Best Over-the-counter Drug for Pressure Headaches
Numerous conditions can cause pressure headaches. These can range from mild to severe.
Most of the conditions that cause these headaches aren’t a cause of concern, but the pain is still there and it calls for an effective over-the-counter drug to alleviate the pain and pressure.
Symptoms of Pressure Headaches
Signs and symptoms of a pressure headache include:
- A feeling of pressure in the ears and head (earwax blockage, ear infection, dental infection, etc.)
- A feeling of pressure in the neck (muscle strain, whiplash concussion, etc.)
- A feeling of pressure in the eyes (allergies, eye strain, sinus infections, etc.)
- Some individuals also experience the below with pressure headaches:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
Causes of Pressure Headaches
Some common causes of pressure headaches are:
- Tension headaches: Generally, the pain with tension headaches is mild to moderate. They’re the most common type of a headache and affect around 42 percent of the population worldwide.
- Sinus headaches: You may feel a constant pressure behind your cheekbones, nose, ears, jaw and forehead. When sinuses become inflamed, it leads to excess mucus production which causes head pressure.
- Ear conditions: You’ll feel a dull, constant pressure in your ears, temple, side of head or jaw. One or both sides may be affected. Earwax blockages and ear infections are the most common ear conditions that cause pressure in the head with ear pain.
- Migraines: Migraine pain typically feels like throbbing or pulsing. You usually experience it on one side of the head. It’s often so intense it can be disabling. Migraines are another common type of a headache.
Other Reasons for Pressure-Related Headaches
Other numerous conditions that could lead to pressure headaches are:
- Dental problems or dental infections
- Hunger or dehydration
- High blood pressure
- Muscle strain in neck or head
- Infections like encephalitis and meningitis
- Fatigue and medications or conditions that cause fatigue
- Transient ischemic attack (ministroke) and stroke
OTC Treatment for Pressure Headaches
Often all it takes to relieve the pain of pressure headaches are OTC pain relievers. These can help relieve your pain without having to visit the doctor. Some OTC pain relievers to try are:
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen works on areas of your brain that receive “pain messages.”
Examples:
- Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets – 24 count
- Sunmark Pain Reliever Caplets – 100 count
Ibuprofen
NSAIDs help reduce inflammation along with the pain.
Examples:
- Advil Liquid-gels – 24 count
- Ibuprofen Tablets – 100 tablets
- Motrin Caplets – 24 count
Naproxen
Naproxen is also in the NSAID family and helps with pain. Similar to ibuprofen, it helps relieve fevers, inflammation, pain and more.
Examples:
- Aleve Tablets – 24 count
- Naproxen Sodium Tablets (generic for Aleve) – 100 tablets
Combination Aspirin and Acetaminophen
There are also medications that combine aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine which often work better.
Aspirin belongs in the NSAID family of medications. It’s a great choice for treating toothaches, headaches and colds, and when combined with acetaminophen can help with fevers too.
Examples:
- Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets – 24 count
- Excedrin PM Caplets – 24 count
- Excedrin Migraine Caplets – 24 count
Studies indicate medicine containing acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine works better at relieving pain than acetaminophen alone. Individuals were more likely to be free of pain two hours after taking the combination medicine (28.5 percent) than those who took acetaminophen (21 percent) or a placebo (18 percent).
The study showed the component that makes this combination so effective is caffeine and individuals taking a pain reliever without caffeine require around 40 percent more medicine to receive the same relief than those taking the same medication with caffeine.
Pressure Headaches Due to a Cold
If your pressure headache is sinus related due to a cold, you might benefit from an OTC product that targets colds.
Examples:
- Mucinex Day/Night Caplets – 20 count
- Tylenol Cold & Flu Combo Pack Caplets – 24 count
Take As Directed and Heed to Warning Labels
Regardless of the OTC pain reliever you choose to take, it’s important you only take the instructed dosage. Too much medicine can lead to “medication overuse” or “rebound” headaches.
Find Pressure Headache Relief Through Shopping Online at SpotRx
Tempe, AZ residents suffering from a pressure headache can find relief quickly at SpotRx. We offer free two-hour delivery in zip codes 85281 and 85282 and lower prices on your OTC medications. To learn more, please visit our website today!
SpotRx blogs are for informational purposes only. They are not written by medical professionals and should not be used to treat or diagnose any new or existing conditions. Contact your physician or qualified medical health provider with any concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.
