The best pills for headaches - Neurology and neurosurgery

Every person experiences headaches from time to time. It is associated with various external factors and goes away quickly without taking pills. 15% of people suffer from frequent, severe headaches. Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital conduct their examination using modern instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods.

For headaches, people prescribe analgin, no-shpu, askofen, citramon. They relieve pain, but do not affect the cause of the pain. After determining the cause of the headache, doctors at the neurology clinic carry out complex therapy. Rehabilitation specialists use innovative non-drug treatments.

Professors and doctors of the highest category discuss complex cases at a meeting of the Expert Council. Leading specialists in the field of headache treatment collectively develop further tactics for patient management. Patients have the opportunity to undergo complex examinations and treatment at partner clinics of the Yusupov Hospital.

Top 9 drugs for headaches depending on its cause.

June 1, 2021
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Content

Why does my head hurt?
Groups of drugs for headaches
Analgesics
Antispasmodics
Vasoconstrictor drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The most effective pills for headaches
Aspirin
Paracetamol
Citramon
Tempalgin
Pentalgin
Spazgan
Nurofen
No-Shpa

There is probably not a single person who has not experienced a headache at least once in his life. Moreover, this also applies to absolutely healthy people. Headache varies in severity, often impairing quality of life and reducing performance. Therefore, there are head pills in every home medicine cabinet.

But you need to understand that there is no universal remedy for headaches, because there are about 40 causes that cause them. And only a doctor can determine exactly why you have a headache. If you need to quickly relieve pain, we suggest you at least figure out which headache medication you need to take in a particular case.

Read also How to treat migraine: the best drugs Top 5 best drugs against migraine

Antispasmodics for headaches

A common cause of headaches is cerebral vasospasm. In this case, myotropic antispasmodics help relieve headaches:

No-shpa (drotaverine);
dibazole;
papaverine;
revalgin;
dexalgin.

Neurotropic antispasmodics block the transmission of nerve impulses to smooth muscles, causing spasmodic vessels to dilate. Neurotropic vasodilators include:

buscopan;
scopolamine;
aprofen;
ganglefen;
hyoscine;
ganglefen;
Arpenal.

Does spasmalgon help with headaches? The drug has a pronounced antispasmodic effect and eliminates headaches caused by vasospasm. Baralgin helps many patients against headaches. Mydocalm can help with headaches if the cause of the pain is muscle spasm.

Panadol belongs to the group of non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It relieves headaches thanks to the analgesic effect of the main active agent - paracetamol. The drug is effective for headaches caused by fever.

Why does my head hurt?

The characteristics of headaches can vary in intensity, location, nature of pain, duration, etc. Among the causes of headaches

such:

osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or cerebral vascular spasms;
migraine, vascular problems, otitis media, glaucoma and other problems can be suspected by a throbbing headache;
if the headache lasts for a long time, meningitis, encephalitis, tuberculosis and serious damage to the nervous system are possible.

Regarding the location of the headache,

then it is also different for each problem:

forehead and eyebrow area: migraine, some eye diseases, inflammation of the sinuses, pneumonia;
occipital region: neuralgia of the occipital nerve, spasm of the muscles of the head and neck, osteochondrosis, hypertension;
forehead and temples: sinusitis, pneumonia, sore throat, flu, increased intracranial pressure;
parietal region: migraine, muscle spasms of the head and neck, tumor processes.

In addition to various diseases, headaches can be caused by weather dependence, stressful situations, lack of sleep, and bad habits. In women, headaches often depend on the menstrual cycle. Men usually have headaches due to overwork, childhood headaches are associated with ARVI, and in old age headaches are caused by problems with the heart and blood vessels.

In any case, uncontrolled use of medications is unacceptable for headaches. If you have frequent headaches, be sure to consult a doctor and get tested to determine the cause.

Rating of the best tablets for headaches from the analgesics series

If the pain is very severe, and blood pressure increases or decreases, and NSAIDs and antispasmodics do not help reduce it, the doctor may prescribe analgesics. These are the most popular ones.

#1	#2	#3
Sedalgin	Analgin	Optalgin

Sedalgin Its composition is the same as Analgin, but enhanced with caffeine and thiamine. These tablets have an analgesic and tonic effect.

