Paracetamol for headaches: does it help, how to take it correctly for headaches

Description of the drug

Paracetamol belongs to the group of non-steroidal drugs (anilides) with anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects. Effectively eliminates any pain, but does not affect the main cause of its occurrence.

Attention! In case of severe concussions, it does not give the desired result due to disruption of the nerve channels.

Advantages:

• performance;
• efficiency;
• there are no factors affecting blood clotting;
• embryotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects were not detected;
• Can be taken at any age;
• is not addictive;
• availability;
• low price.

The drug has a simple composition:

• The main active ingredient is paracetamol.
• Excipients: potato starch and molasses, stearic acid, lactose.

Carefully!

In case of congenital deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, taking paracetamol is strictly prohibited due to difficult metabolism: the active substance is not excreted from the body.

With glutathione deficiency, the drug causes necrosis of liver cells by blocking enzymes.

Tablets without paracetamol

Necessary in cases where the patient is contraindicated in taking paracetamol, its ineffectiveness is noted, or a longer-lasting effect is required.

• analgin;
• aspirin;
• ibuprofen;
• spasmalgon;
• spasmoveralgon;
• baralgin;
• spazgan;
• Novigan;
• amitriptyline;
• tempalgin;
• moment;
• ketophene;
• antimigraine;
• solpadeine;
• pentalgin;
• next;
• sedalgin;
• no-shpa;
• Nurofen;
• nibol.

Paracetamol effectively fights headaches of various origins. A wide range and low prices make it the most accessible painkiller for Russians.

Will citramon help with headaches? This drug also contains paracetamol.

Paracetamol belongs to the group of antipyretic, analgesic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The active substance of the drug has a non-narcotic effect. Available in the form of tablets, capsules, effervescent tablets, syrup or suspension for children, solution for infusion and rectal stearin suppositories.

Mechanism of action

The active substance of the drug irritates pain centers in the hypothalamus, increasing the threshold of cell excitability. At the same time, heat transfer increases, due to which the overall body temperature decreases.

The therapeutic effect of paracetamol is based on the synthesis of prostaglandins. They participate in all vital processes in the body; when they are deficient, pain appears and diseases develop.

Eliminates mild to moderate headaches caused by:

• chronic stress and fatigue;
• 1st degree concussion;
• high blood pressure (BP);
• infectious disease;
• febrile syndrome.

The drug is used for joint, muscle, bone, and toothaches. Effective for menstrual syndrome and neuralgia.

How and when to use?

The drug should be in any home medicine cabinet. In addition to the fact that paracetamol helps with headaches, it effectively eliminates toothache and high fever, alleviates the condition, that is, it eliminates symptoms in a short time, but does not treat the causes of pain syndromes. Painful sensations in the head most often arise from:

• chronic stress;
• constant fatigue;
• head injuries;
• high blood pressure.

The medication must be taken following the rules:

• The medicine must be taken with water only;
• do not take for more than 3 days;
• do not consume on an empty stomach;
• read the instructions for use before taking to avoid side effects;
• Use with caution by pregnant women and children under three years of age.

Does it help with migraines?

You can distinguish regular headaches from migraines by intensity, frequency of occurrence and period of occurrence.

• Migraine is characterized by prolonged and aching pain with pulsation in a cycle of exacerbation. People suffering from it note an interval course: every week, month, etc.
• Signs of a common headache are mild malaise and short-term pain, usually one-time.

Paracetamol copes with migraine in the initial stages of manifestation. Efficiency depends on the nature of the attacks.

Composition and pharmacological action

Paracetamol is available in the format of rectal suppositories (80 or 150 mg of active substance), syrup (120 mg per 5 ml) and tablets (200 or 500 mg). The active ingredient is paracetamol, which has analgesic, antipyretic and mild anti-inflammatory effects. Indications for use:

• toothache, headache;
• fever, increased body temperature.

Efficacy for headaches

The mechanism of action of Paracetamol is due to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, the influence on the thermoregulation center located in the hypothalamus. The drug acts on the symptom, but not on the cause of the pain. A non-narcotic analgesic exhibits analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. It is quickly and completely absorbed, working within 20–60 minutes after oral administration or within half an hour when administered rectally.

