These products are effective and safe when taken according to the directions. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist, as some products are not recommended with certain health conditions or for children. Mild tension-type headaches usually respond readily. For severe headaches that do not respond, if medication is required several times a week, or for problems in taking medication, a doctor should be consulted.



Prednisone is a corticosteroid, a potent chemical that occurs naturally in the body. It is taken initially in high doses and then tapered over days or weeks, depending on the response. This medication is best if used for short periods of time.

Lifestyle changes may be enough to resolve some headaches. For example, avoiding the foods that are known to trigger migraines may prevent migraine occurrence for certain individuals. In addition, numerous prescription and non-prescription medications are available treat and prevent headaches. Several medications or combinations of medications may have to be tried to find the best treatment.

Overusing medication can actually lead to chronic daily headache. Medications containing ergotamine, codeine and caffeine have been specifically implicated but frequent use of any of the medications used to treat an attack can lead to daily headache. Your doctor will be able to help you find out what type of medication is best suited and safest for your needs. It is important that your doctor is consulted should you wish to reduce or discontinue any medications.

Patients with sinus headache describe a dull, constant pressure. The pharmacist can help the patient recognize this etiology by discovering the presence of a previous or coexisting upper respiratory tract infection. Quite often, the patient has tried to clear the respiratory passages by blowing his or her nose, which forces infected fluids into the sinuses. The pain worsens when the patient bends over. The physician will treat the infection with an antibiotic or antibacterial appropriate to the organism causing the infection, and the headache can be treated with analgesics.

Prophylactic treatment unless you have several attacks per month. If you take drugs this way, your physician will monitor you for side effects, such as weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment, and hallucinations. Do not try to combine any weight loss medications with prophylactic drugs, and do not stop taking the drugs suddenly.

Certain antidepressants are good at helping prevent all types of headaches, including migraines. Most effective are tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Pamelor) and protriptyline (Vivactil). These medications are considered among first-line treatment agents and may reduce migraines by affecting the level of serotonin and other brain chemicals. You don't have to have depression to benefit from these drugs. Newer antidepressants, however, generally aren't as effective for migraine prevention.

A headache diary may help you identify the source of chronic headaches. When a headache occurs, write down the date and time the headache began. Note what you ate for the preceding 24 hours, sleep pattern and amount of sleep, what was being experienced immediately before the headache, unusual stress or other circumstances, how long the headache lasted, and what made it stop.