Taking an ibuprofen/tylenol when having a headache?

Mellouk89
Mellouk89 Posts: 469 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I often have headaches at least a couple of times a week and almost one severe migraine per month. But when I ask most people in my entourage they say they don't take any pills when they do have headaches, it seems I am the exception as I always take 3 advil pills at the minimum.

What are postitive and negatives for taking medication for headaches and for the people who don't use them, do you just tolerate the pain for potentially hours?
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Replies

  • yweight2020
    yweight2020 Posts: 591 Member
    edited August 2021
    I use them because I've had headaches since I was a pre teen and I'm 51 now. Good for them, their headaches must not be that bad I guess (not being mean but some people don't understand unless they experience it) but I've had some bad enough (migraines) that sent me to the ER crying so I'm not going to make myself suffer and these pain relievers are what all the doctors recommend and they work 99 percent of the time for me. When I went to the ER once it had been a couple hours and the meds hadn't worked until they gave me more Tylenol and I finally had relief, but sometimes people need stronger meds for these headaches, hopefully you don't.

    I sometimes try and wait a headache out without taking pills by laying down if I can, my life is generally to busy to do so especially if it's day time, but if it last to long for me I have to medicate. I also use ibuprofen or any over the counter med that says migraine relief and some of those include caffeine.

    I'm not sure of the negatives. You can Google them or read the packaging they come in. But the positives is feeling better and being able to get through my day and do my job and take care of family who can't take care of themselves.

    I would also pay attention to your dietary to make sure it's not a food, drink or salt causing your headaches or your blood pressure, have you seen your doctor regarding these headaches?

    Hope you feel better and find what works for you.🙃🤗🤕
  • Mellouk89
    Mellouk89 Posts: 469 Member
    edited August 2021
    I've also had chronic headaches since childhood, it may be hereditary or something. For some reasons Ibuprofen works very well for me but not Tylenol, I notice Tylenol doesn't do anything for me.

    Why I don't wait until it goes away is because often times it gets worse, i'd say most of the time. So as soon as I feel like a headache is coming I take some advils. Because sometimes it can be a migraine.

    Seeing a doctor right now is very difficult, because of Covid waiting times are extremely long and it may not even be possible to see my family doctor for months.

  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,997 Member
    edited August 2021
    I am fortunate and rarely get headaches.
    My body is an utter train wreck in almost every other department. 😂

    If we (my partner or myself) do happen to get a headache we go through a kind of checklist.
    1) Have we caffeinated?
    2) Drink a big glass of water.
    3) Have we eaten? Especially a bit of protein?
    4) Try a hot shower on the neck.
    5) Nap if possible.

    If we still have a headache after that checklist, then we take a Tylenol or aspirin or maybe ibuprofen, and assume we’re ill. Because by that point, if nothing else worked, we probably are.

    Having headaches that often isn’t typical.
    Do they start in the morning? And do you snore? Even a little bit? Because headaches can be a sign of sleep apnea. Which can be helped with a CPAP.
  • Mellouk89
    Mellouk89 Posts: 469 Member
    edited August 2021
    MargaretYakoda wrote: »

    Having headaches that often isn’t typical.
    Do they start in the morning? And do you snore? Even a little bit? Because headaches can be a sign of sleep apnea. Which can be helped with a CPAP.

    I had a headache last night, and for absolutely no reason. It was sunday, the least stressful day of the week. I had a slight headache and the thought of having a headache made it a lot worse :D .

    I did hear about advils causing chronic headaches, I will try that. I did it at one time and it worked.
    I think next time I have a headache i'll try to resolve it another way.

    But I also think i'm prone to headaches, maybe genetic reasons.
  • Mellouk89
    Mellouk89 Posts: 469 Member
    edited August 2021
    glassyo wrote: »
    Is there an advice nurse you can talk to?

    Yes my aunt is a retired nurse, she's one of the very few people I know who take medication for headaches, or pretty much anything :D .
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    As others have said, I am wary of them losing their efficacy over time, so when I do take them, I start at small doses and only increase if I have to. Acetaminophen only works to take the edge off - if I'm really ill with a fever, I'll take it in between doses of ibuprofen so I can make it until it's time for the next dose.