Instructions

Indications for use

• pain symptoms of any nature;
• pain with arthralgia, myalgia, neuralgia;
• headache;
• toothaches;
• febrile syndrome in infectious diseases;
• post-traumatic conditions;
• algodismenorrhea;
• migraine;
• elevated temperature;
• pain from burns.

Paracetamol can be used to combat irregular headaches. Most often, the medicine is used once. No serious consequences are observed.

Contraindications

• hypersensitivity and individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
• kidney diseases;
• liver failure;
• internal bleeding in the stomach;
• combination of bronchial asthma with recurrent polyposis of the nose and paranasal sinuses;
• rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass surgery;
• hyperkalemia;
• blood diseases;
• pregnancy;
• state of a newborn (up to 1 month).

Precautionary measures

Caution should be exercised in the following conditions:

• benign hyperbilirubinemia;
• viral hepatitis;
• lactation period;
• elderly age;
• early infancy;
• alcohol intoxication, alcoholism;
• infectious diseases caused by Helicobacter pylori;
• diabetes;
• hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia;
• heart failure and coronary heart disease, arterial diseases;
• smoking;
• somatic diseases;
• concomitant use of other medications;
• inflammation of the rectum (when using suppositories with paracetamol).

Side effects

• lethargy, drowsiness, nausea;
• increased excitability;
• diarrhea;
• allergy;
• anemia;
• renal colic;
• stomach ache;
• drop in blood glucose levels;
• increased sweating.

Contraindications

Since a negative effect on the liver is possible, there is a certain category of patients who should not take the drug:

• people suffering from alcoholism;
• having hepatitis of any type;
• patients with liver disease and heart failure;
• those who have elevated bilirubin levels;
• patients with bronchial asthma.

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Interaction with other drugs

Hepatotoxicity has been observed when taken concomitantly with the following medications:

• phenobarbital;
• zidovudine;
• isoniazid;
• glucocorticoids (hormones);
• anticoagulants;
• ethacrynic and salicylic acids;
• antihistamines.

Reduce the absorption of paracetamol:

• ethinyl estradiol;
• cholestyramine;
• anticholinergic drugs.

Increase the absorption of paracetamol:

• ethinyl estradiol;
• metoclopramide.

Reduces the clearance of paracetamol: probenecid. Increases clearance: sulfinpyrazone; rifampicin.

Co-administration reduces the effectiveness of paracetamol:

• phenobarbital;
• phenytoin;
• Activated carbon;
• primidone;
• carbamazepine;
• hyoscyamine;
• atropine;
• probenecid;
• sulfinpyrazone;
• isoniazid;
• contraceptives.

Increases the concentration of paracetamol in the blood: metoclopramide.

Reference. Concomitant use with warfarin, prednisone, fluoxetine, sertraline can negatively affect liver function, so it should only be done on the recommendation of a doctor.

Dosage and time of administration

Paracetamol is taken orally, rectally or by injection after meals. Tablets and suspensions are washed down with water.

Therapy for pain relief lasts no more than 5 days and no more than 3 days as an antipyretic. Recommended dosing interval: 6–8 hours (4 hours minimum). An extended course of treatment is prescribed by a doctor.

Single dosage: 1–2 tablets (available in 0.2, 0.35, 0.5 mg) depending on the type of pain, but not more than 1.5 g. Can be taken up to 3–4 times a day.

Maximum daily dose: 4 g.

When taking suspensions and syrups, different dosages are used due to different concentrations. The daily dose of the active substance in its pure form should not exceed 4 g.

How long does it take for it to start working? 30–40 minutes after administration. The peak analgesic effect is observed after 1 hour.

If there is no therapeutic effect, you need to consult a doctor, undergo the necessary tests and identify the cause of the pain.

Overdose

Failure to comply with dosages can cause poisoning.

The first symptoms of an overdose: pain in the abdominal area, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. Urgent hospitalization is required.

On the second day, the liver and kidneys (as the main filtering systems of the body) are damaged, and cardiac arrhythmia is possible. To restore liver function, emergency therapy is used: methionine or N-acetylcysteine.

With a daily dosage of more than 10 g, coma occurs, and as a result, death.

