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Headache is familiar to almost every adult, at least once in a lifetime we encounter it with colds or flu, after stress or overwork, against the background of certain diseases, head injuries or other health problems. It is important to emphasize that a headache is not a disease, but a symptom, a sign of ill health, breakdowns in the body or work at the limit, overwork.
It is important to determine – why did the headache develop? By eliminating the true cause, this extremely unpleasant symptom can also be removed. But in some cases, help is needed right now, otherwise a headache can deprive you of sleep and rest. But which headache pills to choose, which is better – combined drugs or a drug with one active ingredient? Let’s figure it out together.
best headache pills
When contacting a pharmacy with requests for something for a headache, a pharmacist can offer more than 40 types of drugs. But how to choose the best headache pills from them that will help and will not give any side effects when they are used?
First, you need to take into account the severity of pain and its duration, as well as age and existing health problems. For example, the well-known Aspirin will help eliminate a headache, but it is strictly prohibited for ulcers.
Most headache medicines, with the exception of migraine medicines and strong drugs with narcotic or psychotropic ingredients, are available without a prescription. But with all the variety of drugs, a universal pill that would help everyone and always does not exist.
The fact is that as a symptom, a headache can occur with at least two dozen completely different pathologies and diseases. Therefore, if the head hurts often and severely, the first thing to do is to contact a therapist or neurologist. The doctor will determine the cause of the pain and select the most optimal ways to eliminate it, the safest pills.
Top 10 rating according to KP
1. Pentalgin
Available in the form of tablets, gel for external use, available without a prescription. Refers to the combined means. It contains caffeine (a psychostimulant), drotaverine (an antispasmodic), paracetamol, which belongs to the group of analgesics and antipyretics, naproxen (NSAIDs) and an antihistamine component, pheniramine. Due to this composition, the drug relieves many types of headaches and its other types, including against the background of a cold, allergies, stress or a hangover. Due to caffeine in the composition, the effect of other active substances on pain receptors and smooth muscles in the vessels is enhanced.
Important! Due to pheniramine in the composition, it has a sedative effect, you should not take the drug when driving a car and during work related to concentration. Caution should be taken by people with high blood pressure, with angle-closure glaucoma. It should not be taken simultaneously with drugs containing paracetamol or various NSAIDs, especially in the presence of erosive gastritis or exacerbation of peptic ulcer. The drug is incompatible with alcohol!
2. Next
Combined drug, available in the form of tablets, capsules, gel for topical use. Released without a prescription. The active ingredients are paracetamol and ibuprofen (refers to NSAIDs). The combined action of the two components helps to relieve mild and moderate headaches during colds, in the initial stages of migraine, during exacerbation of somatic diseases, against a hangover or during stress, overwork, cervical osteochondrosis. The drugs complement and reinforce each other’s action.
Important! While taking Next, you should not take drugs with paracetamol or other NSAIDs – toxic effects on the liver and gastric mucosa will increase. It is forbidden to take together with anticoagulant drugs (Aspirin or similar). It is undesirable to use the medicine for more than 5 – 7 days in a row, it can affect blood counts.
It is recommended to take after meals with plenty of water. Next is incompatible with alcohol, affects the ability to drive a car. While taking the drug, you should not drive.
3. Nurofen (intensive, express and forte)
A drug from the group of NSAIDs, the active substance is ibuprofen. Depending on the form of release, it has a different concentration of the drug. Available in the form of syrup, capsules or tablets, available without a prescription. The drug has a pronounced antipyretic and moderate analgesic effect. It is especially good for headaches due to colds, flu, microbial infections, inflammatory processes, osteochondrosis, stress, overwork, spasms.
Important! It is worth taking the medicine in a short course, strictly according to indications, especially for people with ulcerative lesions of the stomach and intestines. The drug is dangerous for people with renal and hepatic insufficiency, prone to bleeding. May lead to swelling and increased pressure.
Incompatible with alcohol! When taking Nurofen, lethargy, dizziness, a feeling of “fog” in the head are possible, which affects the reaction rate. Therefore, when taking the drug, you should not drive.
4. Friend
The drug from the group of NSAIDs, the active substance is nimesulide, is available in the form of powders, tablets, gel for external use. Pharmacies may require a prescription for powders or tablets. It has a pronounced analgesic effect, is used for moderate headache with colds, spasms, osteochondrosis, chronic diseases.
Important! It has an irritating effect on mucous membranes, it is taken in a short course, strictly after meals and with a large amount of liquid. Prohibited for gastric ulcer and erosive gastritis, bleeding tendency, kidney problems. Incompatible with alcohol, enhances toxic effects on the liver. During treatment, Nise should not drive, pain and drugs to eliminate it have an inhibitory effect on the nervous system.
5. Citramon
Combined preparation: the composition includes paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid (NSAIDs) and caffeine. A well-known and time-tested drug that is not suitable for everyone. It is released without a prescription, it is possible to release it in the form of tablets or capsules. It has an antipyretic and analgesic effect, relieves headaches with a hangover, colds, osteochondrosis, and stress.
Important! Strongly irritates the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, it is not acceptable for people with acute gastritis and ulcers. It is not recommended for people with increased bleeding, liver and kidney damage, you should not take it together with other painkillers or cold medicines. May cause excitation due to caffeine content, not recommended for people with high blood pressure and tachycardia.
