What’s the Best Medicine for a Headache?

Simple pain relievers are the best medicine for minor headache relief. These medicines include acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. While all of these are effective medicines for headaches, each one has pros and cons to consider.

It is important to know what types of headache medications are available over the counter and which are only available by prescription. If you get frequent headaches, it may be beneficial to visit a doctor to get an appropriate prescription. By signing up for Mira, you can access exclusive discounts on prescription medications, low-cost urgent care visits, and affordable lab testing for just $45 per month.

Best Medicine For Each Type of Headache

As a general rule, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen are good options for over-the-counter (OTC) headache medication. There is no “best” medicine for a headache because each medicine can work differently from person to person. There are also different types of headaches that call for different types of treatment. Below we outline three different types of headaches and medication that can be used to alleviate symptoms. 

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches usually start gradually and radiate all over the head. They are caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck regions. Triggers for headaches include stress, dehydration, and muscle strain. 

Symptoms of a tension headache include:

• Dull head pain
• Pressure around the forehead
• Tenderness around the forehead and scalp
• Sometimes a tension headache can lead to sensitivity to light and loud noise, similar to migraines, but do not have all of the symptoms of a migraine

Ibuprofen or aspirin are good OTC options to get rid of a tension headache. Additionally, drinking water can help relieve tension headaches. If OTC drugs are not enough to treat your headache, a healthcare provider may give you a prescription for medication, such as:

• Indomethacin
• Ketorolac
• Naproxen
• Opiates
• Prescription-strength acetaminophen
• If pain relievers do not work, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant to stop muscle contractions

Sinus Headaches

Seasonal allergies and the common cold are the most common causes of this type of headache. While they do not cause a sinus headache directly, sinus congestion (a stuffy nose) leads to sinus pressure, pain, and infection. Besides facial pain, sinus headaches cause other symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Stuffy nose
• Thick, colored mucus discharge from the nose
• Feeling of fullness in the ears
• Swollen or puffy face

A true sinus headache develops because of a sinus infection (sinusitis). The infection causes pain and pressure in the sinuses, behind your eyes and face. Sinus headaches usually radiate in the area around the sinuses or forehead area. Sinus headaches can also present with nasal congestion. 

To treat a sinus headache, you can take ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the headache symptoms, but there are also options to treat the underlying causes. These include:

• Antihistamines to prevent allergy symptoms
• Decongestants to reduce swelling in the nose and sinuses, such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) or pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have been taking a decongestant for more than three days.
• Pain relievers to ease headache pain
• Steroids to reduce inflammation

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches usually radiate on one side of the head. Migraines start suddenly instead of gradually and can be accompanied by other symptoms like light and sound sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Many people who suffer from migraines may also experience an ‘aura’ before the migraine begins.

Any OTC pain medicine can be used to treat headache symptoms of a migraine, but may not be able to treat all symptoms. Oftentimes, prescription medicine is the best option for treating migraines, especially if you get them often. Triptans are the most widely used class of prescription drugs for migraines.

In the table below, we summarize the best over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat tension headaches, sinus headaches, and migraines.  

Best Medication for Tension Headache, Sinus Headache, and Migraine 

Source: Harvard Health

In addition to medicine, there are ways to reduce the symptoms of, and potentially prevent headaches in the first place. Staying hydrated, getting adequate movement, and managing your stress levels are all important to reduce your risk of headaches and migraines.

Acetaminophen vs. Ibuprofen vs. Naproxen vs. Aspirin For Headaches

When deciding which medicine will treat your headache best, you should consider your headache symptoms and any existing health conditions. It can be difficult to choose between the many available over-the-counter medications, so talk to your healthcare provider if you are unsure which medication to use.

Headache Medicine Quick Tips

• People with kidney problems should avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This includes Advil, Aleve, Aspirin, and any other medication with ibuprofen.
• People with liver problems should avoid acetaminophen (brand Tylenol) because it can make liver conditions worse.
• For children under 12 years of age, acetaminophen is preferred for a fever.
• Make sure to avoid alcohol while taking any of these medications.
• For people with an aspirin allergy, acetaminophen is usually a good choice.

Below we outline some of the pros, cons, and side effects of different medications you can take to treat a headache. 

Pros, Cons & Side Effects of Acetaminophen vs Ibuprofen vs Naproxen vs Aspirin

Headache Medicine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When it comes to medicine for a headache, you have options to choose from. Dr. Liz Jane helps answer a few common questions about medicine for headaches. Dr. Jane is a medical doctor specializing in pharmacology, internal medicine, oncology, and immunology.

What is the best medicine for a headache?

Pain relievers are the first drugs recommended by any doctor for headaches. Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are common pain relievers that can be bought over the counter. If your headache does not go away after using over-the-counter painkillers, then you need to see a doctor.

