Headaches

[jenepherre]

So... I have an awful, horrible, really bad headache. I get them pretty regularly. And I feel like rambling about it. Don't know why. LOL

I couldn't tell if this headache this morning was vascular - like a migraine (Common migraine is a disorder involving recurrent headaches, which may be accompanied by symptoms other than headache but which rarely include a preliminary warning (called an aura).) - or inflammatory/muscular - like a tension headache (A tension headache is a condition involving pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas.) Actually, looking at all the headache descriptions on Yahoo Health, I know now that it's probably a mixed tension migraine (A headache with features of both tension headache and migraine headache.) So I guess I did the right thing, 'cause I took medicine for both kinds. LOL

Now, I'm not clueless about medicine. I was a pharmacy technician for 10 years, and in addition to my formal training, I picked up a fairly extensive knowledge of pharmacology over the years.

So, here's a quickie review of OTC (over-the-counter or non-prescription) analgesics (pain relievers).

Aspirin - I personally avoid it, because it bothers my stomach. It's an anti-inflammatory, meaning it's good for pain caused by swelling or muscle strain. But it can definitely irritate the stomach lining, so people prone to ulcers should probably avoid it or talk to their doctor first.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) - a good general analgesic. Mechanism of action isn't known, but it's not specifically an anti-inflammatory, so I use it for general, nonspecific pain. Doesn't bother the stomach the way aspirin can, but regular, prolonged use can cause liver damage.

NSAIDs - Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. This includes ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ketoprofen (Orudis KT). Similar side effects as aspirin, and similar benefits as far as pain is concerned. I find them less irritating on my stomach, so I use these for inflammatory pain (I prefer naproxen sodium myself). Inflammatory pain can include menstrual cramps, muscle cramps, tension headaches, arthritis, etc.

So what I took this morning was Aspirin-Free Excedrin and Aleve. In most cases, you wouldn't take two kinds of analgesics at the same time, but the headache was that bad, and I couldn't tell if it was a migraine or a tension headache. Like I said above, I'm pretty sure it was actually a combination of the two.

Aspirin-Free Excedrin is acetaminophen plus caffeine. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor - it constricts or tightens the blood vessels. So it's good for migraines because part of what causes them is a dilation of the blood vessels. (Specifically: Migraines occur when blood vessels of the head and neck spasm or constrict, which decreases blood flow to the brain. Minutes to hours later, the blood vessels dilate (enlarge), resulting in a severe headache. Inflammation around the blood vessels also occurs in some cases.) So caffeine and Tylenol are a good combo for migraines. If you can tolerate aspirin, the regular Excedrin is probably even better, since it addresses the inflammatory type of pain too.

DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN AND A NSAID TOGETHER! Since they work in similar ways and have similar side effects, taking both would be akin to taking a double dose of one or the other. Just don't do it.

To the best of my knowledge, acetaminophen and aspirin OR acetaminophen and a NSAID can be taken together. Or if necessary, alternate them. If one only seems to last a couple of hours, take the other when the first seems to wear off. For example: 8am: Tylenol 10am: Motrin 12noon: Tylenol 2pm: Motrin Etc. Not that I recommend anything like that for any extended period of time. If you're in that much pain you should see your doctor.

Actually...

BIG FUCKING DISCLAIMER: I'm not a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. I just play one in my LJ sometimes. Take everything above with a grain of salt - it's just based on my personal experiences and knowledge I've picked up over the years. Even though I graduated from a pharmacy tech program, I'm not licensed to dispense medical advice. I just like to ramble about it. K? Okay.

I'm going back to bed now. Later!

Comments

[larissa-j.livejournal.com]

You're going to think I'm insane for mentioning this, but you should really put a heating pad at your feet and either ice or IcyHot on your forehead (or wherever the pain is) The heating/pad ice combo is an ER trick I've learned. The IcyHot I discovered accidentally (just don't get it in your eyes - ow!)

A really hot bath with ice on your forehead works wonders also.

I think the idea is that the ice causes vasoconstriction while the hot bath and heating pads cause vasodialation and draw blood away from the area causing pain.

I suffer from frequent migraines that result in lovely ER visits - I've tried just about everything - these three things work best for me. They help the medications work better.

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks for the tip! Using heat and cold for vasodilation and vasoconstriction makes total sense, but I never would have thought of it that way. I'll definitely have to try that, especially since it's non-systemic and wouldn't have side effects like the drugs. Unless you get IcyHot in your eyes, apparently. LOL

Thank you *so* much, seriously. I'm trying that next time. Luckily I'm feeling better now, but I *know* there'll be a next time, you know?

[phibetafunkay.livejournal.com]

How'd I miss this post?

I hope your feeling better. *snugs*

[phibetafunkay.livejournal.com]

Goddamnit - I swear I know how to write.

That should be you're. *sigh*