Thanks to its composition, it is effective for headaches accompanying vegetative-vascular dystonia, caused by weather dependence, lack of sleep or stress. Sedalgin can help if pain is caused by pinched nerve endings of the spine and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

pros

Versatility.
Fast action.
Reasonable price.

Minuses

A fairly extensive list of contraindications: pregnancy, glaucoma, high intraocular and intracranial pressure.
The drug affects the nervous system, so it should not be taken before going to bed.

Analgin is a traditional and very popular remedy that quickly eliminates even very severe headaches. The active substance of this medication is metamizole sodium.

The drug can be used in tablet form, or as intramuscular or intravenous injections.

pros

Availability.
Proven and proven effectiveness over the years.
Possibility of choosing the drug in different forms.

Minuses

With large doses and a long course of treatment, it can provoke the development of agranulocytosis.
Not for children and pregnant women.

Optalgin A combined action drug used for pain of various etiologies, infections, and feverish conditions. The active component of the drug is dipyrone.

pros

Fast and long lasting action.
Helps relieve not only pain, but also fever from a cold or flu.
In case of urgent need, the drug can be administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

Minuses

If the dosage is incorrect, agranulocytosis may develop.
There is no exact data on the effect of the drug on pregnancy and fetal development.
Allergic reactions are possible.

Baralgin This is the same analgin, but enhanced with substances such as fenpiverinium bromide and pitofenone hydrochloride. Thanks to the unique formula and dosage of the active components, the maximum concentration in the blood is achieved very quickly, pain relief occurs in a short time and lasts for a long time.

This medication successfully fights headaches of all types, accompanying a variety of diseases, inflammatory processes, and blood pressure disorders.

pros

Quickly relieves even very severe pain.
The effect lasts for a long time.
Can be administered intramuscularly in the form of a solution.

Minuses

Do not use for more than three days in a row.
Has a number of side effects.
Not for children and pregnant women.

Minalgin A good alternative to Analgin as a more modern and safer version of a traditional pain reliever. The active ingredient is the same, the dosage and formula have been slightly changed, so the medicine can be used in pediatrics.

Available in the form of a white crystalline powder, tablets or solution for injection.

pros

It is quickly absorbed in the stomach and enters the blood.
Effectively relieves pain of any nature.
At the same time eliminates the symptoms of fever.
Available without a prescription at a relatively low cost.

Minuses

Affects hematopoiesis.
Not recommended for long-term treatment.
May cause allergies.

Aspirin

The active ingredient in Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. We are sure that this drug is in every home medicine cabinet. “Aspirin” can be taken for inflammatory diseases, problems with cerebral circulation, hangover syndrome, to thin the blood (as a prevention of thrombosis). Aspirin is often prescribed in the complex treatment of vascular diseases. Contraindications include bleeding disorders, stomach and intestinal ulcers, etc.

Aspirin

Bayer Schering Pharma (Bayer), Germany

The drug Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Action of NSAIDs

The therapeutic properties of the drugs are achieved by reducing the production of prostaglandin and blocking COX-2 (cyclooxygenase enzyme). These remedies fight the symptoms of the disease, but do not affect its causes. Therefore, additional therapy is needed that eliminates the root cause of the pathology.

NSAIDs are often used for pain relief for:

inflammatory diseases,
rheumatism,
degenerative changes in organs and tissues.

They are also used for migraines and other non-rheumatic diseases and injuries.

Paracetamol

This remedy is suitable for eliminating headaches of various etiologies and is well tolerated by the body. Paracetamol is an affordable and at the same time very effective antipyretic. An antipyretic drug for children, Panadol, is produced based on paracetamol. Paracetamol for headaches can be taken once, or up to four times a day. The duration of treatment should not exceed five days to prevent overdose.

