Headaches come in a variety of forms and levels of severity. Most everyone experiences headaches at some point, report researchers at the National Institutes of Health. A headache can result from tension, stress, depression or anxiety. Headaches can occur from lack of sleep or food or as a consequence of drinking. Migraine and sinus headaches often are side effects of other medical conditions. Most headaches are treated with pain relievers, though sudden severe headaches or those resulting from a head injury should be reported to a physician.
OTC medicines
Over-the-counter, or OTC, pain relievers usually will relieve a minor headache. Doctors at the American Academy of Family Physicians report that OTC medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen also can help to reduce fever and sore throat that are associated with a sinus infection causing the headache. Tension headaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers in combination with relaxation, rest and ice. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin and Advil can reduce swelling. People experiencing headaches during withdrawals from substances such as caffeine or alcohol can use OTC headache remedies to relieve head discomfort. OTC medicines to relieve cold and flu symptoms typically include pain relievers for headaches as well. Over-the-counter pain medication can irritate the stomach and should be taken in moderation.
Abortive Medicines
Abortive medications are used to stop a headache before it becomes severe. Doctors at the National Pain Foundation report that abortive headache medicine works best when taken as soon as headache symptoms appear. Abortive medications are used only as needed because overuse of these drugs can cause rebound headaches. Among the list of abortive headache medicines are antihistamines and corticosteroids. Antihistamines also can relieve associated symptoms in addition to the headache. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and usually are used to treat headaches for no more than a week. Muscle relaxers sometimes are employed to ease tension headaches, and narcotic pain relievers block pain signals that are sent to the brain. Most prescription abortive medications carry side effects that range from dry mouth and constipation to upset stomach, insomnia and drowsiness.
Preventive Medicines
Preventive medicines for headaches are prescription medications that must be taken daily, whether a headache is present or not. National Pain Foundation doctors report that preventive medications such as beta-blockers and antidepressants used to treat headaches can take from four to six weeks to begin working. Like most all other headache medicine, preventive headache medication also is used to treat other conditions. The list of preventive headache medicine also includes calcium channel blockers, dopamine reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which also carry side effects. Fatigue, sexual dysfunction, light-headedness and upset stomach are a few of the possible side effects of preventive headache medicines. Patients must be weaned from taking preventive medicines to avoid more serious side effects that could result in seizures.
