Headache medicine that quickly gets rid of diat

Taking drugs is one way to deal with headaches that keep attacking. Most headache medications you can buy at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. However, the type of pain reliever you use may differ from others, depending on the cause of the headache and what other symptoms are present. Certain types of headaches may also require more specific medication from a doctor. Here's the list.

A list of headache relievers that can be purchased at a pharmacy

There are many drug options for relieving headaches. However, quoted from the Mayo Clinic, it is important that you first identify what causes and signs and symptoms of the headaches you are experiencing before choosing the medicine.

Please also note, not all OTC drugs (on-the-counter / non-prescription over-the-counter drugs) at the pharmacy can relieve all cases of headaches. Sometimes, headaches due to certain medical conditions or those that have been going on for a long time need different treatment. But in general, here are the most effective drugs and are often used to relieve headaches:

1. Aspirin

Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that contains salicylates to relieve mild to moderate headaches. Usually, this drug is used to treat tension headaches (tension headache) and migraines.

This drug works by blocking the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), which forms the hormone prostaglandin, a hormone that helps send pain signals to the brain and triggers inflammation. By taking aspirin, prostaglandin levels can be reduced in the body and the pain is relieved.

This headache medicine is usually available in tablet form that you can buy at a pharmacy with or without a doctor's prescription. Regarding the dosage, adults can take aspirin for headache relief as much as 300-600 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours. However, avoid taking this drug more than twice a week because it can cause recurring headaches (rebound headache).

2. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is also an NSAID class of drugs that block the action of the enzyme cyclooxygenase to form prostaglandins to trigger pain. Ibuprofen is generally used to treat tension headache and migraines.

The recommended dose of ibuprofen for headache relief in adults is 200-400 milligrams three times a day. Meanwhile, the dosage for children is determined based on the child's age and weight. Ask your child's doctor further about the use and dosage of ibuprofen as a headache medicine in children.

Ibuprofen headache medication is available in generic or brand-name form that can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies, with or without a doctor's prescription. This type of drug can also be used with aspirin and naproxen or analgesic drugs, such as celecoxib and diclofenac to relieve pain.

However, do not use ibuprofen to treat headaches in pregnant women or who are planning a pregnancy. The reason is, ibuprofen has the potential to affect fetal development. For more details, ask your doctor about headache medications that are safe for pregnant women.

3.Acetaminophen (paracetamol)

Acetaminophen is a class of analgesic drugs that are effective in relieving mild to moderate headaches, and are available in pharmacies without having to include a prescription from a doctor. Acetaminophen has another name, namely paracetamol.

The recommended dosage for use of acetaminophen for adults varies, depending on the preparation of the drug you are taking and your body weight. But in general, the dose of paracetamol tablets for headache relief in adults is 1-2 tablets per 500 mg taken every 4-6 hours.

This drug is thought to work better than ibuprofen in treating it tension headache and migraines. A study published in The Journal of Head and Face Pain states that acetaminophen may work better with migraines when used together with aspirin and caffeine.

4. Indomethacin

Similar to ibuprofen and aspirin, indomethacin is also classified as an NSAID class of drugs. Indomethacin can be an option for treatment cluster headache, although it requires high doses for its effectiveness.

In addition, this drug can also help treat chronic headaches, headaches related to stress or during activity, and prevent and treat severe migraine attacks.

However, in contrast to the three drugs above, indomethacin is a headache medicine that you can buy at a pharmacy with a prescription from your doctor. The dosage will be determined by the doctor based on the cause and severity of the symptoms.

5. Sumatriptan

Sumatriptan is a class drug selective serotonin receptor agonists which can only be purchased by prescription from a doctor. These drugs work by constricting blood vessels to stop pain signals being sent to the brain and block the release of natural substances that trigger pain, nausea, and other pain symptoms.

This drug is most effective at stopping a migraine in the minutes when the initial symptoms begin, but cluster headaches can also be treated with sumatriptan. If your migraine symptoms improve and return after two hours of using sumatriptan, you may take a second dose as long as you get permission from your doctor.

However, if symptoms do not improve even after taking sumatriptan, do not use this drug again without your doctor's permission. Always follow the doctor's instructions regarding its use. The reason is, if sumatriptan is consumed in excess, which is more than 10 days a month, your headaches can get worse or may occur more frequently.

6. Naproxen

Naproxen is another drug in the NSAID class that is used to relieve pain. This drug is often used as a reliever for mild to moderate headaches, especially types tension headache and migraines.

Even though it has the same way of working with other classes of NSAIDs, naproxen is classified as less effective for relieving headaches. Therefore, it is often used in conjunction with other drugs. However, just like aspirin and ibuprofen, naproxen can also be purchased over the counter at pharmacies, although doctors can also prescribe this drug for certain conditions.

7. Ketorolac

Ketorolac (Toradol) is an NSAID class drug that is useful for treating moderate to severe headaches, including migraines and tension headache . This drug is claimed to have a relatively fast action on the body with a duration of about six hours.

This type of drug is available in two forms, namely injection (injection) and oral. Ketorolac injection is said to be more effective than oral, therefore the injection form is often used for patients in emergency rooms who experience severe headaches. Oral ketorolac is usually used for outpatients, but only for a short term, which is about five days.

Although relatively fast, ketorolac can also cause various side effects, such as nausea and stomach and stomach disorders. In the long term, this drug is also at risk of causing kidney damage.

8. Zolmitriptan

Zolmitriptan can be used to treat migraine headaches because it helps relieve nausea, eye sensitivity to light, and other migraine symptoms. However, this doctor's prescription drug will only treat headaches that have recently occurred and cannot prevent headaches from occurring or reduce the number of attacks.

The way it works is by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain and reducing the production of inflammatory substances in the body. As with sumatriptan, if symptoms improve after taking this drug and the attack returns after 2 hours, you can take the tablets again. However, if symptoms do not improve after taking this drug, do not take it again without your doctor's permission.

Please also note, zolmitriptan should not be used if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke, or problems that cause blood circulation in the body. Consult with your doctor for the right type of drug.

Other types of drugs to prevent headache attacks

In addition to medications to relieve headaches, you may need to take some medications to prevent future attacks of pain. The administration of this drug can also be different depending on the type experienced and the condition of each patient. Here are some types of these drugs:

• Blood pressure medications, such as beta blockers (metoprolol or propranolol) and calcium channel blockers (verapamil), especially for migraines and cluster headache chronic.
• Antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) to prevent migraines and tension headache, and other types of antidepressants, such as venlafaxine and mirtazapine to prevent attacks tension headache.
• Anticonvulsant medications, such as valproate and topiramate to reduce the number of migraine attacks and prevent tension and cluster headaches.
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone to prevent cluster headache attacks, especially if your headache period has just started or has had periods of intense pain and long remission.

Some other medicines to prevent headache attacks may be given by the doctor according to your condition. Make sure you always tell about the symptoms you are experiencing, how long they last, and what factors may be causing them, to get the right type of treatment.