Painkillers

Standard painkillers never touched my migraine headaches until a friend recommended Migraleve. A decade or so later I complained to a pharmacist about the price of Migraleve and she said they were only paracetamol and codeine with an anti nauseant and as nausea was not a worrying symptom, I have since bought and taken paracetamol and codeine.

Before I get inundated with warnings about how addictive they are. I know that. I have been taking this combination of drugs for over 30 years and on average I take may be take 2 or 4 a month, so I do not think addiction is a problem. I only use them for migraine, for other headaches, I take paracetamol.

I am another who always combines them with a stiff coffee because it speeds up the take-up of the medicaments.

Welbeck You have migraine. Migraine comes in many forms and the headache isn't always crippling, especially as we get older, but its one key defining symptom is a localised headache behind/above the left eye

i find the only thing that works for a particular headache i get, which is localised behind/above left eye, is a tablet that has aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine, all together in one tablet.
dont think its as bad a a migraine, but have had them for years.
known as, one of my heads.
you can get this tablet as an anadin which is expensive, or generic in supermarket, savers, boots, etc should be under a pound.

I have no advice but lots of sympathy. Do you think the extra screen time might be causing it too?

I find with migraines that if the meds haven’t worked within about 30 minutes, they’re not going to work at all.

One tip I did find useful was to dissolve two soluble paracetamol or soluble paracetamol/codeine tablets in a glass of full-fat Coke. I think the combination of the meds, the caffeine and the sugar might be what works. I know the modern mantra is to avoid sugar but sometimes it’s what’s needed.

Many hot-weather headaches are caused by loss of salt from sweating. If you have a headache in this hot weather, consider a fizzy full-fat soft drink - I use 7 Up, but any will do - with a pinch of salt in it. It has roughly the same proportion of salt to sugar that you get in fluid replacement stuff from the chemist.

It works faster than painkillers if that’s the cause of the headache.

I'm guzzling water, not because I'm thirsty, but you're right, dehydration does cause them.

Without being self pitying, I think because I'm fat, I'm insulated. So when it's hot, I overheat internally, without actually feeling too hot. But I also have a history of headaches and sinus issues so it's probably a combination.

I'll try the Sumatriptan, thank you both. Anything is worth a go! And over the counter is about the same as prescription so saves bothering the doc.

Boots make a sumatriptan x 2 tablets in a box, cost about £9. Called Boots Migraine Relief. You will have to fill in a form about tablets you are on, and family illnesses, then the Pharmacist will check if they are suitable for you.
I don’t know why they’re so pricey, but I find half a one works well. Will take about an hour to work. Gagajo, just a thought are you drinking enough liquids? That will cause headaches in a heatwave.

Sumatriptan (carry them everywhere with me) are my go to prescription migraine meds, they can make me feel out of sorts for a few hours though

Juliet27

The liquid ones do seem to work faster

Will try that too. Thanks!

Fortunately, I'm only teaching online now Namsnanny. But have been lying down for 2 1/2 hours, trying to get rid of a headache for a 6pm lesson.

Oh yes, me too Kaggi! Been there a few times.

I will definitely try the coffee trick. Maybe it will speed things up a bit.

The liquid ones do seem to work faster

I took the tablets in the middle of the night and because I did not eat anything it made me sick.

I do sympathise GagaJo I had a life long battle with them. Almost nothing worked except trying to sleep in a dark room for how ever long it took.

If anything I'm more susceptible to the effects of painkillers now than before.

Go to the GP and get special painkillers for migraines. I dont recall the names.

In this weather and trying to teach,(?) having a migraine would be my worst nightmare!

Hope you feel better soon.

FannyCornforth

A good tip is to take them with coffee, the caffeine gets them into your bloodstream

You beat me to that one FannyCornforth DH's friend who is a GP advocates buying the cheapest generic paracetamol with the best espresso to cure headaches.

A good tip is to take them with coffee, the caffeine gets them into your bloodstream

Maybe it's partly to do with when you take them . Especially if before , with, or after food.
Thankfully I don't need them often but find they act quicker on an empty stomach.
BTW the only one I use is Paracetamol.