What causes headaches and how can you treat them naturally. Which types of headaches are most common. How to use magnesium, essential oils, and other remedies for quick relief. When should you see a doctor for headache symptoms.

Understanding Different Types of Headaches

Headaches are a common ailment that can significantly impact daily life. While there are over 150 different types of headaches, four main categories tend to be the most prevalent:

• Tension headaches
• Cluster headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Migraines

Tension headaches, also known as stress headaches, are the most common type among adults and teenagers. They typically cause mild to moderate pain that comes and goes over time. Cluster headaches, while less common, are often described as the most severe, with intense burning or piercing pain behind the eyes.

Sinus headaches result from inflamed sinuses and are often accompanied by other symptoms like a runny nose and facial pressure. Migraines can last for hours or even days, often occurring monthly and accompanied by symptoms such as light sensitivity and nausea.

What is Mixed Headache Syndrome?

Mixed headache syndrome, also called transformed headache, combines symptoms of both migraine and tension headaches. This type can affect both adults and children, making diagnosis and treatment more complex.

Common Causes and Risk Factors for Headaches

Understanding what triggers headaches is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, headaches generally occur due to nerve signals sent from blood vessels and muscles in the head. Some common triggers include:

• Illnesses like sinus infections or colds
• Stress
• Eye or back strain
• Environmental factors (e.g., secondhand smoke, strong odors)
• Genetic predisposition
• Food allergies
• Hormonal imbalances
• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
• Artificial sweeteners like aspartame

The Power of Magnesium in Headache Relief

Magnesium stands out as one of the most effective natural remedies for headaches, particularly for its safety compared to over-the-counter painkillers. Research has shown that individuals who suffer from severe headaches, especially migraines, often have low magnesium levels.

How Does Magnesium Help with Headaches?

Magnesium plays a crucial role in numerous bodily functions, including nerve transmission and blood sugar control. For headache relief, magnesium works by:

• Relaxing blood vessels
• Reducing muscle tension
• Stabilizing nerve cells
• Balancing neurotransmitters

Studies have demonstrated that magnesium supplementation can decrease the frequency and intensity of headaches, particularly migraines. The recommended dosage typically ranges from 300 to 600 mg daily, but it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.

Essential Oils: Nature’s Headache Remedy

Essential oils have been used for centuries to alleviate various ailments, including headaches. Their natural properties can provide quick relief without the side effects associated with many medications.

Which Essential Oils Are Most Effective for Headaches?

Several essential oils have shown promise in treating headaches:

1. Peppermint oil: Known for its cooling effect and ability to improve blood flow
2. Lavender oil: Helps reduce stress and promote relaxation
3. Eucalyptus oil: Particularly effective for sinus headaches
4. Rosemary oil: May help reduce inflammation and improve circulation

To use essential oils for headache relief, you can dilute them with a carrier oil and apply to the temples, forehead, or back of the neck. Alternatively, you can use them in a diffuser for aromatherapy benefits.

The Role of Hydration in Preventing Headaches

Dehydration is a common yet often overlooked cause of headaches. When the body lacks sufficient water, blood volume decreases, reducing oxygen flow to the brain and causing blood vessels to dilate, leading to headache pain.

How Much Water Should You Drink to Prevent Headaches?

While individual needs vary, a general guideline is to drink at least 8 glasses (64 ounces) of water per day. However, factors such as climate, physical activity, and overall health may necessitate higher intake. Monitoring urine color is a simple way to gauge hydration levels – pale yellow indicates good hydration, while dark yellow suggests a need for more fluids.

In addition to water, consuming hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and leafy greens can contribute to overall fluid intake and help prevent dehydration-induced headaches.

Diet Modifications for Headache Prevention

What we eat plays a significant role in our overall health, including the frequency and severity of headaches. Certain foods and dietary habits can trigger headaches in susceptible individuals.

Which Foods Commonly Trigger Headaches?

While triggers can vary from person to person, some common culprits include:

• Processed foods high in preservatives
• Aged cheeses
• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Caffeine (both excess consumption and withdrawal)
• Foods containing MSG

Keeping a food diary can help identify personal triggers. Once identified, eliminating or reducing these foods from your diet may significantly decrease headache frequency.

What Should You Eat to Prevent Headaches?

A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods may help reduce the likelihood of headaches. Consider incorporating:

• Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts)
• Magnesium-rich foods (dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds)
• Ginger (known for its anti-inflammatory properties)
• Fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants

Additionally, maintaining stable blood sugar levels by eating regular, balanced meals can help prevent headaches triggered by hunger or blood sugar fluctuations.

The Impact of Stress on Headaches and Stress-Reduction Techniques

Stress is one of the most common triggers for tension headaches and can exacerbate other types of headaches as well. Chronic stress can lead to muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, which can contribute to headache pain.

How Can You Manage Stress to Reduce Headaches?

Implementing stress-reduction techniques can significantly decrease the frequency and severity of stress-induced headaches. Some effective methods include:

1. Mindfulness meditation: Regular practice can help reduce stress and tension.
2. Deep breathing exercises: These can activate the body’s relaxation response.
3. Progressive muscle relaxation: This technique involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups to release tension.
4. Regular exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins, natural pain-relievers that can help reduce stress and headache pain.
5. Adequate sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to help manage stress levels.

Incorporating these techniques into your daily routine can help manage stress levels and potentially reduce the occurrence of stress-related headaches.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

While many headaches can be managed with home remedies and lifestyle changes, certain symptoms may indicate a more serious condition that requires medical attention.

What Headache Symptoms Warrant Immediate Medical Care?