For some people, especially those who get migraines, prescription medication might be the best treatment for a headache. Headaches can cause significant impairment and prevent you from working or doing daily activities. If you experience painful headaches often, be sure to talk to your doctor to determine the best course of treatment.

When should I take medicine if I have a headache?

You should take medicine if your headache is preventing you from doing your normal daily activities. If you are experiencing a migraine, it is most effective to take medicine as soon as you feel one coming on. Over-the-counter medicine is recommended, but when the headache is persistent and does not go away, you should see a doctor reassess and potentially prescribe medication for you.

Be sure to also check the warnings on headache medicines before taking them. Certain medicines are not appropriate for people with existing medical conditions. For example, people with liver problems should take caution before taking acetaminophen.

What are migraine triggers?

Migraine triggers are what cause a migraine. These triggers vary from person to person but usually stay the same for an individual. The most common migraine triggers include:

• Changing weather: rising humidity, heat
• Lack of sleep or oversleeping
• Fatigue
• Emotional stress
• Sensory triggers: bright or flickering lights, loud noises, strong smells
• Dietary triggers:
• Missing a meal
• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Chocolate
• Nitrates in cured meats and fish
• Aged cheese
• An increase or decrease in caffeine
• MSG (often present in prepared foods)

How can I save money on headache medication? 

Especially if you get frequent headaches, the cost of medications can quickly add up. Below we outline some tips to save money on medications to treat headaches. 

• When possible, get the generic option of your medication. Generic medications are exactly the same as their brand-name counterparts but can be significantly less expensive.
• If you require prescription medications to treat your headaches, sign up for Mira today. With MiraRx, you can get up to 80% off your prescription medications.
• If you purchase pain relievers in bulk, rather than in small packs, you may reduce the cost of your medication.

Bottom Line 

Fortunately, most headaches can be treated by over-the-counter pain relief medicines including acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These drugs can be found at your local pharmacy, which will have generic and brand name forms.

If you experience persistent or frequent headaches, you might need a prescription for headache-specific medicines. Join Mira today to get up to 80% off of most prescription medications.

This article is informed in part by the medical professionals at Curist.

New Treatment Options for Headaches

CS-Blog

Cedars-Sinai Blog

Jan 06, 2022
Victoria Pelham

Migraines, the third most-common illness globally, affect 39 million people in the U.S. and can be as devastating as they are prevalent. They are responsible for about 1.2 million emergency room visits each year, and more than 90% of sufferers experience head pain and neurological symptoms so severe they can’t work or function, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.

They have also been on the rise amid the stress and disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the condition frequently goes undiagnosed, you don’t have to suffer in silence, even if you’ve tried to treat your headaches before to no avail.

“It’s an exciting time in headache medicine,” says neurologist Dr. Nasima D. Shadbehr, who recently launched a specialized headache clinic at Cedars-Sinai.

New treatments have revolutionized the field over the past two years and have vastly expanded the possibilities—and hope—for most migraine sufferers whose symptoms don’t improve using traditional medications.

Read: Know Your Headaches

Neurology

Monoclonal antibodies

This new class of migraine-prevention therapies target the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway, a protein linked to migraine symptoms. One medication (erenumab) blocks the CGRP docking station (receptor), while the others inhibit CGRP itself. Patients can self-administer monthly injections of Aimovig (erenumab), Emgality (galcanezumab) or the third drug, Ajovy (fremanezumab, which can be injected monthly or quarterly), while another similar antibody option—Vyepti (eptinezumab)—is delivered as a quarterly IV infusion.

Read: Managing Migraines Amid COVID-19

Gepants and ditans

Another newer group of drugs targets the same molecule but is provided orally. These medications, include Ubrelvy (ubrogepant), Nurtec (rimegepant) and Atogepant (Qulipta). Ubrelvy is used to help treat acute migraines, while Qulipta is used for migraine prevention. And Nurtec can be used for both. The Food and Drug Administration approved the most recent, atogepant (Qulipta), in September 2021.

Lasmiditan (Reyvow) is a separate type of treatment that targets the serotonin receptors on brain nerve endings to halt migraine attacks as they occur.

The ability to take Nurtec both for prevention and acute treatment implies that it does not have the same overuse limitations as existing drugs, Dr. Shadbehr notes.

Providers suggest taking acute headache treatments no more than 10 days each month, because overindulging in either over-the-counter drugs or triptans can cause headaches. Medication overuse underlies many cases of episodic migraines that become chronic.

“For people finding they need to take a lot of breakthrough medications, gepants would be a good option because they’re less likely to develop rebound headaches,” she says.

“There is a lot of room for future study with these medicines that will expand our ability to use them and better understand them”

Benefits and risks

These innovations open the door for migraine patients with heart disease, stroke and vascular diseases, who couldn’t safely take the older class of triptan migraine medications. They could also be a game-changer for those who experienced the long list of side effects (or didn’t find relief) on other drugs such as triptans, antidepressants, and seizure or blood pressure medications, especially people with refractory migraines who feel they have “run out of options,” Dr. Shadbehr says.

