Central sensitisation and activation of serotonin uptake in patients with medication overuse headache

Background: Central sensitization of pain processing may play pivotal role in the pathophysiology of medication overuse headache (MOH). One possible mechanism include alteration of the anti-nociceptive serotonergic neurons. Objective: To investigate central pain processing and serotonin changes in MOH. Methods: Healthy controls (n=18) and patients with episodic migraine (n=16), analgesic-induced headache (n=15) and triptan-induced headache (n=15) were studied both, before and after withdrawal. Patients with co-existing depression (BDI>21) were excluded. The nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) and pain related potenti…