What medicine treats headaches?

1. Pain relievers for headaches

1. 1. Over-the-counter pain relievers

Over-the-counter pain relievers are often the first line of treatment for headache pain, including: Acetaminophen, an NSAID anti-inflammatory pain reliever.

Acetaminophen

Effect: Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic. It is the most common pain reliever used to treat mild to moderate headaches.

Side effects: Acetaminophen has few side effects and can be considered the safest pain reliever. However, it should not be used in excess or for a long time, because the drug can cause liver damage.

NSAID anti-inflammatory pain relievers

Effect: NSAIDs help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and reduce fever, making them quite effective in treating headaches. These drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen...

Side effects: The drug can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea, stomach pain, tinnitus, hearing loss,

Note:

- Do not give aspirin to children under 16 years of age unless directed by a doctor. Aspirin can cause Reye's Syndrome in children…

- Pregnant women and children under 3 months of age should not use ibuprofen.

- Do not use naproxen if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive.

Headache is a common condition in all ages and genders.

Combination medications are also available to treat headaches. These medications are more effective than pain relievers that contain only one ingredient. There are now many combination medications available without a prescription. Combination medications include aspirin, acetaminophen (paracetamol, tylenol, etc.), or both, often combined with caffeine or a sedative.

1.2. Prescription pain relievers

- Triptan group: Drugs in this group include sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan...

Effects: Triptans can effectively relieve migraines and episodic tension headaches.

Side effects: The drug can cause some side effects on the cardiovascular system, so caution should be exercised when using the drug for patients with ischemic heart disease, history of myocardial infarction, uncontrolled hypertension, liver dysfunction, pregnancy, breastfeeding. Be careful when using with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants...

Headache Treatment Protocols: One Size Does Not Fit All

You should talk to your doctor to get the right treatment for your headache.

- Opioid drugs

Uses: Prescription opioids are used to treat moderate to severe headaches and when other headache medications have not worked.

Opioid drugs include: Oxycodone, codeine, tramadol...

Side effects: The drug is potentially addictive, so it is necessary to comply with the dosage and duration of use.

2. Headache prevention medication

Preventive medications may be needed in cases of frequent headaches that are not relieved by pain relievers and other therapies.

2.1. Tricyclic antidepressants

Uses: Tricyclic antidepressants are the most commonly used drugs to prevent headaches in some cases. Commonly used drugs include amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and protriptyline.

Or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be used to prevent headaches, such as venlafaxine and mirtazapine.

Side effects: These medications can cause side effects such as constipation, drowsiness, and dry mouth.

2.2. Muscle relaxants

Uses: Muscle relaxants reduce muscle tension, which is the cause of headaches. Therefore, they are also used to prevent headaches, often using tizanidine...

Side effects: The drug can cause drowsiness, low blood pressure, weakness, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea...

2.3. Anticonvulsants

How it works: Anticonvulsants can help prevent tension headaches. Some anticonvulsants prescribed to prevent headaches include gabapentin (Gralise, Horizant, Neurontin) and topiramate (Topamax, Qsymia, and others).

Side effects: The drug may cause drowsiness, dizziness...

Note that medications often take a long time to work. The use of medications to prevent headaches should be closely monitored to avoid overuse of painkillers, which can affect the effectiveness of preventive medications.