3 Over-the-Counter Medications that Really Work for Headaches

I, like many Americans, suffer from headaches. Sometimes just a dull pain that is easily ignored, and sometimes I get blasted away by a headache that is so intense that it requires me to be alone in my home with all of the windows covered, all the lights off, and it be completely quiet. Yes, I am talking about a migraine.

There are many pain relievers out on the market, and I am on a mission to find out which ones work the best. The first thing that you have to decide is what type of headache are you experiencing? Yes they all are painful, but no now all headaches are created equal. One of the worst types that I get is the Tension headache. In fact tension headaches are the most common form of headache.

What is a tension headache? A tension headache actually occurs when the muscles in your neck and head become clenched. Kind of how your shoulders end up around your ears if you spend too much time at the computer. Well this can happen in your head and neck as well. The pain can last anywhere from 30 minuets and seven days! You also can feel pain on both sides of your head, and you actually can feel the tightening of your muscles. I call this kind of headache the “dull roar.” Its not a great thing to have but you can make it through the day if you do. For this kind of headache I would recommend Tylenol Rapid Release. I have found that the rapid release factor does actually work faster than just your normal pill. This type of headache can be triggered by: poor posture, a lack of sleep, and even clenching your teeth. I give the Tylenol Rapid Release an A+ for tension headaches but don’t think of using it for other types of headaches.

Second on my ladder of headaches is the dreaded sinus headache. A sinus headache happens usually when you are sick or about to get sick. When your sinus cavity becomes congested with excess mucus you then receive the wonderful sinus headache. You can tell if you have a sinus headache because you can have pain or pressure around the eyes, the cheeks, or the forehead. My favorite product for a sinus headache is Advil. I prefer the Cold & Sinus, or the Allergy Sinus depending on what symptoms you are suffering.

Finally the horrible migraine. Migraines usually occur on one side of the head and can be throbbing so bad that it interrupts your day-to-day life. They usually last about 4-72 hours. The worst symptom that I have when a migraine hits is I start sweating, and get very nauseous. I also become very sensitive to light and sound. This is a common symptom of the migraine. What works for me best is Excedrin. I usually buy the Excedrin migraine, but if you actually look at the Excedrin bottles weather you get the Migraine formula, the regular, extra strength, etc., it all has the same amount of each ingredients. So that sounds a little deceptive for me. But Excedrin works! The pain slowly subsides but is generally gone within two hours, and for those of us who suffer from this pain know that two hours is a lot better than if you went untreated.

There are many products to choose from when it comes to head pain. Use what works for you. These three products in my opinion are what work the best. So if what you are using is not working for you try out one of my recommendations. I think that you will be happy that you did.