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Sudden, severe headache often described as the “worst headache of your life”
• Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, or vision changes
• Headache following a head injury
• Chronic headaches that worsen over time
• Headaches that wake you from sleep
• Headaches accompanied by weakness or numbness on one side of the body

These symptoms could indicate conditions such as meningitis, stroke, or other serious neurological issues that require immediate medical evaluation.

When Should You Consult a Doctor for Recurring Headaches?

If you experience frequent headaches that interfere with your daily life or don’t respond to over-the-counter treatments, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare provider. They can help determine the underlying cause of your headaches and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Additionally, if you find yourself using pain relievers more than two or three times a week for headaches, it’s important to seek medical advice. Overuse of pain medications can lead to rebound headaches, potentially worsening the overall condition.

Remember, while natural remedies can be effective for many types of headaches, persistent or severe headaches should always be evaluated by a medical professional to rule out any underlying health concerns.

Headache Remedies, Types and Causes

Evidence Based

This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information.

With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.

Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

March 24, 2023

Life can get pretty busy and stressful, and the “common” headache is sometimes overlooked or masked with a painkiller like aspirin (which, especially when overused, can sometimes cause more serious health issues). A headache is a good indicator that your body is missing something – maybe you need to take a breather, drink some water or change the way you eat. You may have a vitamin or nutrient deficiency or a food sensitivity that is causing this built-up tension.

Headaches can be triggered by stress, fatigue, allergies, eyestrain, poor posture, alcohol or drugs, low blood sugar, hormones, constipation and nutritional deficiencies. Your body is telling you that something needs to change, so begin to heed those signals. You may be wondering, how do you make a headache go away?

To find headache relief, use these 10 headache remedies, which include herbs, vitamins, posture correction, diet changes and more, to fight headaches in a natural and healthy way.

Types of Headaches

Although there are 150 different types of headaches, there are four types that are most common. The most common types are:

Tension

This is the most common type of headache among adults and teenagers. Tension headaches are also known as stress headaches, chronic daily headaches or chronic non-progressive headaches. Causing mild to moderate chronic pain, they come and go over time.

Cluster

These headaches are the most severe, but least common type. The pain is intense and can feel like a burning or piercing pain behind the eyes. Cluster headaches occur in groups over a period of time lasting from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. They may go away for months or years, but then come back.

Sinus

Inflamed sinuses can cause pain in your cheeks, forehead and bridge of your nose. Usually other sinus symptoms, such as a runny nose, fever, pressure in the ears and facial swelling, occur at the same time.

Migraine

Migraine headaches can last from a few hours to a few days and usually occur one or more times a month. People usually have other symptoms with migraines, including: sensitivity to light, noise or smells; nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and upset stomach or belly pain. A child experiencing a migraine headache may turn pale, feel dizzy, have blurry vision, a fever and an upset stomach.

Mixed Headache Syndrome

This type of headache is also known as a transformed headache and includes symptoms of both migraine and tension headaches. Adults and children may both experience mixed headaches.

Causes and Risk Factors

You may be wondering what causes headaches. In general, headaches occur due to a combination of nerve signals sent from the blood vessels and muscles in the head. What causes these signals to turn on is still unknown. Headache triggers can include:

• Illnesses such as sinus infections, colds, fever or throat infection.
• Stress
• Eyestrain or back strain
• Environmental causes such as secondhand tobacco smoke, smells from chemicals or perfumes
• Heredity as headaches tend to run in families, especially migraines
• Food allergies
• Hormone imbalance
• Vitamin or mineral imbalance
• Aspartame

Remedies

What can you do for a headache? Luckily there are several natural remedies that can show you how to make a headache go away fast without medicine. Try some of these natural ways to fight headaches.

1. Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the most successful headache remedies, first of all, because it’s much safer than taking a painkiller. People who suffer from serious headaches, like migraines, often have low levels of magnesium, and several studies suggest that magnesium may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks in people with low levels.

Those prone to low counts of magnesium include people with diabetes, heart disease, alcoholism as well as those on diuretics for blood pressure.

Magnesium may prevent the wave of brain signaling, called cortical spreading depression, which produces the visual and sensory changes that are common when experiencing a headache, especially a migraine. Magnesium can block the pain-transmitting chemicals in the brain, and it can improve platelet function, which will help your body react to injuries and prevent bleeding.

Taking 200–600 mg of magnesium a day can reduce the frequency of headache attacks. Both oral and intravenous magnesium are widely available, extremely safe and inexpensive. Magnesium can be used safely by women who are pregnant. The most frequent side effect of magnesium is diarrhea, but lowering your dose or taking it less often can eliminate that issue.

To increase your daily magnesium intake, eat more fiber. Dietary sources of magnesium include beans, whole grains, seeds, nuts and vegetables like broccoli, squash and leafy greens. Dairy products, meats, chocolate and coffee also include decent levels of magnesium.

2. Gluten-Free Diet

When people with gluten sensitivity eat foods containing gluten, it can lead to a headache. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, patients who have undiagnosed celiac disease and migraine headaches often see either complete resolution of migraine headaches, or a significant reduction in the frequency and strength of symptoms after giving up gluten.

You may not have celiac disease, but a gluten sensitivity that gives you a headache. If this is the case, you don’t have to cut out gluten completely — instead, try to cut back on your daily intake.

Start this headache remedy by going on a gluten-free diet for three weeks, then introduce foods containing gluten slowly. Pay attention to the way you feel when adding more gluten to your diet and find your happy balance. Listen to your body you will find out how much of a food group you can eat without triggering symptoms.

3. Peppermint and Lavender Essential Oil

The calming and numbing effects of both peppermint and lavender oils make them perfect tools for finding headache relief.

Peppermint oil generates a long-lasting cooling effect on the skin. Research shows that peppermint oil stimulates a significant increase in skin blood flow of the forehead, and it soothes muscle contractions. One study showed that peppermint oil, in combination with ethanol, reduced headache sensitivity.

