Treating Headaches:
No Appointment Necessary

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, May 28 and September 17, 2006
Show 314

Headaches are probably the number-one reason kids do not go to school and adults stay home from work. Patients are always asking for the latest and greatest over-the-counter medications for their headaches. But before your pharmacist can tell you that, they need to know the type and cause of your headache. Different medications work better for different kinds of headaches and other symptoms. For example, acetaminophen like Tylenol can be used for headaches, but it also works great to lower fever. Ibuprofen like Motrin, or Advil, or Naproxen like Aleve are effective anti-inflammatories. They work great for headaches and also for muscle strains, joint aches and other pains. Aspirin is also effective for headaches, but you need to be careful when you use it because it's a blood thinner. And it could interact with other medications you take. When choosing a medication for your headaches, tell your pharmacist what other medications you are on to help prevent an adverse reaction. If your headache lasts more than 15 days, it may be a chronic condition, so see your doctor.