Paracetamol for headaches - rules of administration

Painful symptoms in the head area are the most common ailment that occurs in women and men of different ages. Pharmacies offer a wide range of medications that can eliminate the most popular and common ailment and reduce pain.

The most popular medicines from the home medicine cabinet in the fight against this disease are paracetamol and citramon. At first glance, many people think that paracetamol is a harmless medicine that has no cure. We will find out from the article whether paracetamol helps with headaches.

Paracetamol instructions for use for headaches

Everyone knows that this medication has antipyretic and analgesic properties. Therefore, thanks to the analgesic auxiliary substances included in the composition, paracetamol for headaches can help. It also eliminates tooth and muscle pain and eliminates the feeling of chills.

The causes of the disease can be stress, chronic fatigue, poor sleep, fatigue, injuries, changes in air temperature. Does paracetamol help with headaches? The answer to this question is obvious, it helps, but it does not eliminate the cause, but relieves the pain syndrome itself.

Important! Paracetamol can be taken only after meals and with plenty of water, and not with other liquids (tea, coffee, alcohol, sparkling water, etc.)

Use only when indicated. If there are contraindications, the drug should not be taken. Contraindications are for people who suffer from kidney and liver diseases, alcohol addiction, and individual intolerance to individual components that make up the medicine.

Release form

Manufacturers produce in different forms:

The volume is always different, it is necessary to check in pharmacies; medicines are dispensed without a doctor’s prescription.

Composition and pharmacological action

The tablets contain: gelatin, potato starch, povidone and lactose. The drug is very quickly absorbed by the body, due to this it begins to quickly affect the body. Rapid disintegration into the intestines, helps if you take pills for headaches. It acts as an analgesic within 30 minutes, and as an antipyretic after 45-60 minutes, it is completely eliminated from the body.

Efficacy for headaches

Paracetamol headache tablets are effective for moderate to severe pain. They have an analgesic effect. Efficiency is observed only in relieving pain, but the focus remains unaffected.

Rules for taking paracetamol for headaches

The first and basic rule that should be followed in any case is to drink the drug only on a full stomach. Taking tablets is only allowed if taken with a sufficient amount of water. Because the substances contained in tea or coffee in combination with the drug can harm the liver, which already bears a huge burden during the breakdown of paracetamol.

Attention! The duration of use as an anesthetic should not exceed more than three days.

The drug is not compatible with all medications, so you should not decide on the combination on your own. It is better to stop taking another drug while taking paracetamol, or switch to analogues that contain this drug, but as an active substance and supplemented with auxiliary ones.

Dosage

The dosage is indicated in the instructions and should be followed very strictly. The daily dose should not be more than 500-1000 mg per day for pain in the head area. That is, you are allowed to take pills no more than 3 times a day.

Time of action

Due to rapid absorption and breakdown in the body, it begins to quickly act on the body without harm to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Whether it helps with headaches or not depends on each case individually. With a moderate degree, relief is felt after 30 minutes.

But paracetamol for headaches with a hangover is strictly contraindicated. Because a hangover is the result of poisoning the body with alcoholic beverages. And taking this medication can only make you feel worse. In this case, you should take another remedy or aspirin for headaches.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

When breastfeeding, paracetamol enters the baby's body with mother's milk, but does not pose any harm if taken in minimal quantities. During lactation, it is recommended to take headache analogues ibuprofen or paracetamol in small doses.

During pregnancy and lactation there is no prohibition on taking the drug.

Side effects

With long-term use, complications with normal liver and kidney function may occur.

Interaction with other drugs

Many medications affect the effectiveness of the drug, some reduce it, and in some cases, on the contrary, the medication affects the effectiveness of other drugs. You should consult your doctor about compatibility.

Reviews about taking paracetamol for headaches

Alexandra, 25 years old, Yekaterinburg. I took the pills when I was sick with ARVI, the fever and chills, the pain went away. I drank for three days, in combination with others.

Lyudmila, 32 years old, Vladivostok. I drink it exclusively as an antipyretic and strictly according to the instructions. During the entire period, no allergic reactions or side effects were observed. Helps with headaches during a cold.

