Take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning…..

Not every one that gets a headache needs to run to the doctor. There can be many things you can do at home. Sometimes the best thing to do is just sleep. It could take anywhere from a few hours nap to a good night’s rest. If that is not a possibility, hot or cold rags can help as well. The preference for hot or cold really depends on the person and I usually encourage patients to try both. Peppermint oil applied to the temples can sometimes provide relief.

When simple behavioral methods are not enough to thwart that headache, there are multiple adequate over the counter therapies that can be used. Typically, it is best to start with an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. These tend to provide more complete relief with headaches because inflammation is part of the chemicals that cause a headache. However, there are some people who find that acetaminophen works better for them. This also can help if you have a sensitive stomach as that can be a reason not to tolerate anti-inflammatory meds. Another option for teenagers and up, Excedrin can work even better. It is actually just a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. This cocktail can provide more complete relief than any of the components alone.

You should be careful not to take any over the counter medication more than four times a week or this can lead to a rebound headache. This develops over several weeks to months of use so you don’t need to be worried if you have a bad week. It is still important to take medicine as early as possible in hopes to provide relief.

So, while a headache specialist is always here to help, we are also happy when you don’t need us!!