Medicines for headache - How much is too much? (Query)

Do not take medicines every time you have a headache as you might end up overdosing on it.

I am a 26-year-old. I have joined a multinational company recently. Due to tremendous work pressure and late night working hours, I end up having a headache at the end of the day. I take OTC medications to get rid of headache, and I start feeling better after that. However, I think I am loading up on the headache medications as I am also experiencing abdominal pain from the past few days. But I am afraid to go to a doctor. Please tell me what to do?

The query is answered by Dr Pawan Ojha, Neurologist, Head at Headache & Vertigo Clinic, Mumbai.

Firstly, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor for even a headache; it could indicate an underlying condition. And secondly, do not ever start to self-medicate or overdose any medications as it can harm your health in the long run. Before it is too late, do consult your physician and get tested (if any, as recommended by a doctor) to know the cause of it and rule out any severe health complications. This is because a headache could be a sign of mere stress or a symptom of a brain tumour and only your doctor is the right person to tell you the underlying cause. Read more on why you should not ignore frequent headaches!

How much is too much?

As far as abdominal pain is concerned, it could be a side-effect of pain relievers. Certain pain relievers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen may cause abdominal pain, bleeding, ulcers and other complications, especially if taken in large doses or for a long period. Also, taking over-the-counter or prescription headache medications more than 10 days a month for three months or in high doses may trigger serious medication-overuse headaches. Medication-overuse headaches occur when medications stop relieving pain and begin to cause a headache. So you end up taking more pain medication to relieve a headache and the cycle continues, till you overdose. Here are 4 signs that indicate your headache is a medical emergency.

If headache aura symptoms last longer than one hour, it can signal a loss of blood supply to an area of the brain (stroke) and should be evaluated. In such a case, ignoring it could be fatal as well. Consulting a doctor is a wise idea as doctors can conduct neuroimaging tests to identify bleeding in the brain and start the treatment at the earliest. So consult your doctor and do not ignore, if you have been suffering from a headache for more than 3 -4 days.

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