Anastasia, 39 years old, St. Petersburg. I always have it in my home medicine cabinet; the whole family drank it just to lower the temperature. I didn’t know that tablets help with moderate pain. But I would like to note that you should drink it only according to the instructions, not exceeding the dose, and simply do not abuse any medications.

Evgeniy, 31 years old, Kyiv. On the advice of friends, I used this drug to relieve headaches after a hangover. I can’t say that it helped a lot, because there was a feeling of heaviness, but it was dulled.

And now I found out that it is generally contraindicated with alcoholic beverages. But fortunately for me, I didn’t get any complications.

Of all the drugs I took, it works quickly and lowers the temperature in acute respiratory infections.

Source: https://paracetamol.pro/paracetamol/ot-golovnoy-bolii/

Answers to frequently asked questions

Why doesn't it help?

Paracetamol has a pronounced but individual effect.

Taking the drug may be useless in case of: weather dependence, severe intoxication of the body, chronic hypertension and hypotension, physical overexertion, brain injuries.

Is it possible to drink without fever?

Paracetamol is an excellent pain reliever. The absence of fever as a symptom is not a contraindication.

Will alcohol help with headaches?

The drug helps relieve hangovers. Unlike other painkillers, it does not cause nausea. Take at least 6 hours after drinking alcohol.

It is worth considering the possibility of toxic interaction between trace amounts of alcohol and the active substance in the medicine. Therefore, the main condition for admission: absence of intoxication, even in a mild form.

To quickly get rid of headaches, they resort to complex therapy: in addition to taking paracetamol, they use sorbents and drink plenty of water.

Paracetamol for headaches: does it help, how to take it correctly for headaches

Headache is the most common ailment. This is because this symptom can indicate many pathologies.

So, often a headache occurs due to overwork, after hypothermia or prolonged exposure to the sun, due to high or low blood pressure, during a cold, and so on. The symptom often responds quite well to treatment.

However, you should always remember that such a correction will not save you from the true pathology. Most often, patients use the drug “Paracetamol” for headaches.

Next, we’ll look at how quickly the drug helps relieve headaches and what dosage is best to use.

How does the product work?

The drug has antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Once in the human stomach, the tablet quickly dissolves and is absorbed into the blood. After this, the product is distributed throughout the body. Within 10-30 minutes a person feels relief.

The medication we are considering lasts from 6 to 8 hours. It all depends on what exactly is required from the medicine. Pain relief occurs quickly, and the effect lasts for a long time. If you are trying to relieve a fever, the work of the drug may be slightly slowed down (up to one hour), but the effect lasts from 3 to 6 hours

Pharmacy assortment

Release forms

Pills:

• with shell;
• soluble;
• effervescent;
• for resorption.

Other release forms:

• syrup;
• capsules;
• suspension;
• rectal suppositories (suppositories);
• solution for infusion;
• powder for preparing solutions (anti-cold medications).

Which is better? In the form of a suspension and syrup, the drug acts faster, therefore it is in demand when treating children. But on the road (business trip, vacation), it is better to take regular tablets with you.

Use for children

If the correct dose is observed, Paracetamol, when used, does not have a negative effect on the child’s body.

• For a child at least 3 months and up to 1 year, up to 120 mg per day is prescribed in the form of syrup or rectal suppositories.
• For children from 1 to 6 years old, the dosage is increased to 120-240 mg in the same forms.

• Children 6-12 years old in any dosage form, at the rate of 10-15 mg per kilogram of the child’s weight.
• An adult dosage is recommended for children over 12 years of age.

In childhood

In what cases can you give

Children taking paracetamol or its analogues should be under the supervision of the attending physician.

Main cases of use: headaches and toothaches, infectious and inflammatory processes accompanied by fever or febrile syndrome.

The medicine is traditionally prescribed to a child with elevated body temperature: 38 °C and above. Give after feeding (for infants) or meals every 6–8 hours.

From what age

The drug is approved for children aged 3 years and older. In exceptional cases, paracetamol is given to children starting from the 31st day of life.

Children's dosages

Remember: the dosage and dosage schedule must be calculated by your doctor.

