The dangers of headache medications
There are some very common over the counter medications which are used to treat all kinds of headaches. Even people with mild migraines can often use standard over the counter pain relievers to help reduce or eliminate the migraine headaches sometimes.
The most common types of over the counter medications used to treat headaches are usually safe when used in small doses infrequently. Unfortunately, some people tend to continually increase their dosage, because they take the medication so often their body has built up a tolerance to it. And some people simply take these medications much too frequently, for all sorts of ailments.
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Some pain medications which are purchased at any local store contain acetaminophen, and others are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Tylenol is an example of an over the counter pain medication which contains acetaminophen, while Advil and Aleve are examples of NSAIDs.
Acetaminophen helps reduce and relieve pain and fevers by working on the pain centers within the brain. It tends to be popular because it doesn't cause upset stomachs, and it's not dangerous for children and teenagers to use. Taken in very large doses though, acetaminophen can cause severe liver and kidney damage. Using acetaminophen on a regular basis over a long period of time can cause these problems too, and the problems are even worse for someone who drinks moderate to large amounts of alcohol.
NSAIDs help relieve pain by reducing the inflammation that's usually causing the pain. NSAIDs can cause blood thinning and increased bleeding, though some types have shorter lasting effects than others. NSAIDs can also irritate the stomach, and people who suffer from stomach ulcers can't take them because they can increase the bleeding of the ulcer and prevent the ulcer from being able to heal too.
Anyone taking blood thinner medications should also not take NSAIDs, because the extra bleeding effects are intensified. Unfortunately, NSAIDs can impair liver and kidney function too, and they can't be taken particularly by anyone with advanced liver diseases.
Teenagers and children cannot take aspirin based NSAIDs either, because it can cause a disease known as Reye's Syndrome, which is a neurological disease that can put them in a coma or cause them to die.
There are prescription NSAIDs as well, but these often carry even more dangers than many of the over the counter varieties, because the prescription versions are stronger. Some NSAIDs were pulled from the market in recent years, because of severe health consequences they created.
So if you're not able to take herbal medications for your headaches, and lifestyle changes don't help either, using over the counter medications sensibly and properly is usually fine when nothing else is available. When possible though, try some of the alternative options for relieving headaches, and you'll avoid some of the potential side effect dangers which come with synthetic medications.
Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.
Sources: http://www.medicinenet.com/headache/page7.htm#tocn