Additionally, patients on this new class of drugs are able to get onto a full dose earlier than the adjustment period required to test your reaction and build up to classic headache medications.

There are caveats: Patients need to try other treatments before insurance will approve one of the new ones. Lasmiditan comes with a warning of no driving for at least eight hours after taking a dose. Gepant pills have some drug interactions to watch out for, and one antibody therapy (erenumab) carries a risk of constipation and increased blood pressure.

At this time, these medications are considered unsafe for pregnant women, who remain a major gap in headache care.

“There is a lot of room for future study with these medicines that will expand our ability to use them and better understand them,” Dr. Shadbehr says.

Read: Differences Between a Stroke and a Seizure

Botox and trigger point injections

These relatively recent, effective options can be used on their own or in conjunction with other treatments.

Botox is FDA-approved for chronic migraines in adults who have at least 15 headache days a month with each headache lasting four or more hours. The series includes at least 31 injections across and around the head and shoulders.

Treatments are repeated once every three months, Dr. Shadbehr says, and most patients see a decrease in headache days after the first two sessions. Because they rely on the same botulinum toxin as cosmetic Botox procedures, side effects can be similar and include some muscle weakness. But Botox is usually a well-tolerated treatment option.

For patients who hold stress and tension in their shoulders and neck, the different aches and pains are interconnected.

“It becomes a pain cycle,” Dr. Shadbehr says.

Trigger point injections target muscles to address co-occurring myofascial and chronic neck and shoulder pain, and nerve blocks address concurrent neuralgias and help break up frequent headache cycles.

Treating the bigger picture often helps improve headache discomfort, she adds.

Read: Good Sleep in Times of Stress

Crafting a holistic care plan

If you’re experiencing painful migraines or other types of severe or chronic headaches, see your primary care doctor or a neurologist. They can refer you to a headache specialist for specialized care such as injections.

These tools are just one part of a larger headache strategy.

Lifestyle changes are also key, Dr. Shadbehr says. Getting enough sleep, hydrating and limiting caffeine can all ease headache symptoms. Keeping a migraine diary can also help you and your provider identify your patterns and personal food triggers.

There are individualized treatment plans available to help alleviate chronic headaches and improve your quality of life.

Read: Researchers Puzzle Over Migraine and Heart Disease Link

TOP 15 headache tablets

July 2021

We all sooner or later, someone more often someone less likely to experience a headache. Its appearance is influenced by various factors. Doctors divide them into: primary and secondary.

The primary ones are:

• migraine
• tension
• cluster headache

Secondary pains occur due to various diseases:

• trauma;
• COVID-19;
• encephalitis and meningitis;
• giant cell arteritis;
• glaucoma;
• arterial hypertension, etc.

In case of acute and prolonged pain, it is necessary to consult a specialist for advice and diagnosis of the causes of pain in the head area. Based on the tests, you will be diagnosed, prescribed medications and prescribed a course of treatment. The sooner you see a doctor in such a situation, the more effective treatment can be.

Primary pains can be treated in different ways, depending on the type of pain.