Paracetamol MS

Medisorb, Russia

Paracetamol is used for: relieving moderate or mild pain (headache, toothache, migraine, sore throat, neuralgia, myalgia);
reducing elevated body temperature during colds and other infectious and inflammatory diseases. Paracetamol is intended for symptomatic therapy, reducing pain and inflammation at the time of use, does not affect the progression of the disease. from 4

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Sources:

Scripter C. Headache: Tension-Type Headache. FP Essent. 2018 Oct;473:17-20. PMID: 30346680.
Espí-López GV, Zurriaga-Llorens R, Monzani L, Falla D. The effect of manipulation plus massage therapy versus massage therapy alone in people with tension-type headache. A randomized controlled clinical trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2021 Oct;52(5):606-617. Epub 2021 Mar 18. PMID: 26989818.
Marks DR, Rapoport AM. Practical evaluation and diagnosis of headache. Semin Neurol. 1997;17(4):307-12. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1040943. PMID: 9474710.
MacGregor E.A. Contraception and headache. Headache. 2013 Feb;53(2):247-76. doi: 10.1111/head.12035. PMID: 23432442.
Allais G, Gabellari IC, De Lorenzo C, Mana O, Benedetto C. Oral contraceptives in migraine. Expert Rev Neurother. 2009 Mar;9(3):381-93. doi: 10.1586/14737175.9.3.381. PMID: 19271947.
Friedman DI. Headache and the eye. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2008 Aug;12(4):296-304. doi:10.1007/s11916-008-0050-1. PMID: 18625108.

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Citramon

Citramon is one of the most frequently purchased and affordable headache medications. Take it if the headache is not severe (against the background of elevated temperature or inflammatory processes). "Citramon" improves vascular tone and stimulates blood circulation. These headache tablets contain caffeine, aspirin and paracetamol, that is, Citramon has a complex effect. But you should not take this drug for a long time so that “side effects” do not develop. The daily dose is a maximum of 8 tablets (no more than three days).

Citramon

JSC "Tatkhimfarmpreparaty", Russia; Anzhero-Sudzhensky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant, Russia; Pharmstandard-Leksredstva OJSC, Russia; PrJSC Pharmaceutical Company “DARNITSA”, Ukraine

The drug Citramon is an analgesic drug that has analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects.
The components that make up the drug enhance each other's effects. from 4

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Rating of the best headache tablets from the NSAID series

#1	#2	#3
Moment	Paracetamol	Indomethacin

Mig This is a relatively new drug on the market, it got its name for the instant effect promised by the manufacturers, as well as for the ability to effectively fight migraines - at least, that’s what pharmacists assure. The composition of the drug includes ibuprofen, enzymes and auxiliary additives.

pros

Well tolerated even by patients prone to allergies.
Absorbed by the mucous membrane of the digestive tract within a minute after administration.
The full effect is achieved in ten minutes and lasts for several hours, sometimes up to a day.
Even eliminates headaches caused by stress.

Minuses

As a potent drug, it has many contraindications.
In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage.
Affects the functioning of the heart, respiratory and digestive organs.
Provokes thrombus formation.

Paracetamol One of the cheapest, but reliable and gentle painkillers. Almost ineffective against inflammation, but it relieves heat well.

Other drugs in this group are made based on paracetamol - for example, Panadol for children.

pros

Availability.
Safety.
Wide spectrum of action.
Various pharmaceutical forms.

Minuses

Affects the functioning of the kidneys and liver.
You can take it no more than four times a day at intervals of three to four hours, otherwise unwanted complications may develop due to an overdose.

Indomethacin This drug, according to reviews, is one of the most effective in its class. The active components suppress the production of prostaglandins, which provoke the development of the inflammatory process, and provide a quick and long-lasting analgesic effect.

Like most painkillers, it is available in two pharmaceutical forms: tablets and injection solution. You can also find rectal suppositories with this drug.

pros

Powerful and long-lasting action.
Can be used to relieve pain of various types.
Additionally relieves inflammation.

Minuses

It has a number of contraindications and side effects.
Not for pregnant women and children.
If a long course of treatment is required, it should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Nalgesin The active component of this drug is the substance naproxen. It is considered a reserve drug if the patient is intolerant to Paracetamol and Aspirin, or they do not have the expected effect.

Nalgesin eliminates pain, relieves fever, and relieves inflammation. But it does not eliminate the causes of the pathology; it only helps fight its symptoms.

pros

Very fast action.
It can relieve headaches caused by pain in other parts of the body - during menstruation, colds, after tooth extraction or treatment, otitis media, sinusitis, vascular pathologies.

