Headache Medicines

The decision about which headache medicines will provide the best relief will be based on several factors, such as the cause, the severity, and the frequency of the headaches. In most cases, over-the-counter drugs will provide sufficient headache relief. However, if your headaches occur more frequently or are more severe, you may need prescription medications that can either ease the pain once a headache begins or prevent headaches from occurring in the first place.

An Overview of Headache Medicines

There are many medicines available to treat headaches. The choice about which medicine makes the most sense in your situation will be based on several factors, including:
 
  • The cause of the headaches
  • The severity of the headaches
  • The frequency of the headaches.
     
For most headaches, over-the-counter medicines will successfully provide relief. However, for people with headaches that occur more frequently or that are more severe, prescription medicines may be needed. Prescription medicine may also be needed for certain types of chronic headaches, such as migraine headaches or cluster headaches.
 

Over-the-Counter Headache Medicines

People who get occasional, mild-to-moderate headaches may benefit from taking certain medicines as soon as the headache pain begins. Your healthcare provider can recommend one of several medications. Some of the over-the-counter medications include:
 
If these medicines are not effective, your healthcare provider may recommend several other over-the-counter medicines. These medicines are a combination of several medications and can include:
 
  • Aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine (Excedrin® Extra Strength, Excedrin® Migraine)
  • Isometheptene mucate, chloralphenazone, and acetaminophen (Midrin®, Migratine®).
     

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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