If you are suffering from a headache, your first response is to get rid of the pain and troubling symptoms. You may grab for the first thing you have in your medicine cabinet. While almost everyone takes an aspirin or ibuprofen for aches and pains, it may not be beneficial depending on your headache and its cause. Your doctor may prescribe a specific medication to help you cope with symptoms.
Headache Types
There are several causes of headaches. Causes can stem from anxiety, stress, depression, excess alcohol, heat, medication side effects or illness. In some cases, headaches have no cause. Headaches are often classified into different types such as tension, migraine, cluster and sinus headaches. A tension headache is often the result of stress or strain and can affect the scalp, sides of the head, neck and upper back. Migraines can come on suddenly and be accompanied by dizziness and flashing lights. Cluster headaches occur in isolated locations such as one side of the head, causing excruciating, yet isolated pain. Sinus headaches often occur at the onset of a sinus infection or allergy attack.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications are safe to take on a minimal basis, as needed. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin are common headache pain relievers. A pain reliever works by sending messages to your brain and nervous system to block pain to your cells and nerve endings, KidsHealth explains. Pain relievers that contain caffeine may state that they treat headaches but the dosage needs to be carefully monitored -- especially if you're sensitive to caffeine. Too much caffeine in a pain reliever can lead to rapid or irregular heart rate, hyperactivity and in some cases, headache or head pain. Aspirin can cause irritation to the stomach lining, resulting in nausea or bleeding. Follow all package instructions precisely. Ibuprofen should be avoided in the late weeks of pregnancy because it can cause heart defects, Drugs.com explains. Beware of overdose of acetaminophen which can adversely affect your liver. MedlinePlus states that an overdose can occur with an intake over of 7,000 mg within 24 hours. Anything over 4,000 mg is discouraged.
Prescription Medications
Prescription medications are available if you experience headaches chronically. Your physician may recommend a prescription medication to take in order to prevent the onset of a headache or to take once one has occurred. Naproxen is good at treating tension and cluster headaches. Naproxen is safe to take and has mild side effects such as diarrhea, drowsiness and nausea. Injectable medications such as sumatriptan may be able to help you with a severe migraine or cluster headache, explains Mayo Clinic. Sumatriptan can cause anxiety in people who are are sensitive to the drug. Your doctor may prescribe a prescription pain reliever such as zolmitriptan that is administered as a nasal spray. Zolmitriptan is considered safe but can often cause side effects such as burning and tingling sensations in the skin.
Precautions
If you experience a severe headache that you consider the worst pain or headache of your life, it could be a very serious and possibly life-threatening condition such as a stroke or aneurysm. Signs of an aneurysm include weakness, lethargy, muscle weakness, seizures, confusion, vision changes, nausea and vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms along with a sharp or sudden pain in the head, seek medical care immediately. Do not take any medication until you consult with a physician.
