Painkillers for headache that won't go away

[Eve]

What is the best painkillers you can take for a severe headache (worse when I move) which has lasted over 24 hours and won't go away with paracetamol or migraleve.

I am pretty sure it's a side effect of the sulfasalazine I take.

I can't have anti-inflammatories like asprin or ibuprofen.

I've tried to get a GP appointment but they are closed all day for staff training. Trying to have a word with my rhumatologist but he's still in clinic so ringing me back.

Any ideas for what I can use to get rid of, or take the edge off, the headache til then?

[blondie83]

I suffer from migraines also. Those Kool and sooth head soothing pads are really good, but only if you are in bed with it, leave them on your head for a few hours and try and get some sleep, and then when you wake up, take the strip off, it is much better.

[BagPussAA]

I agree. Kool n Soothe are the best thing for you. I suffer really badly with migraines and these things really work for me. They do work better if you then go to sleep because they can help you relax as well but I do find that they work for me whether I sleep or not, it just takes longer.

I also take co-codomol for mine which is stronger than paracetamol alone

[McNoodle]

Neurofen Plus - they have more codeine in them per tablet than cocodamol do.

[beagle1]

Have you tried asking your pharmacist? They can usually help suggest alternatives to Neurofen / Ibuprofen & aspirin, and if you are on other drugs, they will be able to say whether you can combine safely.

You really ought to see your doctor if the headache hasn't cleared after 24 hours, but if you can't, why don't you try phoning NHS direct -
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/index.aspx

[ganesh]

Nurofen works for me and paracetamol doesn't. If the headache is sinus pain then nothing works.Drink lots of water too , a bit of dehydration can make it worse.

[bimbim]

Tiger balm on the temples & forehead helps me , won't get rid of it but helps

[Eve]

Thanks for all your answers, much appreciated.

Can't take Nurofen as it has anti-inflammatory in it I think which give me ulcers and bad acid reflux so on Lanzoprazole now.

Drinking loads as feeling really dehydrated, got nice cool Brita filtered water. Craving food as well so think blood sugar's a bit on the low side so munching barley sugars :)

Popped into Boots and the pharmacist did a medicine review for me and suggested co-codamol and 4head balm so got some of them.

Spoke to a rhumo nurse as well who was great, she said they've put me on too high a dose too soon as it's meant to be stepped up especially as I'm young so she's revised my dose to step it up and will review at my next blood appointment in a few weeks.

Love the cool and soothe sheets and use them for my migraines.

Do you know where I can get Tiger Balm from? Will hunt some out tomorrow as get recurrent migraines.

Seem to have triggers (dianette and aspartame - artificial sweetners). Migraines got a lot better after I stopped them but had quite a few recently so trying to suss what's triggering them now.

[Wotsits31]

Hi, I suffer from terrible headaches and also suffer from excessive acid reflux - for which I was prescribed Lanzasprole - apparently it's one of the side-effects, so my doctor prescribed co-codamol for headaches but with a much higher concentration of codeine than you can buy over the counter. I have found they do really help, but make you feel drowsy so try just to take if I have an attack in the evening.

He also suggested keeping a food diary to see if I could spot any triggers and I have discovered that cheese really gives me a headache which is a b*gger as I love it!

Hope you find something that works for you! x

[bimbim]

I buy Tiger Balm from a Chinese shop in town although I've heard that Boots sell it as well