Lavender oil is commonly used as a mood stabilizer and sedative. Research has shown that the use of lavender oil is a safe and effective treatment of migraine headaches. One study conducted in 2012 measured the results of inhaling lavender oil for 15 minutes. The 47 participants were asked to record the effects every half hour, for two hours. Out of 129 headache attacks, 92 responded to the lavender oil remedy.

Yes, essential oils for headaches make very effective remedies, so take advantage of their benefits by placing a few drops of peppermint or lavender oil into your hands and then rubbing the blend on your forehead, temples and back of neck. If the smell is too strong for you, or if the peppermint is too chilling, dilute it down by mixing the essential oils with almond, grapeseed or coconut oil. By adding coconut oil, you can take advantage of its own amazing health benefits — like balancing hormones, moisturizing skin and decreasing wrinkles.

4. Chiropractic Care and Posture

One of the best things about chiropractic care is that it’s a drug-free and surgery-free path to healing naturally. The chiropractor can reduce oxidative stress in the body. Several clinical trials indicate that spinal manipulation therapy may help treat headaches.

Chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation helps to alleviate the stress of your system. Studies suggest that chiropractic manipulation reduces tension and migraine headaches. The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College conducted a study involving 729 subjects, of whom 613 received chiropractic care and their outcomes ranged from good to excellent, indicating that it’s a positive and beneficial headache remedy.

5. Herbs Feverfew and Butterbur

Headaches can be relieved naturally through the use of tension-easing herbs.

The leaves of feverfew are used to make medicine. Research shows that consuming feverfew reduces the frequency of migraine headaches and headache symptoms, including pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and noise.

A systematic review, completed by The School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Science, U.K, compared the results of six studies. The results indicate that feverfew is effective in the prevention of migraine headaches and doesn’t pose any major safely concerns.

If you’re interested in trying this natural remedy, it’s easy to find and purchase feverfew products, which are typically made of dry feverfew leaves. Feverfew supplements are available fresh, freeze-dried or dried. Feverfew can be purchased as capsules, tablets or liquid extracts; the recommended dose for headache relief is 50–100 milligrams of feverfew extract.  

Butterbur is an herb that reduces the inflammatory effect of chemicals that trigger headaches, especially migraines. It also acts as a beta blocker, resulting in normal blood flow to the brain. Doses of at least 75 milligrams twice daily seem to be necessary for the best headache-reducing results. 

One study, done over a four-month period, showed that migraine attack frequency was reduced by 48 percent in participants who consumed 75 milligrams of butterbur twice a day. This research, done at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, measured a decrease in migraine attack frequency — suggesting that butterbur is an effective headache remedy and symptom reliever.

6. B-Complex Vitamins

Many B vitamins are involved in the formation of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which may be deficient in people who suffer from migraines. Sadly, millions of Americans are coming up short on one or more of the B vitamins and this is causing energy slumps, unhealthy blood cell and adrenal effects, foggy thinking and headache symptoms.

A B-complex vitamin includes a group of eight water-soluble vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid. Together, these vitamins improve brain cells, circulation, immune function and cardiovascular health. 

B vitamins are water-soluble, so an overdose is rare. If there is extra in your system, it will be flushed out through urine. A 2021 indicated that vitamin B2 may reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of migraines. In particular, 400 milligrams of vitamin B2 was given each day for three months in a row; it had a “significant effect on days, duration, frequency and pain score of migraine attacks.”

7. Stay Hydrated

The dehydrating effects of coffee, sugary drinks and alcohol can certainly leave us with a killer headache. Most Americans simply aren’t getting enough water, which in itself can relive headache pain and symptoms. This simple (and free) remedy will keep you feeling full, energized and headache-free.

You can also quench your thirst and stay hydrated with fruits and veggies — some even have a water content that’s over 90 percent. Try adding these nutritious fruits and veggies to your diet in order to stay hydrated throughout the day:

• Cucumbers
• Celery
• Radishes
• Green peppers
• Cabbage
• Zucchini
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Spinach
• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe
• Oranges

A study done at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery concluded that there is indeed a water-deprivation headache. The study noted that while water deprivation is common and recognized by the public, it was not described in medical literature. The research indicated that headaches from a lack of water include impaired concentration and irritability, too.

8. Detox Bath to Reduce Tension

A detox isn’t just for cleaning your body, but also for ridding your body of toxins that will make you sick and can be one of the best preventative headache remedies. To bring toxins to the surface of your skin, make the water as hot as you can tolerate; then, as you sit in the cooling water, the your body will release the toxins.

You can dress up your detox bath to boost its tension-reducing capabilities:

• Add a cup of baking soda to hot bath water. Baking soda kills bacteria, leaves your skin clean and smooth, and minimizes skin irritability — making it a handy and inexpensive product.
• Add essential oil to your bath water. The soothing, calming, invigorating and cooling qualities of these oils will release any pent-up tension that your body is holding on to, offering pain relief. Try lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, frankincense or sandalwood oil.
• Add two cups of apple cider vinegar to hot bath water. The ACV draws excess uric acid out of the body, and it provides joint pain, arthritis, gout and headache relief. ACV can also soothe sunburn, heal poison ivy, kill fungus and tone your skin — so there are some extra health benefits to this easy headache remedy.

9. Stretching and Moving

Staying in one position for an extended period of time, like sitting at your desk or computer, can lead to body tension and create headache symptoms.

Plus, let’s face it, many of us spend hours a day hunched over, such as peering at your smartphone. This position, with your head sticking out, puts an extra 20–30 pounds of pressure on your neck!

