How many days a month can you take headache medicine?

Enter the number of days in the last 30 on which you took each type of acute headache medicine. The counter compares them with the monthly limits for medication-overuse headache in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3).

Days in the last 30 days

Triptanssumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, eletriptan, naratriptan, almotriptan, frovatriptan

NSAIDs and aspirinibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, aspirin

Acetaminophen (paracetamol)Tylenol, Panadol

Combination painkillerstwo or more painkillers in one product, for example acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine

Opioidscodeine, tramadol, hydrocodone, oxycodone

Ergotaminesergotamine, dihydroergotamine (DHE)

Days with any of the medicines aboveNeeded when you use more than one type. A day with two types counts once.

Gepants and lasmiditan (rimegepant, ubrogepant, zavegepant, lasmiditan) are not counted against an ICHD-3 limit, here or in Aurora: ICHD-3 (2018) does not list them. This does not mean any frequency is safe. A 2021 American Headache Society statement found that frequent use of rimegepant or ubrogepant does not appear to cause medication-overuse headache; it did not cover zavegepant and noted possible overuse with lasmiditan, whose US prescribing information warns about medication-overuse headache. Keep a count of these days for your doctor. Details

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Enter at least one number to see the result.

Monthly limits by type of medicine

ICHD-3 sets the limits in days per month on which a medicine was taken. Using a medicine at or above the limit for more than three months, with headache on 15 or more days a month, meets the criteria for medication-overuse headache.

Type of medicine	Limit, days per month
Triptans	10 or more
NSAIDs and aspirin	15 or more
Acetaminophen (paracetamol)	15 or more
Combination painkillers	10 or more
Opioids	10 or more
Ergotamines	10 or more
Acetaminophen and NSAIDs together	15 or more, both together
Two or more types including any other type, none over its own limit	10 or more, all types together

ICHD-3 counts acetaminophen, aspirin and other NSAIDs as one class, so their days add up against one 15-day limit. See How the tools calculate.

Why days, not doses

The limits count days, not tablets. Three doses of ibuprofen on one day count as one day. A triptan in the morning and acetaminophen in the evening of the same day count as one day with any medicine.

The counter shows a warning from 60% of the limit: 6 days for a 10-day limit and 9 days for a 15-day limit. Aurora uses the same bands: 60–80% is approaching, 80–100% is close to the limit.

What a result means

Below the limit. The number of days is under 60% of the monthly limit for every type you entered.
Approaching or close to the limit. Keep counting. If the number stays at this level, discuss it with your doctor at your next visit.
At or over the limit. One month at or over the limit is not a diagnosis. Medication-overuse headache is diagnosed by a doctor when the overuse lasts more than three months and headache occurs on 15 or more days a month. Do not stop or change prescribed medicines without medical advice.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 28 October 2026. How this page is written and checked