It's tempting to pop a pill every time you get a headache. However, over-the-counter analgesics (pain killers) such as acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibrupofen, while being effective treatments for headaches, do not necessarily cure the cause of your headache.
Chronic Migraine Headaches
Dependency on these drugs can cause rebound headaches (medication-overuse headaches) for those people seeking headache cures who take the medicine more than 2 or 3 times per week, especially if the person takes the maximum dosage. This is because the body tends to develop a tolerance to the medicine and at the same time the medicine may actually stall your body's own natural pain-fighting mechanisms.
OTC (over-the-counter) medications in general, have potential side effects, and when taken frequently can increase the risk of sometimes serious or life-threatening side effects. For instance, acetaminophen, which is used for treatment of headaches when combined with codeine, can actually cause liver damage if taken in large doses or in cases of concomitant use with alcohol. Considering all this, alternative headache cures may seem more sensible.
For those that prefer to take medicines because of the convinience, here are some examples of headache cures that are obtainable over-the-counter or with a prescription :
- acetaminophen, Tylenol and Others
- acetylsalicylic acid, Aspirin, Ecotrin
- amitriptyline. Elavil, Endep
- Analgesics, Antipyretics
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- gabapentin, Neurontin
- ibuprofen, Medipren, Nuprin, Advil, PediaCare Fever
- naproxen, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, Aleve
- nortriptyline, Pamelor, Aventyl
- propranolol, Inderal, Inderal LA
- sumatriptan, Imitrex
- valproic acid, divalproex, Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon
- zolmitriptan, Zomig
For the purpose of this article, we will concentrate on the headache cures that affect most people.
Tension Headache Cures
A broad range of analgesics, acetaminophen being a good example, are available over-the-counter for the treatment of tension-type headaches. However, for reasons described earlier, you may want to consider stress management techniques including systematic relaxation (which can be done at home), biofeedback and congnitive-behavioral therapy. These techniques help you to identify the causes of your stress and give you ideas on how to better manage your life.
Cluster Headache Cures
Prednisone a corticosteroid that occurs naturally in the body is normally prescribed as the initial treatment but sometimes you may be started on a calcium channel blocker. The two most effective acute medications prescribed for cluster headaches are injectable sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen.
Migraine Headache Cures
Tripans are drugs specifically developed and designed to cure or relieve migraine attacks.
The are alternative headache cures or remedies you may want to consider that have been proven to work and the good thing is none of these have side effects. Lemons or limes with salt and pepper, apples or apple cider vinegar, flowers of henna, cinnamon, coconut oil, herbs such as rosemary and marjoram, cayenne pepper, garlic, gatorade, h202 inhalation therapy, an indian oil called navaratna oil, raw potatoes, vinegar steam and a vinegar soaked scarf and acupressure can all be used as a substitute for over-the-counter medications to help with your headache cures.
The above information thankfully comes from theheadacheinfosite.com at the following link.