No wonder such a position leads to major tension headaches. An easy way to avoid this chain reaction is to take a break every 30-60 minutes — stretch and move your head and neck around in a circular motion. This will relieve the built up stress and can help in avoiding headaches.

Doing yoga is a great way to relieve built-up tension. Yoga clears your mind and loosens your muscles — it improves respiration, vitality and muscle strength, and it’s great for the circulatory system. If you feel a headache coming on, try a few yoga poses like the downward facing dog or child’s pose.

A 2012 study done by the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Finland measured the results of a stretching program for 60 women. The 12-month program resulted in a 69 percent decrease in headache frequency and symptom intensity. In addition to stretching, the results were even better when participants added muscle endurance and strength training exercises to their routines.

10. Reflexology

Perhaps massaging your toes could help eliminate your headache. Reflexology is an ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healing art in which certain points or zones of the feet are stimulated to encourage healing in corresponding parts of the body. Researchers still aren’t entirely sure just how reflexology works, yet it is indeed effective at treating a variety of conditions, including headaches.

You can try stimulating some headache-relieving reflexology points at home. There are four headache remedy pressure points on your feet and one on the hand that when stimulated can help give you some headache and migraine relief. First massage the area between your big toe and the second toe. If your headache is in your right temple, massage this point on your left foot and vice versa. To relieve a headache, you can also press the Tai Chong or Liver 3 point on the top of your foot. Again massage this point on the foot opposite to the side of your head where you feel pain. Or, massage both feet if you have pain on both sides of your head.

There is helpful another point near the outer edge of the top of the foot, located where the bones of the pinky toe and the second to last toe intersect. Press and hold this point for 30 to 60 seconds to relieve headaches that run through the side of the head to the forehead. Finally, you can also stimulate the tops of the big toes, under the toenail to the base of the toe, to relieve headache pain located in the face, such as in the sinuses. Do not stimulate these points if you are pregnant.

11. Acupuncture

Another holistic TCM remedy, acupuncture originated in China about 2,500 years ago and is used to treat a wide variety of diseases, including headaches and migraines. Acupuncture seeks to balance the body’s energy, or Qi, by stimulating specific points on the body.

One 2020 study looked at 15 systematic reviews and concluded that acupuncture was both a safe and effective therapy for migraine.

Similarly, dry needling is often used by healthcare providers to relieve symptoms in patients with certain types of headaches, including tension headaches, cervicogenic headache (which begins in the neck typically) and migraines. A 2021 meta-analysis examined how dry needling affected headache pain intensity and related disability. For patients with tension-type headaches, dry needling “provided significantly greater improvement in related disability in the short term.”

12. Rest

Particularly if you are struggling with migraines, resting or sitting in a darkened room can help relieve symptoms and it can be a basic headache treatment at home. Close your eyes and focus on relieving tension in your neck, back and shoulders.

13. Compress

When reaching for a compress, most people begin to wonder whether they should be using a hot or a cold compress. The answer: either could work for a headache. Many people with tension headaches prefer using a warm compress, while people with migraines often prefer cold. Whether migraine fighting or fending off a tension headache, either, however, could offer pain relief, so if you try one with no success, you can try the other.

Final Thoughts

• There are four common types of headaches: tension, cluster, sinus and migraine.
• Headaches may have a variety of causes, including illnesses, food or chemical allergies, back or neck strain, aspartame, heredity and hormone imbalance, among others.
• There are at least 13 natural remedies you can try to relieve headache symptoms, including magnesium supplementation, essential oils, reflexology, headache- and migraine-fighting foods, acupuncture, rest and a cayenne muscle rub.

How to Get Rid of Headaches: Try These 9 Tips for Relief

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From tension headaches to migraine attacks.

By Carly Vandergriendt

Medically reviewed by Lauren R. Natbony, MD

May 19, 2022

How to get rid of a headache fast.Westend61 / Getty Images

Ever been cruising through the week—grinding out work presentations like it’s your job (wait, it literally is), sweating your stress out at the gym, maintaining your friendships like a pro—when the pulsing pain of a headache brings your whole world to a screeching stop? Odds are the answer is yes. In the United States, a whopping 96% of people will experience a headache at some point in their lives, and if you have a vagina, you’re even more likely to have to deal with this pain in the head.¹

According to the World Health Organization, most people can expect to experience at least one headache per year, but not all headaches are created equal. Head pain can throb, stab, or squeeze. It can be constant or intermittent, ranging from barely noticeable to the worst pain of your life. And while the average tension headache clears up within four to six hours, migraine attacks—which are not just headaches—can drag on for up to 72 hours.²

Where does this pain actually come from? The weird thing is that there are actually no pain receptors—called nociceptors—in your brain tissue. So the sensation of pain occurs when nociceptors are activated in supporting brain structures (shout-out to blood vessels, muscle fibers, cranial and spinal nerves, and the brain’s outer membranes, known as the meninges.)¹

With that said, most headaches have more than one cause, with genetic and environmental factors contributing to differences in how individuals experience head pain. Let’s talk about what kinds of headaches to know and how to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Types of headaches | How to get rid of a headache fast | What to do when your headache won’t go away | How to prevent headaches and migraine attacks | When to see a doctor

What are the most common types of headaches?

The Third Edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-III) is a tool used by physicians to diagnose headaches. It sorts primary headache disorders—headaches that can’t be explained by a condition, illness, or injury—into these four categories:

• Tension-type headache (TTH): This is the most common type of headache, and typically only causes mild to moderate pain. They strike on both sides of the head and are described as a dull, pressing, or band-like tightening.²
• Migraine: Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause head pain that’s often described as throbbing and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch. Migraine attacks affect around 12% of people.³
• Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs): TACs are rarer than migraine and TTH. They include cluster headache, which causes excruciating pain near the eye or temple that intensifies within minutes and lasts up to three hours, according to an older study published in the journal Neurology.⁴
• Other primary headache disorders: While rare, other primary headache disorders include primary stabbing headache, which causes sudden, stabbing pain, and new daily persistent headache, which appears out of the blue, is daily and continuous, and lasts for more than three months.