Incompatible with alcohol! When taking the drug, it is recommended to avoid driving a car and activities that require concentration.
6. Ibuprofen
The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen relieves pain, reduces inflammation and acts as an antipyretic. Effective for migraine and headache that occurs against the background of a cold fever.
Like other headache pills, ibuprofen has a symptomatic effect, but does not treat the cause of the disease. Allowed for children from 6 years old. During lactation, the drug can be used with caution, strictly observing the dosage.
The drug is not used in the presence of allergies to acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs. Like Aspirin, Ibuprofen is contraindicated in people with erosions, stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
7. No-shpa
No-shpa is presented in pharmacies in the form of tablets and a solution for intravenous and intramuscular administration. This antispasmodic contains drotaverine hydrochloride and works effectively for spasmodic headaches.
It is a remedy for the adjunctive treatment of headache in adults and children over 6 years of age. During pregnancy, it is used under medical supervision. Due to the lack of safety and efficacy studies during lactation, No-Shpu is not used.
It is forbidden to use the drug for persons with hepatic, renal and heart failure. Contains lactose, and therefore taking No-Shpa can lead to gastrointestinal upset in people with lactose intolerance.
8. Migrenol
Migrenol is a non-narcotic analgesic and a psychostimulant at the same time. Contains paracetamol and caffeine. Helps in the fight against migraine and moderate pain syndrome. Available in the form of tablets for patients over 12 years of age.
The drug is contraindicated in pregnancy, lactation and severe liver failure. During use, tea and coffee should be minimized, due to the risk of developing an overdose of caffeine and do not drink alcohol. In case of use for more than a week, it is necessary to control blood counts.
9. Excedrin
Triple action drug to relieve migraine symptoms. Contains aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine. It is available in tablet form and is rapidly absorbed, providing an immediate analgesic effect.
Due to its antipyretic properties, it can be used for the symptomatic treatment of an acute viral disease, if it is accompanied by a rise in temperature. Without consulting a doctor for migraine, the drug should not be used for longer than 3 days. Contraindications are the same for all drugs containing aspirin and paracetamol. Use in pregnancy has not been studied and is therefore not recommended.
10. Spasmalgon
Spasmoanalgesic with metamizole, pitofenone and fenpiverinium bromide in the composition. This is a non-narcotic pain reliever to eliminate pain of various origins.
Approved for use in children over 6 years of age as prescribed by a doctor. During pregnancy, lactation, severe disorders of the liver, kidneys and heart, intestinal obstruction and glaucoma is contraindicated.
How to choose headache pills
When choosing headache pills, you should be guided by the most likely cause of an unpleasant symptom. Among all the groups that are used for headaches, the following can be distinguished:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (often abbreviated to NSAIDs). They help relieve pain from colds, flu, various inflammatory processes, somatic diseases, and tension headaches. In part, they can help with migraines.
Antispasmodics – This is a group of drugs that relax smooth muscles, including those in the walls of blood vessels. They will help with headaches associated with pressure, muscle pain, pain with fatigue.
Analgesics – These are drugs that suppress the perception of pain from various receptors located in organs and tissues. Basically, they contain metamizole sodium or the well-known Analgin, which has a lot of side effects and contraindications for taking. These funds should be used only in case of emergency, when there are no pharmacies nearby and the choice of safer drugs.
Antimigraine drugs – These are medicines to eliminate migraines, a special type of headache, they are used by prescription and the field of diagnosis. These include triptans and beta-blockers, some antidepressants. With a normal headache, do not drink them!
Combined funds – they usually combine NSAIDs, antispasmodic drugs, sometimes with the addition of sedative components or caffeine.
Ideally, one should choose drugs with a single component or combination drugs based on NSAIDs. You should not choose drugs with analgin (especially if your head hurts often and you take drugs more than 1-2 times a month).
Popular questions and answers
We asked neurologist of the highest category Evgeny Mosin about headache and the choice of drugs for it.
● what is the nature of the pain (acute, stabbing, pressing, burning, indefinite);
● where it hurts the most (whiskey, forehead, back of the head, all over the head);
● how long the headache lasts (in minutes or hours, days);
● what factors provoke it (fatigue, lack of sleep, stress, light, sounds, smells);
● what pain is accompanied by (dizziness, nausea, weakness, vomiting).
Based on these data, we make a diagnosis, prescribe additional examinations to exclude various serious causes of pain – tumors, vascular pathologies, metabolic disorders.
Sharp pain is possible in case of malnutrition of the brain, if there is vasospasm or cervical osteochondrosis.
The pulsating nature of the pain is possible with glaucoma, otitis media, or problems with the heart and blood vessels. Similar pains on one side of the skull are migraines.
Dull and prolonged pain in the head, in which vomiting occurs, is possible with meningitis, tuberculosis, and degenerative lesions of the nervous system.
Most often, we encounter tension headaches. It is provoked by bad habits, stress, constant lack of sleep, dependence on the weather. In women, it is possible before menstruation, in men – with overwork.
If the condition worsens sharply, there is loss of consciousness, dizziness, hypertension, or repeated vomiting, pain in the neck or back, call an ambulance immediately.
Any medications have side effects and contraindications. Our rating is an overview and is not a guide to action. Before buying drugs, consult your doctor.