When you have a headache, you typically open a cabinet and get some sort of medication. Which you choose tends to be based on how often you have them and what you have experienced working in the past. These over the counter (OTC) pain relievers are commonly used to treat any headache, whether from a recurring primary disorder (like a migraine) or secondary to another condition (like a hangover).
These medications are typically abortive medicines – that is, they stop the headache or at least lessen its strength. They are usually taken as you need them and, when used as directed, normally pose no significant side effects. Unless you need to take them often. Analgesics, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Bayer (aspirin), and Advil (ibuprofen) can have adverse effects when taken frequently or over a long period of time. Using any of these products more than twice a week can cause a condition known as rebound headache phenomenon. Rebound headaches are a sort of dependency on the analgesic and cause your headaches to occur more often. This condition also can build a tolerance to the medication whereby you need ever increasing doses to find relief.
Analgesics also have other side effects that you should be aware of. Tylenol should never to be taken while you are consuming alcohol or have a hangover. Tylenol and alcohol together can overwhelm your liver and cause failure of that organ. Surprisingly, it does not always take a significant amount of either; the damage is done by the timing of the two substances hitting the liver. Ibuprofen and aspirin tend to be rough on the stomach and so should always be taken with food and milk. The problem for many who need to take these pain relievers often is that they can cause damage to the stomach and intestines, creating heartburn, ulcers, and even deadly intestinal bleeding. Additionally, taking more than the recommended amount of any of these products can also cause liver failure.
So, have a care when taking any pain relief, even the OTC ones. The best suggestion is that if we can still handle the pain, then don’t take any medication.