Secondary headache disorders are also common, but they’re a symptom of other problems like altitude sickness, infection, or caffeine withdrawal. When it comes to secondary headaches, treating the underlying condition should help with headache relief.

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What to try first to get rid of a headache fast

The average headache won’t put you out of commission for hours on end. “It’s a mild-to-moderate headache that really does not limit you from any activity,” Rashmi Halker Singh, MD, a board-certified neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, tells SELF. “You probably don’t think twice about it. You’d probably never even think to see a doctor for it.”

These types of headaches don’t require much in the way of treatment. In fact, they often go away on their own without any intervention at all. With that said, if a mild-to-moderate headache is bothering you, simple at-home remedies and natural approaches can usually help, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Try one or more of the following:

Apply ice or heat.

If you’re used to sitting hunched over a computer all day, you may start to notice your shoulders creeping up as your stress levels rise. This muscle tension can trigger a—you guessed it—tension-type headache. So one way to combat the pain is to relieve that tension by applying a hot or cold compress to your head, neck, or shoulders. This may be enough to relieve both your muscle and head pain.

Drink water.

Whether you had one too many margaritas last night or you left your trusty water bottle at home (you know, the giant one with motivational phrases), dehydration can be a big player for headaches. Upping your water intake could be all it takes to ease your symptoms. It’s best to sip water at regular intervals throughout the day to stave off dehydration and the ugly headaches that follow.

Have a snack.

You don’t have to tell us twice [reaches for the trail mix], but eating a snack between meals—like fresh fruits, a handful of nuts, or vegetables with hummus—may help prevent or alleviate a headache. That’s because when your body has low blood sugar, meaning you don’t have enough glucose in the blood for energy, it can trigger a headache.

Take a break.

Remember that muscle tension we talked about? Stress is a major contributor to both muscle tension and headaches, and sometimes the best medicine is taking a step back. Try scheduling short breaks into your day to take a walk, look out the window, pet your dog, or grab a cup of coffee (as long as that isn’t a headache trigger for you).

Pause to stretch.

Don’t just take a break to stretch when a headache is already starting to creep in. It’s important to stretch throughout the day, especially if you work at a desk. If you’re not sure how to stretch, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a list of workplace stretches and exercises to get you started.

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What to do next if your headache won’t go away

Let’s say you’ve tried all the tips above to no avail—the headache is still pounding away. Now you might need some chemical help in the form of medication.

Grab an over-the-counter pain reliever.

When at-home treatments don’t alleviate a mild-to-moderate headache, taking an OTC pain reliever usually helps. For many common headaches, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the medication of choice. NSAIDs work to relieve common headaches by targeting chemicals associated with inflammation and pain. They include acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

But experts warn about taking too much OTC medication, which—paradoxically—can lead to a condition called medication overuse headache. Basically using too much of this type of medication too often can cause changes in your brain that lead to more headaches. “Ultimately, if someone does need to use an OTC pain reliever more than twice a week, getting started on preventive medicine to help reduce how often they have headaches is a good idea,” Dr. Halker Singh says.

Talk to your doctor about prescription medications.

Sometimes OTC treatments aren’t enough and, in that case, prescription medications are recommended. For tension-type headaches, your options will look a little different than if you’re struggling with migraine attacks.

“If someone has frequent TTH attacks, where it’s occurring on a weekly basis, sometimes low-dose antidepressant medications can actually be helpful,” Amaal Starling, MD, a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona, tells SELF. However, she says, “the vast majority of people with TTH don’t even go to the doctor with their symptoms because they’re so mild.”

Most people who see their family doctor for headaches are actually experiencing migraine attacks. That’s because, unlike a tension-type headache, migraine attacks are typically more painful and disruptive to your life—enough so that you’ll feel the need to seek medical attention. Thankfully, there are prescription options for migraine too.

“This is actually a very, very exciting time in the world of migraine,” Dr. Halker Singh says. “After decades of research, we finally have a better understanding as to why people have migraines and that has led to the development of drugs for the disease of migraine.”

Triptans—medications that calm nerves and block pain signals in the brain—can help right away with migraine attacks, as they are meant to be taken at the first sign of an attack to help reduce symptoms. They are available in several forms, including oral medications, nasal sprays, and injectables. For people who get a little barfy when they have head pain, nasal sprays and injectables may be a better option. Other prescription medications for acute migraine pain include dihydroergotamine, lasmiditan, and calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists (gepants), which can reduce head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound two hours after taking them. Daily preventative medications, such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants, can also be used to reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Try an at-home device for migraine attacks.

While this may sound a bit like science fiction, devices to treat migraine attacks are actually based on real science. Non-invasive, drug-free devices are a recent breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of migraine. Some are meant to be used for prevention and treatment, while others are only effective during a migraine attack.

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“The way that brain cells and neurons work is through electrochemical communication with each other,” Dr. Starling says. “When the electrochemical function is abnormal, as in migraine, we can adjust or normalize function by using chemical manipulation, which is medication, or electrical manipulation, which is devices.”

In essence, what these devices do is alter the electrical environment of our brain cells or our neurons to ease the symptoms of migraine, she says. Using one is simple, you’ll just put it on your head, arm, or neck (depending on the device), and an electrical impulse will be delivered. Most of these devices are prescription-only, so if you are interested in hearing more about how they work, and whether they might be a good fit for you, talk with your doctor.

