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Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. If you endure occasional tension headaches , you may wonder which medication to reach for at the onset of an attack. The most common options, acetaminophen brand name Tylenol and ibuprofen brand names Advil and Motrin , work differently to relieve pain.
Here's what you should know before treating your headache. Typically, people with tension headache self-treat with over-the-counter medications and other non-medical therapies such as sleep, exercise, water, and caffeine.
People tend to go to a healthcare provider's clinic only when their headache is resistant to these therapies or when they experience other symptoms in addition to their headache, such as visual changes from an aura which suggests a migraine , not a tension headache.
Classic examples of over-the-counter medications for tension-type headaches are:. Whether you reach for acetaminophen or ibuprofen, either will most likely work, although research suggests ibuprofen may be more effective.
In an older study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology , over individuals with tension headache were randomized to receive either mg ibuprofen, 1, mg of Tylenol, or placebo. Results showed both were more effective than placebo in alleviating headache, with ibuprofen most effective. That being said, other studies have found no difference between Tylenol and NSAIDs in alleviating tension headache pain. A review study in Pain found both Tylenol 1, mg dose and ibuprofen mg dose to be better than placebo at easing moderate to severe tension headaches using the parameter of being pain-free two hours after taking the medication.
Neither was found to be more effective than the other. The study also found that the number of people needing to take either Tylenol or ibuprofen to obtain headache relief at two hours was nearly nine for both. This is rather high and means that there are still a lot of people who are not getting proper relief. In addition to medication effectiveness, it's critical to consider the potential adverse effects of each medication.
Acetaminophen, while generally well-tolerated, may cause liver failure in high doses. Be aware that many over-the-counter cold and flu medications contain acetaminophen. Check the label of all the medications you take to ensure you don't exceed the maximum recommended daily limit. As an NSAID , ibuprofen should be avoided by some people, since it may cause peptic ulcer disease and bleeding, kidney failure, and worsening of underlying high blood pressure.
Moreover, NSAIDs increase a person's risk of adverse cardiovascular effects, like a heart attack or stroke, when they are taken frequently in the presence of other risk factors for stroke or coronary artery disease. People with a history of asthma should also be cautious about taking NSAIDs, since they may trigger airway inflammation. Furthermore, in pregnancy, acetaminophen is generally the preferred choice for a tension headache, although be sure to confirm with your healthcare provider or obstetrician.
In terms of dosage, a mg or mg dose of ibuprofen is typical. If you take naproxen sodium Aleve , a typical single dose is mg or mg. Of course, it's important to always speak with your healthcare provider before taking a medication, including those that are over-the-counter, to make sure it is safe for you. If you have frequent or chronic tension headaches, it's not good to regularly take analgesics for pain control. This can actually backfire and cause a medication-overuse headache , which can be difficult to distinguish from your regular tension headaches.
For some people, starting off with a combination of analgesic and caffeine may even be better for easing an episodic tension-type headache than a simple analgesic like Tylenol or ibuprofen. That said, you may experience more side effects, such as an stomach upset or dizziness although these are generally mild and short-lived.
Migraine symptoms include throbbing localized pain, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, nausea and vomiting. Roughly one-third of migraine sufferers can predict an oncoming migraine from a visual disturbance known as an "aura. If you think you're experiencing migraines talk to your doctor because this type of headache requires medical oversight. A cluster headache is considered the most severe type of headache. Cluster headaches occur in "cluster periods" ranging from every other day to 8 times a day, and can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours.
Pain associated with a cluster headache feels like a stabbing pain behind or around the eye, usually on one side. Other symptoms of a cluster headache include nasal congestion, tearing, a running nose, facial and forehead swelling, constriction of pupils and eyelid swelling.
Cluster headaches are most common in those who smoke or drink. If you think you're experiencing cluster headaches talk to your doctor, because this type of headache requires medical oversight. Your first name and last initial will be displayed publicly to other users when you write a review or blog post ex. Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site.
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