Minuses

Naproxen should not be prescribed to pregnant women, especially during the first two semesters, and is not suitable for young children or patients with poor blood clotting.
May cause exacerbation and bleeding in gastric ulcers, increases anemia.

Aspirin Another “progenitor” of modern anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs based on acetylsalicylic acid. These tablets can relieve headaches of various origins and intensities, and improve the patient’s well-being during migraines.

An additional “bonus” - Aspirin thins the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots, which is important if headaches are caused by vascular pathologies and high blood pressure. But this advantage can also become a significant disadvantage if blood clotting is poor and there is a tendency to bleed.

It is not recommended to take acetylsalicylic acid preparations for diagnoses such as gastric and intestinal ulcers, as well as for children under 12 years of age. To relieve severe pain, you will need to take a large dose of the drug.

pros

Versatility - helps to cope with pain syndrome of any etiology and severity.
Availability - available in every pharmacy and costs a penny, available without a doctor's prescription.
Prevents blood thickening and blood clot formation.
If necessary, it can further reduce the temperature.

Minuses

Not prescribed for problems with blood clotting.
Irritates the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach.

Tempalgin

A complex drug for headaches with a sedative effect. Consider this nuance if your work involves increased concentration. "Tempalgin" is good for relieving headaches of various types. These headache pills can be taken for headaches of varying severity. You can take no more than three Tempalgin tablets per day (if there is persistent pain). The duration of headache treatment should not exceed five days.

Tempalgin

Sopharma, Bulgaria

- moderate or mild pain syndrome (including headache, migraine, toothache, neuralgia, radicular syndrome, myalgia, arthralgia, algodismenorrhea), especially in patients with increased nervous excitability;
- mild pain of visceral origin (including renal, hepatic, intestinal colic) in combination with antispasmodic therapy; — pain syndrome after surgical and diagnostic interventions (as an adjuvant); - increased body temperature during colds and other infectious and inflammatory diseases. from 91

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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the familiar Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Nurofen and their analogues. As you can already understand from the name of the class, such tablets help not only with headaches, but also relieve inflammation and also have an antipyretic effect. They are recommended to be taken for headaches accompanying the flu, feverish conditions, and any inflammatory processes in the body. The action begins quite quickly and lasts for several hours. But in case of chronic pain syndrome, such drugs should not be taken - they have a number of contraindications and negatively affect the digestive tract.

Advantages

They are available and very inexpensive.
NSAIDs can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.
The effect begins to be felt within 15–30 minutes after the drug enters the digestive tract, and it lasts up to eight hours.

Flaws

Any NSAIDs should be taken only when the stomach is full to avoid irritation of the mucous membrane and unwanted complications.
A single dose is one or two tablets or capsules (depending on the dosage of the active substance).
These drugs are not used for long-term, systemic therapy: they do not eliminate the root cause of the disease, but only reduce its manifestations, in particular, fever and pain.
NSAIDs have a number of contraindications and, in large doses, have a negative effect on the digestive organs, kidneys and liver.

The drugs of choice are drugs based on paracetamol and ibuprofen. If the patient is hypersensitive to these substances or simply does not have them on hand, a less effective but more affordable aspirin and its analogues can be used. The most common and effective medications from this group are described below.

Pentalgin

"Pentalgin" is also a complex medicine that has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antipyretic effects. "Pentalgin" slows down the production of hormones that cause pain. Usually, taking one tablet is enough to relieve a headache. It is recommended not to exceed a dose of three Pentalgin tablets per day; you can be treated with this drug for no more than five days.

Pentalgin

OJSC Pharmstandard-Leksredstva, Russia

— pain syndrome of various origins, incl.
pain in joints, muscles, radiculitis, algodismenorrhea, neuralgia, toothache, headache (including those caused by cerebral vasospasm); — pain syndrome associated with spasm of smooth muscles, incl. for chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, postcholecystectomy syndrome, renal colic; — post-traumatic and postoperative pain syndrome, incl. accompanied by inflammation; - colds accompanied by febrile syndrome (as symptomatic therapy). from 57

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conclusions

All of the listed medications have different chemical compositions, affect the patient differently and require different approaches in dosage and treatment regimen. Therefore, do not rely on your intuition, advice from friends and advertising, if you do not know exactly what helps with headaches in what cases - consult your family doctor before taking the pill.