Check out these behavioral therapies for migraine.

If medications or devices haven’t worked for you, or you’d like to try a more natural approach, you still have choices, like talk therapy and biofeedback. Though these aren’t likely to be a quick fix. “I encourage every single one of my patients to maximize all of the biobehavioral techniques that we can use to treat migraine along with medications or sometimes, if preferred, even before we try medications,” Dr. Starling says.

So what exactly does biobehavioral intervention mean? It basically refers to different types of therapy that help manage stress, which can be a pretty big trigger for headaches and migraine attacks. Dr. Starling, who coauthored a 2019 study on these therapies in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, says a few have shown some benefits for migraine.

For one, cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of talk therapy typically used for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, has been shown to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.⁵ Biofeedback is another type of therapy that allows a person to see measures of their bodily functions like temperature and heart rate (so that they can consciously calm themselves). This can reduce the “fight or flight response that happens when someone is exposed to pain from a migraine or other headache disorder,” Simy Parikh, MD, a board-certified neurologist and the director of the Advanced Headache Diagnosis and Management Program at the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia, tells SELF, which may help to ease symptoms sooner.

The thought is that these types of therapies help people by “retraining the brain,” Dr. Starling says, “which means it helps people to cope with the symptoms of migraine, but also may stop or prevent the symptoms from occurring as frequently and as severely as before. ”

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How to prevent headaches and migraine attacks

An easy way to remember migraine prevention techniques is through the mnemonic device SEEDS. Doctors use this tool regularly in their clinical practices (and it can also be useful for regular old headaches):

• Sleep: In general, you should try to sleep and wake at the same time each day, avoid screens before bedtime, and get out of bed when insomnia strikes.
• Eating: Eating a variety of healthy foods is recommended. When possible, avoid skipping meals, which may trigger headaches in some people.
• Exercise: Regular exercise—including between 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity three to five times per week—is an excellent way to prevent headaches.
• Diary: Monitoring your symptoms in a diary, calendar, or app can help you and your health care provider learn more, including how frequently headaches occur, how severe they are, and how often you take medication for them.
• Stress: Stress is a fact of life, but management techniques such as CBT, biofeedback, and relaxation can help to reduce how much it impacts you.

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Dr. Parikh specifies that the guidelines aren’t meant to be followed to the letter. “If someone skips a meal or they don’t get enough sleep, that’s okay,” she says. “The important thing is not to blame yourself for triggering a migraine.”

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When to see a doctor for headaches and migraine

If head pain ever gets in the way of your day-to-day life—even if it only strikes once a month—it’s helpful to see a doctor. With that said, there are a lot of factors that can get in the way of making that appointment.

Dr. Starling says people sometimes don’t want to see a doctor because previous treatments didn’t work for them. “Sometimes people stop engaging with health care professionals because they feel a little bit hopeless,” she says. Her plea to patients is: “Please reengage with health care professionals regarding your migraine disease because we have so many new options available.”

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Sources:

1. StatPearls, Acute Headache
2. StatPearls, Muscle Contraction Tension Headache
3. StatPearls, Migraine Headache
4. Neurology, Pearls & Oy-sters: Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias
5. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, SEEDS for Success: Lifestyle Management in Migraine

Related:

• How Migraine With Aura Can Affect Your Vision, Muscles, and Speech
• Why Are You Waking Up With a Headache Every Morning?
• Here’s What the Different Migraine Stages Really Feel Like

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

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Rapid headache tablets

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Headache is a frequent companion of various pathological processes in the human body and even banal overwork. It can have a different origin and significantly reduce the quality of human life. That is why in the home first aid kit, and just with you on the road or at work, there should be pills that help you quickly get rid of such an unpleasant symptom.

Mechanism of pain development

Pain syndrome is not an independent disease, but a manifestation of various processes in the human body. The main mechanism for the development of pain is irritation of pain receptors by inflammatory mediators. Inflammation, in turn, usually occurs as a response to tissue damage, exposure to an infectious agent, toxins and decay products. Prostaglandins, formed during cell damage and inflammation, cause tissue edema by increasing the permeability of the capillary walls and the release of plasma into the intercellular substance, as well as irritate sensitive nerve endings. These biological effects of prostaglandins are the basis for the appearance of pain. The inflammatory response is often accompanied by spasm (vasoconstriction due to an increase in the tone of the smooth muscles of the walls) of the arteries, which impairs blood flow and exacerbates discomfort. Knowing the mechanism of development (pathogenesis) of pain syndrome, the doctor can prescribe suitable pain medications fast acting .

Causes of headache

Since the appearance of pain is a manifestation of various processes in the human body, a significant number of different causes and provoking factors can lead to their occurrence, these include:

• Migraine is a neurological pathology characterized by attacks of intense headache and often of hereditary origin.
  High blood pressure and diseases of the arteries, leading to their spasm.
• Postponed head injuries (open or closed craniocerebral grass), after which the processes of regulation of the tone of the arterial and venous vessels of the meninges of the brain may be disturbed.
• Intoxication of the body – getting into the body from the outside (exogenous intake) or the formation inside (endogenous toxins) of various can lead to severe headaches, such toxins are nicotine, alcohol, infections in which pathogens produce toxins.
• Anatomical defects in the bones of the skull, leading to compression of the structures of the brain, which may be of congenital origin or be the result of trauma.
• Violation of the blood supply to the brain due to overstrain of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, neck and scalp with prolonged uncomfortable body position, psycho-emotional stress, mental work that requires increased concentration and speed of psychomotor reactions.
• Infections of the brain or its membranes – encephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis.
• The presence of volumetric formations of the brain (localized hemorrhage, purulent process in the form of an abscess, benign or malignant tumors).

