Using Over the Counter Medication to Treat Migraines
When most of us feel the beginnings of a headache or migraine, we turn to over the counter pain relievers like Advil, Aleve, and Tylenol. Most people consider over-the-counter pain medications to be a safe, effective, inexpensive treatment for pain – with few side effects. This is true for people who only experience infrequent migraines.
In fact, for people who experience headaches and migraines infrequently, over-the-counter medications may in fact be the best choice. Why is this? Over-the-counter pain medications are typically relatively inexpensive, available at the local pharmacy, and do not require a visit to the doctor or an expensive prescription. Over-the-counter pain medications are also able to relive mild to moderate levels of pain without immediate side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or impaired functioning. Lastly, while OTC medications are somewhat habit forming in that if used too frequently (one can develop headaches and other withdrawal symptoms when discontinued) there is not risk of serious physical addiction unlike with other migraine medications.
Despite the advantages described above, OTC pain killers are not going to work for every headache and migraine sufferer. Why is this? Pain killers simply mask one symptom of a migraine attack – headache, and even then sometimes not effectively. Migraine attacks are not merely headache but rather a neurological condition that causes the blood vessels in the brain and upper body to become swollen and irritated. During an attack, pain is one symptom of many including nausea, dizziness, and light sensitivity. Over-the-counter pain medications will simply not be effective across a wide spectrum of symptoms.
The fact that over-the-counter pills do not always treat moderate to severe headaches and migraines can actually lead to many sufferers taking more medication than recommended when symptom improvement is not felt. Despite the wide accessibility of OTC medications, when taken in large doses, these medications can actually be fatal. Every year, many people accidentally overdose on acetaminophen (Tylenol), not knowing that large doses can cause liver failure. The best way to avoid this problem is to always follow manufacturer instructions and if in doubt, do not take a follow up dose.
Lana Howard is a life long migraine sufferer. Lana currently lives in Seattle, Washington where she enjoys researching the latest headache and migraine treatments. For more great information on migraines medication visit Real Headache Help for more information and don’t forget to sign up for their free headache and migraine treatment mini-course!
Article Source: EzineArticles
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