When looking for the best remedy for headaches, you should understand that unpleasant sensations are just a signal of more serious problems in the body. Which ones exactly can only be determined by a doctor after a thorough examination. Sometimes sharp and severe pain that occurs suddenly is only an accidental, quickly passing phenomenon that does not require systemic treatment. On the other hand, weak, dull, but constant pain can be a symptom of a dangerous vascular pathology or hidden injury. The pills will help you feel better. But this is only a short-term effect. And in order to forget about a headache for a long time, you need to discover and eliminate its root cause.

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Spazgan

These head tablets relieve vasospasm, relieve inflammation and relieve pain. The effect of taking the drug occurs quickly and usually lasts 4-8 hours. And although Spazgan can be bought without a prescription and is indicated for many types of pain, it is still advisable to consult a doctor before taking it. This headache medication is usually taken as a one-time dose. If you need a different application regimen, be sure to read the instructions to avoid side effects.

Spazgan

Wockhardt, India

Mild or moderate pain syndrome due to spasms of the smooth muscles of internal organs - renal and hepatic colic, spastic pain along the intestines, algodismenorrhea.
Can be used for short-term symptomatic treatment of joint pain, neuralgia, sciatica, myalgia. As an adjuvant it can be used to reduce pain after surgical and diagnostic interventions. If necessary, the drug can be used to reduce elevated body temperature during colds and infectious and inflammatory diseases. from 97

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The first table excludes

Thus, it is important for the pharmacist to exclude hypertension, which requires mandatory consultation with a doctor. To do this, you need to ask a few questions.

Questions about the nature of GB:
Are there any accompanying symptoms?
What causes headache attacks?

The presence of an intense headache, spreading to half of the head, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, or a typical aura, may indicate a migraine. Severe (even unbearable) unilateral pain in the temple, orbit, or mixed localization, accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and/or autonomic symptoms on the side of pain, indicates the presence of cluster headache. In both cases, the pain syndrome is poorly controlled by conventional analgesics and requires the prescription of specific therapy by a doctor. Headache accompanied by severe pain in the eyes and blurred vision requires exclusion of glaucoma.

Questions about HD treatment:
With what effect?

Long-term previous use of analgesics allows one to suspect the development of excessive hypertension, which also requires consultation with a neurologist.

Presence of warning symptoms requiring mandatory medical attention:
Headache with an atypical aura lasting more than an hour or motor weakness is characteristic of a cerebrovascular accident - transient ischemic attack or stroke, as well as the presence of an aura without headache, although there was previously migraine with aura.
An aura that first appears in a patient taking combined oral contraceptives may indicate a risk of stroke.
Increasing headache that gets worse over several weeks or more, or headache that gets worse with changes in posture, coughing, sneezing, or straining, may indicate the presence of a space-occupying intracranial formation.
Also requires consultation with a neurologist in headaches accompanied by focal neurological symptoms (shaky gait, unilateral and bilateral paralysis, etc.), and headaches with fever of unknown origin.
A previous fall or head injury is a reason to see a doctor to rule out a TBI.

Nurofen

A combined drug with anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effects. Nurofen is a good pain reliever. If you have a migraine, and you don’t have the usual medications prescribed by a neurologist at hand, you can take Nurofen once. You can take no more than four tablets per day, with breaks between each dose of at least four hours. It is not advisable to take Nurofen for more than three days.

Nurofen Forte

Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare International Ltd, UK

NSAIDs to eliminate: Headache;
migraine; toothache; algodismenorrhea; neuralgia; backache; myalgia; rheumatic pains; fever with influenza and ARVI. from 9

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No-Shpa

Typically, No-Shpu is prescribed for tension headaches (stress, emotional or physical stress). This type of headache is usually mild and without throbbing. “No-Spa” is an antispasmodic that relaxes blood vessels and improves blood circulation. The therapeutic effect occurs literally 15 minutes after taking the tablet. You can take no more than two tablets at a time (no more than 8 per day). Moreover, you cannot take No-Shpu on your own for more than two days unless prescribed by a doctor.