Regardless of the type of provoking factors, in most cases the mechanism of pain development is associated with the formation of prostaglandins under the action of the cyclooxygenase enzyme, therefore, pathogenetic measures aimed at reducing its intensity include taking headache tablets .

The mechanism of action of painkillers

Modern painkillers drugs , belonging to the class of simple analgesics, affect the main mechanism for the development of pain – irritation of pain receptors by inflammatory mediators prostaglandins. It blocks the functional activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. A good remedy today must meet two main requirements – to effectively reduce the severity of the inflammatory reaction and to provide a quick analgesic effect. Headache tablets , which quickly relieve pain, are often a combination of active ingredients that can affect several mechanisms of pain pathogenesis and provide a rapid therapeutic effect. Next® is a combined analgesic drug that contains the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen and the non-narcotic centrally acting analgesic paracetamol. The action of the components complements each other – ibuprofen reduces inflammation and pain by blocking cyclooxygenase in the tissues, and paracetamol affects the pain centers in the brain. Therefore, this combination has a pronounced analgesic effect and helps quickly* cope with discomfort.

Achieving fast action

Anti-inflammatory and painkillers on the modern pharmaceutical market are available in various dosage forms – tablets, injections, suppositories, ointments and gels for external use. Injection administration of drugs allows you to quickly achieve a high concentration of active ingredients in the focus of inflammation, but their use is possible only in a medical institution or under the supervision of a medical worker. Ointments and gels are used mainly as part of the complex therapy of muscle and joint pain. Headache tablets usually have a fairly rapid analgesic effect, reaching a sufficient therapeutic concentration in the tissues, and do not usually require use under the supervision of a physician. Next® tablets are dispensed without a prescription due to the favorable safety profile of the active ingredients that make up their composition.

Features of the use of painkillers

Before self-administration of an over-the-counter drug, it is important to carefully read the instructions for the drug. Fast-acting headache tablets Next® is important to use correctly, taking into account some features:

• It is not recommended to exceed the single and daily doses specified in the instructions.
• The drug is not intended for the treatment of a disease accompanied by pain, because. it cannot eliminate the cause of the disease, it helps to reduce the severity of pain.
• Chronic and / or very intense headache, especially aggravated by the use of tablets, is the basis for contacting a doctor.
• It is not recommended to combine Next® with other analgesics, and should not be taken simultaneously with alcohol, as this will affect the safety of therapy.
• Before taking the drug, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications to its use indicated in the instructions, and the conditions in which the drug should be used with caution (in such cases, you should discuss the choice of painkiller with your doctor).

* According to the instructions for medical use of Next®

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Updated: 06/16/2023

Checked 900 03

Headache (GB) is suspected in over 40 pathologies of a different nature, and only a doctor can identify the cause. I won’t be able to get a universal drug. For a specific skin condition, there is a medication that can help you get rid of this symptom.

Causes of a headache

Pain can be short and light, and the praise of this drive can only be bad. As the head pain is protracted, it will help in Russia, the guilt in case of injury, or after infection, you need to be relieved of that serious rejoicing, and not just an illness.

When making a diagnosis of a doctor, a group of factors associated with these other pathologies.

Deyakі diagnosti vmagayut termіnovoї hospitalization, that, schob not to perish camp, more likely not to allow self-discipline and uncontrolled intake, for example, pills for headache. An analgesic drug is responsible for the indications of only a few drugs , which are likely to reveal pathology.

At the same time, the pain syndrome can be caused by meteoroids, problematic sleep, shakiness, occasional stressful situations and do not lead to illnesses.

How to feel a headache

There are different types: . The head beat is not pulsating, but pressing and squeezing. It is known to be pain-relieving drugs, especially analgesics.

In case of hyper-hypotension, a person suffers from a deadly, pressing or diffuse headache. At this time, preparations are taken in an individual order. In case of hypertension, hypotensive drugs are taken, in case of hypotension, ibuprofen and caffeine are taken as warehouses.

Main drug groups for headaches

Modern pharmacology promotes a great choice of drugs for headaches. Among the most effective, it seems so.

Analgesics

A group of medications for headache relief. The stench does not recognize the cause and cannot be accepted for a long time as a component of systemic healing. The effect sets in after 20 minutes after I receive it for about 8 years. Prior to analgesics, there are preparations that compensate for the low level of active components, such as:

• salicylic acid;
• pyrazolone;
• alkanoic acids;
• aniline and in.

Analgesics are contraindicated in children under 6 years of age, as well as in case of vaccinia and breastfeeding.

Antispasmodics

Drugs that relieve spasm (sounding of the lumen of blood vessels) and restore blood flow in tissues. They are accepted one-time, not suitable for a tribal victorious.

There are 2 groups of antispasmodics:

• myotropics to treat smooth muscle spasm;
• neurotropy, which block the transmission of nerve impulses and relax the smooth m’yazovu tissue.

Vessel-sounding problems

These actions increase the tone of the vessels and cause pain syndrome. A lot of preparations from this group are allowed only by prescription.

NPZP

Drugs to give an operational trial. Vіdrіznyayutsya vіraznіstі іkuvalnogo efektu.