Headache tablets

Tablets	Active ingredient	During pregnancy	Application	For children 1st and 2nd trimester it is not recommended to take the drug, in the 3rd – it is forbidden	Children weighing 20-30 kg – 1 tablet, a second dose is possible after 6 hours, but not more than 3 tablets per day. Adults and children weighing more than 30 kg take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours if necessary, but not more than 6 tablets per day.	Can be used in children over 20 kg and over 6 years of age.
Paracetamol	Paracetamol	Possibly after consulting a doctor.	Adults and children over 12 years: 2 tablets every 4 hours, max 10 tablets per day. Children 6-12 years: 1 tablet each, not to exceed 5 tablets. per day.. .	From 6 years.
Spazmalgon	mctamizole sodium, pitofenone, fenpiverinium bromide	Do not use	Adults and children over 15 years old – 1-2 tablets per day.	From 15 years old
Nurofen	ibuprofen	Do not use 3 tablets per day. Adults and children weighing more than 30 kg take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed, not to exceed 6 tablets per day.	Pediatric dosages may be used. For children under 6 years of age, the drug is available in the form of a suspension.
Ketanov	ketorolac	Do not use	Do not use for more than 3 days. Adults, 10 mg every 4 to 6 hours, not to exceed 40 mg per day.	From 16 years old
Aspirin	acetylsalicylic acid	Can be used during pregnancy if other drugs do not help.. During the first and second trimester of pregnancy – not recommended, due to the content of acetylsalicylic acid, only if absolutely necessary	Adults and children over 15 years: 1-2 effervescent tablets as a single dose. Reception is possible in 4-8 hours. Maximum 10 tablets (4 g).	From 15 years
Citramon	acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine	Do not use	For adults: 1 tab. 2-3 times a day after meals. Maximum dosage: 6 tablets (in 3 divided doses) per day. Accept no more than 5 days.	From 16 years old
Analgin	metamizole sodium	Not recommended	Adults: 1-2 tablets up to two times a day within 24 hours. Maximum dose 4 tablets. The course of treatment should not exceed 3 days.	Contraindicated
Andipal	metamizole sodium, bendazole hydrochloride, papaverine hydrochloride	Not recommended	Adults and children over 12 years: 1-2 tablets up to 3 times. The maximum dose is 6 tablets per day. Course – no more than 3 days.	From 12 years
Tempalgin	metamizole sodium monohydrate, tempidone	Do not use	Adults: 1 tablet 1-2 times a day. Single dose – 1 tab. Max dose per day – 2 tablets. Children over 15 years: 1 tablet daily. Max dose per day – 1 tablet.	From 15 years
Farmadol	acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine	Do not use	Adults: 1-2 tab. 2-3 times a day after meals. The maximum daily dose is 6 tab. in 3 doses.	Contraindicated
Solpadeine	paracetamol, caffeine	Do not use	Adults: 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed, but not more than 8 tablets. The course is no more than 3 days.	From 12 years
Ketorol	Ketorolac tromethamine	Do not use	Adults Initial dose is 10 mg. Repeatedly – 10 mg up to 4 times a day with breaks of 4-6 hours.	From 16 years
Nise	nimesulide	Do not use	Max/ course of treatment – 15 days. Adults and children over 12 years of age:. 1 tablet (100 mg) 2 times a day – in the morning and in the evening.	From 12 years old

Migraine

Often migraine attacks occur in the evening or when a person is sleeping. Sometimes the prerequisites for the occurrence are fatigue, depression and weakness for several hours, or irritability.

Pain occurs in attacks from four hours to three days, in one part of the head: rapidly or slowly pulsating, increasing with normal human activity. Nausea and/or vomiting may also occur;

For minor and moderate seizures prescribe simple or combined analgesics; if migraine is accompanied by the urge to vomit – antiemetics, with severe pain and significant maladaptation, triptans are prescribed.

Cluster headache

Expressed by a sharp, unilateral pain in the supraorbital part of the head or temples, 15–180 min. and can occur up to 8 times a day.

For the treatment of , triptans and inhalations of 100% oxygen, as well as lidocaine, capsaicin, are especially effective.

Tension: symptoms and treatment

Occasional light or slight pain in the head, usually on both sides, “squeezing in a vise”, squeezing for two to three days. Pain does not increase during exercise. human stress, but may be accompanied by photophobia. Especially often these symptoms are observed in pregnant women and in people with high blood pressure.

Methods of treatment :

• simple analgesics
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• massage
• rest, rest
• refreshing shower

Headache

Vegetovascular dystonia of the cerebral arteries and their spasms, which can be caused by prolonged stress, lack of sleep, lack of oxygen, infectious diseases, etc. , become a frequent cause of headaches.

Migraine risk factors

1. Prolonged stress
2. Fatigue
3. Chronic overexertion
4. Sleep deprivation
5. Lack of oxygen and water in the body
6. Deficiency in the body of trace elements
7. Alcohol abuse
8. Temperature changes
9. Pressure
10. Environment

Headache symptoms

Pain extending from neck to occiput, temples, eye region, on one or both sides. May be accompanied by dizziness, staggering, nausea. The pain is dull, monotonous, pressing, squeezing or bursting. Localization of pain – usually felt around the head, in the forehead and eyes, temples, under the back of the head.

The most well-known, but relatively infrequent, type of headache is migraine. Migraine is known for severe throbbing pain during an attack.

Migraine symptoms

The resulting severe throbbing pain in the temple or eye, less often in other areas of the head. May be aggravated by bright lights and loud noises. Often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, which brings relief.

Headache and Migraine Treatments

MIG 400 tablets are a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug containing ibuprofen. Dosage dosage form. To relieve a headache, just take one tablet. For migraines, 1 tablet is prescribed 3 times a day after meals.

Pentalgin is a combined anesthetic drug. Assign inside 1 tablet for headaches and migraines 2-3 times a day after meals. Pentalgin produces several types of Pentalgin, Pentalgin N and Pentalgin ICN. The difference between these drugs is in the composition. Which drug to choose depends on the type of headache.

Amigrenin is an anti-migraine drug. Used for migraines. Assign 1 tablet, if the therapeutic effect does not come after 1 tablet, then take the second one and you should not.

Relpax is an anti-migraine drug. The tablet is used orally for migraines of various etiologies and intensity.