 months, with migraine features on at least 8 of those days, is the ICHD-3 definition of chronic migraine (section 1.3). If your headache days are climbing, tracking each attack and each dose shows the trend.
Do not stop on your own
Do not stop or change prescribed medication without medical advice. Stopping some medicines suddenly can be unsafe.
What to bring to your appointment
- Headache days per month for the last 3 months
- Days you took each medicine class, with the product names
- Any change in pattern, such as more days or weaker relief
People Also Ask
What is a rebound headache?
Rebound headache is the everyday name for medication-overuse headache: headache that becomes more frequent because acute medicine is taken too often. Only a clinician can tell whether this explains your headaches.
How often can I take triptans?
This tool cannot give dosing advice. ICHD-3 uses 10 or more triptan days a month for more than 3 months as its overuse threshold, so many clinicians ask patients to keep an eye on that number. Follow your prescriber's instructions.
How many migraine days a month are normal?
There is no universal normal. The NHS suggests seeing a GP if attacks happen more than once a week or are getting worse. Headache on 15 or more days a month is the line for chronic headache classifications.
Does reaching a threshold mean I have medication-overuse headache?
No. A diagnosis also needs a pre-existing headache disorder, more than 3 months of regular overuse, and a clinician ruling out other causes.
Does my data leave my device?
No. The counter runs in your browser and saves your entries only in this browser's local storage.
Related Resources
- MIDAS migraine disability score
- Printable headache diary with a medication-days summary
- Printable headache and migraine diary templates
- Migraine doctor appointment checklist
- Headache warning signs to take to a doctor
- Free migraine appointment resources
Sources: ICHD-3: 8.2 Medication-overuse headache (MOH); ICHD-3: 1.3 Chronic migraine; NHS: Migraine; American Migraine Foundation: Medication overuse headache. Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Educational only; not a diagnosis or medical advice. Ask a clinician before changing any medicine.