When a pounding headache takes over, all you want is for the pain to stop.
Luckily, there’s a wide range of effective treatments — from over-the-counter pills to high-tech devices — that can help.
Here are some headache relief methods that rely on medication and can make a real difference.
OTC painkillers
Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen are often the first line of defense against tension headaches.
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Use them carefully, though — frequent use can lead to rebound headaches that are much harder to treat.
Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and nortriptyline can help prevent tension headaches.
If those don’t work, your doctor might prescribe SSRIs such as venlafaxine or mirtazapine, which also show promising results.
Anti-seizure drugs
Medications typically used to treat epilepsy — like gabapentin and topiramate — can also reduce the frequency of both tension and migraine headaches.
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They work by stabilizing nerve activity involved in pain signals.
Migraine relief
Triptans such as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan are effective when taken early in a migraine attack.
CGRP receptor inhibitors like rimegepant and ubrogepant block a key protein that triggers migraine pain.
Medical devices with medication-like effects
Devices such as Cefaly and gammaCore stimulate nerves using electrical or magnetic impulses, helping to reduce the number of migraine attacks.
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These drug-free options are compact, wearable, and effective for many users.
Botox for chronic migraine sufferers
Botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, is FDA-approved for preventing chronic migraines in adults who experience 15 or more headache days a month.
Injections are administered about every 3 months.
Oxygen therapy
For cluster headaches, breathing 100 % oxygen through a mask can bring relief in less than 10 minutes.
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Many people use oxygen tanks at home to manage attacks quickly and effectively.
Nasal lidocaine
About one in three people with cluster headaches find relief from lidocaine, a fast-acting anesthetic inhaled through the nose.
It works by numbing pain-sensitive nerves.
Supplementing medications
Hydration, rest, ice or heat therapy can boost the effects of headache medications. Stress-reducing practices like yoga or meditation also enhance treatment outcomes.
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Alternative therapies
Treatments like acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can work alongside medication to prevent and manage headaches.
These options help control pain perception and reduce stress, especially for tension-type and migraine headaches.
This article is based on information from WebMD.com.