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Article Series: Headache Causes, Treatments & Relief
Help, My Headache Is Killing Me!
Headache
Relief - Common Drugs & Medication Used
For
those who suffer from chronic headaches it may be a long
road in trying to find what may be the cause. Even coming
to understand what triggers may be involved may take a great
deal of time and effort. And though every effort may be made
to head off a headache naturally, it still may not be enough.
So the relief that can come from prescription medication
is often welcomed.
For tension and stress head pain over-the-counter drugs such
as ibuprofen and acetaminophen have proven helpful. These may
help with sinus headaches as well, if and when treatment for
any sinus infection is underway but the pain has not immediately
subsided.
Migraines are severe headaches that usually require extra
strength help. Some milder migraines may respond to acetaminophen,
ibuprofen, or acetylsalicylic acid. But more often than not
the addition of codeine or meperidine is included. Some drugs
use a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. And
if these do not do the trick a doctor may prescribe a stronger
version of a similar combination. However there can be serious
side effects if these are taken over a long period of time
with the appearance of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
And often there is the problem of rebound headaches that are
a result of taking too much of the prescribed medicine. Sometimes
this is in anticipation of a headache rather than actually
experiencing the pain. The body gets used to the dosage
and then responds by producing an even worse headache. After this,
the only way to get past it is to stop taking the medication
or at least reduce it. Understandably, this is not easy to
do but a doctor may be able to guide you safely through it.
One of the premiere types of drugs used in treating migraines
are called Triptans. They have proven effective in reducing
the collective of symptoms of migraines such as the nausea
or sensitivity to light in addition to the pain. One of the
more commonly known is the drug Imitrex. With strong medication
come strong side effects and it is a wise course to discuss
all this with your doctor to understand the pros and cons of
considering this treatment.
Ergots are a type of drug that have a long history in the
fight against migraines and while proven helpful they do not
appear to be as effective as the Triptan group. And because
there are some individuals that are unable to tolerate either
of these - doctors will sometimes prescribe something from
the group of opiates - such as codeine as an alternative option.
Another approach to dealing with severe headaches such as
migraines is the use of preventative medication that may not
eliminate them but do a great deal in reducing the frequency
and duration of the headache. Because many of these types of
drugs are used in treating other serious ailments and are quite
strong, they can carry with them harmful side effects. So a
thoughtful consideration of all your best options is needed.
As well, it is vital to follow all proper procedures as recommended
by your health care provider. #
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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