    I have taken higher than the labeled maximum dose on the bottle for a few days post childbirth for labor afterpains - but it's the recommended dose by my midwife and is safe for that amount of time. And then I definitely need every milligram!
  • jennypapage
    jennypapage Posts: 489 Member
    i take meds only when i really can't handle the pain because i know they lose their effectiveness if you use them often and then you need more and more. I get migraines every now and then,and take one paracetamol pill of 500mg before i go to bed if it occurs in the evening,cause otherwise i will wake up in the middle of the night still in pain.Paracetamol is the lightest type of pill one can take and it's pretty much the only thing i've used my entire life for headaches,fevers, or period pains.
  • Skyler103
    Skyler103 Posts: 121 Member
    I also take imitrex for migraines. It's a miracle drug and has changed my life! I used to have debilitating headaches, usually once a month associated with hormones.
  • lx1x
    lx1x Posts: 38,330 Member
    Excedrin migraine..

    I get nauseated when I get headaches.🤢
  • truGAINS
    truGAINS Posts: 656 Member
    Goody's powder
  • age_is_just_a_number
    age_is_just_a_number Posts: 631 Member
    When I get a headache, I take an Advil or a Tylenol. I find they help.
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,084 Member
    I get barometric pressure related migraines (tracked them for quite some time until I found the pattern/trend). I find if I take some Tylenol as soon as it starts, I can at least keep the pain and nausea at bay or tolerable (light sensitivity and generally feeling like poo still seems to happen). It is enough to at least allow me to keep on working or get through my day.

    Since I often can't tell early on if it's going to be a migraine or "just" a headache, I tend to take Tylenol regardless. Thankfully I'm not particularly prone to regular headaches, so I can often go weeks without ever taking anything.
  • Megan_smartiepants1970
    Megan_smartiepants1970 Posts: 43,567 Member
    I too have headaches/migraines ...In fact I have been dealing with them for the past 3 weeks .. I take Bayer and sleep ...
  • yweight2020
    yweight2020 Posts: 591 Member
    edited August 2021
    Mellouk89 wrote: »
    I've also had chronic headaches since childhood, it may be hereditary or something. For some reasons Ibuprofen works very well for me but not Tylenol, I notice Tylenol doesn't do anything for me.

    Why I don't wait until it goes away is because often times it gets worse, i'd say most of the time. So as soon as I feel like a headache is coming I take some advils. Because sometimes it can be a migraine.

    Seeing a doctor right now is very difficult, because of Covid waiting times are extremely long and it may not even be possible to see my family doctor for months.

    Oh I understand, I really shoulda said what I meant was a phone or video appointment with the doctor, because alot of them are doing that if not an advice nurse. That's most of my care and for my mom video or phone for quiet a while now. Some doctors are seeing their patients just depends on the circumstances.

    And per my headaches/migraines I don't have them like I used to I can go weeks or even a few months without one, but when it comes it feels like something trying to kill me. Thats why the last one sent me to the ER in tears, yours are happening so often you should at least speak with a medical professional over the phone.

    Best of care.
  • yweight2020
    yweight2020 Posts: 591 Member
    edited August 2021
    MargaretYakoda wrote: »
    I am fortunate and rarely get headaches.
    My body is an utter train wreck in almost every other department. 😂

    If we (my partner or myself) do happen to get a headache we go through a kind of checklist.
    1) Have we caffeinated?
    2) Drink a big glass of water.
    3) Have we eaten? Especially a bit of protein?
    4) Try a hot shower on the neck.
    5) Nap if possible.

    If we still have a headache after that checklist, then we take a Tylenol or aspirin or maybe ibuprofen, and assume we’re ill. Because by that point, if nothing else worked, we probably are.

    Having headaches that often isn’t typical.
    Do they start in the morning? And do you snore? Even a little bit? Because headaches can be a sign of sleep apnea. Which can be helped with a CPAP.

    I like this check list and advice about maybe sleep apnea, who knew. Thanks for sharing.
  • Redordeadhead
    Redordeadhead Posts: 1,188 Member
    Hollis100 wrote: »
    I'm very prone to headaches. I get them with changes in the weather, when I suddenly stop drinking coffee, or when I get dehydrated.

    FYI, about Advil. Years ago, I would get frequent severe headaches and treat them with Advil and/or aspirin. The headaches grew worse to the point where I would get them every week. I went to specialists to try to find out why -- I even had an MRI to see if I had a brain tumor (I didn't). The doctors couldn't tell me anything. Finally, I read the back of the Advil bottle. It said do not take longer than 2 weeks. I stopped all over the counter meds, had a giant headache -- and then all the headaches went away.

    Google "rebound headaches." If you are headache prone, and regularly take over the counter meds, your body can become addicted to the med, and then get a headache when the med wears off, so you take another med to treat it and get into a terrible cycle.