Effective inexpensive medicines for headaches

Skin pharmacists have medicines that are allowed for one-time and non-trial use without stating the cause of unacceptable symptoms:

9 0019 Spazmalgon – combined analgesic, indications for intractable help. Usuvaє head bіl, burning and rozlablyuє smooth m’yazi.
• Citramon – a drug for relieving headaches at low levels, among the main ones: stress, colds, hangover syndrome. Nesumisny іz ethyl alcohol. Contraindications for problems with ICT. Dopomogaє in headache with hypertension.
• Paracetamol is a drug that can reduce fever, anti-anxiety and pain relief. For yoga efficiency, there is no need for alternatives.
• Ibuprofen is a fast-acting drug, indicated for the relief of inflammation and improvement in migraine and other types of headache. Peak effect is observed in 2 years after receiving. The drug improves the responsive safety profile. On dosing vplyvay vіk, vaga that heaviness to overcome the main ailment.
• Ketoprofen is a medicinal product that changes the headache and inflammation in case of illnesses of a different nature. The drug may have a long history of contraindications and side effects. Medications with ketoprofen as an active ingredient are available as capsules, tablets, gel, and injections. The purpose is to kill the drug, depending on the dosage and form of the drug for headache.
• Diclofenac – a warehouse from the NPZP group, which uses the lead stock. In case of malady due to medical treatment, the unacceptable symptom is more frequent and becomes chronic.

Analgin should not be included before the transfer of preparations for headache, shards for the rest of the remaining veins disrupt the processes of hematopoiesis and infection in rich countries of the world.

Contraindications before taking drugs for headaches

Drugs for headaches without contraindications before taking them. The very same confession should only be given to the doctor.

Painkillers for headache are contraindicated in a number of conditions:

• allergy;
• vagity;
• sickness of the heart of that vessel;
• hemophilic disorders;
• virazka and erosion of the mucosal intestinal tract;
• intolerance to components from the warehouse of drugs;
• respiratory disease and other

The use of any drug for headache should be taken with a doctor. So go ahead and take the maximum of goodness without bad health.

Buy medicines for headaches with delivery delivery and pickup. In our catalosis, there are only a few pharmacological agents, whose effectiveness and safety are documented.

The first time you make a purchase, make sure to check the warehouse and contraindications for drug protection – this information is provided in the instructions for the skin preparation.

Having made an online application, you will save for an hour, so pennies. The drug can be taken through the courier service, New mail, or from the nearest pharmacy to you.

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The site add.ua does not carry any negative feedback for possible negative reviews, which are blamed on the result of the bad news posted on the site.

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1. Actavis (Malta)

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3. Balkanpharma-Dupnitza (Bulgaria)

4. Bayer Bitterfeld (Nimechchina)

5. Bayer Consumer Care (Switzerland)

6. Bosnalijek (Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina)

7. Catalent Germany

8. Gedeon Richter

9. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK)

10. Helling (Nimechchina)

11. KRKA (Slovenia)

12. Kusum Healthcare (India)

13. 90 090 Lundbeck Export (Denmark)

14. Merckle (Nimechchina)

15. Mylan Lab. (France)

16. Polpharma (Poland)

17. Rafarm (Greece)

18. Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK)

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23. Vitamins BAT (Ukraine, Uman)

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25. Euro plus PE (Ukraine, Dnipro)

26. Healthy People TOV (Ukraine, Kharkiv)

27. 900 90 Zdorov’ya TOV (Ukraine, Kharkiv)

28. Ilan Pharm (Ukraine)

29. Kievmedpreparat VAT (Ukraine, Kiev)

30. Kyiv Vitamin Plant PAT (Ukraine, Kiev)

31. Kusum Pharm TOV (Ukraine, Kiev)

32. Lubnifarm BAT (Ukraine, Lubny)

33. Monfarm (Ukraine, Monastirishche)

34. Ternopharm TOV (Ukraine, Ternopil)

35. Farmak VAT (Ukraine, Kiev)

36. Pharma Start TOV (Ukraine, Kiev)

37. Pharmex Group TOV (Ukraine, Boryspil)

38. Fitopharm PAT (Ukraine) , Artemivsk)

39. Chervona Zirka VAT (Ukraine, Kharkiv)

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Admission prescription

Brand

1. Aminazine

2. Analgin

3. Andipal

4. Antimigren 90 003
5. Antipohmelin

6. Arlevert

7. Askofen

8. Aspirin

9 0019 Aster

9. Betagis

10. Betagistin

11. Betaserc

12. Validol

13. Vertinex

14. Vestibo

15. Vestinorm

9 I lan Pharm

16. Ibunorm

17. Lospirin

18. Maxhystin

19. Memoplant

20. Nalgezin

21. Neurobex

22. Nurofen

    9002 2

23. Paracetamol

24. Rizoptane

25. Solpadein

26. Spasmalgon

27. Tempalgin

28. Truxal

29. Farmadol

30. Phenibut

31. Cinnarizine

32. Citramon

33. Citropack

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9000 2 Series

1. Extra

2. Classic

3. Maxi

Designated

903 90

N/A

Pack Qty

1. 1

2. 2

3. 90 090 3

4. 6

5. 8

7. 12

8. 16

9. 20 019 30

10. 50

11. 56

12. 60

13. 80 90 003
14. 90

15. 100

16. 140

17. 150

Not found 9Aminazin 9 Andipal

18. Antimigraine

19. Arlevert

20. Askofen

21. Aspirin 9 0003
22. Betagistin

23. Betagis

24. Betaserc

25. Validol

26. Vertinex

27. Vestibo

28. Vestinorm

29. 9 0090 Gliaton

30. Denigma

31. Drotaverin

32. Elptan

33. Zonic 90 003
34. Ibunorm

35. Ibuprofen

36. Cofan

37. Lospirin

38. Maxhystin

39. Memoplant

40. Metamizole sodium

41. 9 0090 Nalgesin

42. Neurobex

43. Nurofen

44. Paracetamol

45. Pentased

46. Piaron

47. Rapimig

48. Rimigren

49. Rizoptane

50. Solpadein

51. Solpalgin

52. Spasmalgon

53. Stopmigren

54. Stugeron

55. Tempalgin

56. Farmadol

900 19 Cynarizine

57. Citramon

58. Citropack

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