    No normal healthy person should have headaches all the time. Continue to look into the why. Good luck.

    I went to a migraine clinic a couple of years ago. Like you, I would get periodic migraines, which are unbearable and for which I need to take something stronger, but would also regularly get less severe headaches. I used to take normal painkillers for those but they advised me not to because the pain medication over a long period of time can actually result in rebound headaches. Now I save it for migraine only.
  • vanmep
    vanmep Posts: 410 Member
    I used to get severe migraines. The doctor’s advice at the time was to take pain medication at the first sign of a headache as “it is easier to kill a baby than an adult”. 😳🧐. Not sure how I felt about my doctor using that analogy lol but the advice was spot on.
  • tracybear86
    tracybear86 Posts: 163 Member
    vanmep wrote: »
    I used to get severe migraines. The doctor’s advice at the time was to take pain medication at the first sign of a headache as “it is easier to kill a baby than an adult”. 😳🧐. Not sure how I felt about my doctor using that analogy lol but the advice was spot on.

    I received the same advice from my neurologist sans the analogy. I have found I have fewer severe migraines going this route.

    OP - Also look into possibly adding a magnesium supplement. My migraines have improved significantly since I started taking one daily. Could be coincidence but it is easy and less side effects than pain relievers.
  • wunderkindking
    wunderkindking Posts: 1,615 Member
    edited August 2021
    I take tylenol. I do not take any nsaid's. I (accidentally!) gave myself a nice case of asprin poisoning once. I know not all nsaids are the same, but... I'm averse now.
  • leonadixon
    leonadixon Posts: 479 Member
    Taking too much of either can cause rebound headaches. You may want to look that up. I get chronic migraines. Before it was diagnosed, I was taking a lot of Tylenol that caused rebound headache. I had to stop all pain meds for a long while. It's no fun! You may want to see a neurologist about preventative medications.
  • OnceAndFutureAthlete
    OnceAndFutureAthlete Posts: 192 Member
    Hello. I feel your pain - literally! And I also found Advil to be the best. Also scratching my scalp for some reason!

    I used to get regular, last for a few days, sometimes morph into migraines, headaches. Years ago, I went to the doctor and he said "reduce stress." lol, like I wouldn't have already if I could!

    I did figure out that it was no one thing but some combination of things that would put me over some brain threshold and trigger a bad headache. Those things were:
    1. Dehydration
    2. Going off my caffeine schedule
    3. TOM/Hormones
    4. Not getting enough sleep
    5. Stress!

    If any 3 of these things were going on at once, BAM!
    Once I figured out this "formula" it really helped me modify my life and/or take action when I felt one coming on, and they've become so much rarer.

    Your trigger elements may be different - food allergies? medications? any of the other things mentioned here.
    I'd just advocate: 1. not worrying about what your friends say about taking OTC meds, and 2. think about this compound cause thing like I had and see if that matches in any way for you. Again, your list may be completely different but the theory might still hold.

    Best of luck to you.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    edited August 2021
    I have no problem taking medication when I need it. I found out though food/chemical sensitivity MRT testing that I'm sensitive to acetaminophen, so I haven't tried it since then and stick to NSAID'S (not sure how accurate it is, but still).

    Having said that, as someone who has tinges of headaches, muscles aches and pains frequently, I don't take them at every ache and pain. The only time I take something right away is one I feel a migraine coming on, as those are almost always preceded by visual aura. I often try other things first and to determine what the root of the problem is. In my case it's almost always neck/shoulder tension, so I try to do some self- trigger point release or massage first. I've also discovered that I'm sensitive to caffeine. I haven't given it up completely, but have definitely cut back to find my "happy" amount, which amounts to one small iced coffee or homemade cold- brew per day. I've found that even a tall Starbucks cold brew had too much caffeine for me now, hen I used to drink a grande plus whatever coffee I had already had in the morning. I've also discovered that I get more headaches and aches in general before TOM, so that's when I may be more likely to take something for it.
  • Mellouk89
    Mellouk89 Posts: 469 Member
    I went to bed with a slight headache last night and woke up with the same pain, it eventually went away as I resisted the temptation of taking an ibuprofen.

    From now on unless I have a migraine i'm not taking any medication.
  • viajera99
    viajera99 Posts: 252 Member
    Anecdotally, I've known quite a few migraineurs who swear by Excedrin Migraine, which is tylenol, aspirin, and caffeine. The warnings about the risk of rebound headaches with regular use still apply, but for occasional use it might be worth seeing if you're a responder.

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