• 16–18 years: 0.5 g 3–4 times a day;
• 12–16 years: 0.5 g;
• 9–12 years: 0.2 or 0.325 g;
• 3–9 years: 60 mg per 1 kg of weight;
• 0–3 years: 5–10 mg per 1 kg of weight.

Most pharmacies have a wide range of children's paracetamol.

Pediatricians recommend the following types of drug depending on age:

• 3–12 months: suppositories 0.08 g;
• 1–3 years: 0.17 g suppositories and syrup;
• 3–12 years: 0.325 g tablets, syrup and suspensions;
• 12–18 years: tablets of 0.5 g, etc.

Tablets require prior dissolution in water.

Precautionary measures

The dosage is calculated by the doctor individually depending on the weight and age of the child.

It is important to follow the prescription. Taking pills inappropriately can cause an asthma attack in a child.

Possible side effects after paracetamol absorption: allergic reactions and diarrhea.

Overdose of the drug and contraindications for use

Side effects of Paracetamol occur due to an overdose or individual intolerance to the components. First of all, the liver and kidneys suffer. The drug also has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and heart. In case of overdose, the following disorders may occur:

• allergic rashes;
• aspirin asthma;
• suffocation;
• abdominal pain;
• bowel dysfunction;
• decrease in blood glucose levels.

Overdose can provoke exacerbation of stomach ulcers or gastritis

Long-term use of the medicine can cause exacerbation of stomach ulcers and gastritis, and in rare cases, hematopoietic disorders. When poisoned with the drug within 10-20 hours, the patient develops pathologies such as:

• nausea and vomiting;
• may hurt on the right side under the ribs;
• appetite decreases, up to complete aversion to food;
• weakness and drowsiness.

After 36 hours the condition worsens sharply:

• body temperature decreases;
• blood pressure drops;
• kidney failure occurs;
• there is heavy sweating;
• convulsions develop;
• delirium may occur;
• platelet production decreases.

Without receiving medical care, the patient falls into a coma. Severe poisoning can result in death. The lethal dose of Paracetamol for an adult is 150 mg per 1 kg of body weight, which corresponds to 3 tablets (500 mg each) per 10 kg of body weight. If at least 2 symptoms of poisoning appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Before the ambulance arrives, it is advisable to rinse the stomach, but if the drug gets into the blood, then you cannot do without an antidote. The patient needs methionine or acetylcysteine.

Taking Paracetamol is contraindicated in patients with disorders such as:

• exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcer;
• stomach bleeding;
• hepatitis;
• liver or kidney failure;
• glomerulonephritis.

Since the drug affects hematopoiesis, any blood disease is an absolute contraindication to taking Paracetamol.

Can children drink?

The drug can also be given to children for headaches and high fever, but most often doctors advise using the drug in the form of suppositories.

Manufacturers of analogues, such as Panadol, divide the medicine into age categories, so it is easier to decide when purchasing here. The frequency of administration is equivalent to the rules for adults.

Doctors note that it will be much more difficult for the child to tolerate high fever and headaches. In some cases, tablets can be given every four hours in alternation with Ibuprofen.

During pregnancy

Attention! Taking paracetamol during pregnancy is prohibited at any time. Despite the fact that the World Health Organization classifies the drug as harmless, its active component penetrates the placenta into the fetal tissue. Drug intervention affects the health of the unborn child and causes various pathologies.

In extreme cases, a doctor may prescribe a drug if its benefits outweigh the potential harm:

• migraine and headache attacks;
• ARVI and influenza, accompanied by fever, high temperature and fever;
• severe pain in muscles and joints;
• unbearable toothaches.

The dosage is determined by the doctor. In practice, paracetamol for children or half the dose (1/2 tablet) for an adult is often used. The maximum daily value does not exceed 1–1.5 g.

The syrup or tablet is washed down with water before meals.

In the first weeks of pregnancy, paracetamol can cause spontaneous abortion.

Other possible consequences:

• 1st trimester: cryptorchidism, nervous system disorders, changes in the hormonal levels of the embryo;
• 2nd trimester: disruption of the developing organs and systems of the fetus;
• 3rd trimester: poisoning of the baby’s tissues through a weakened placenta.

Use during breastfeeding

Paracetamol for headaches is one of the few medications approved for use while breastfeeding. The tablet can begin to act on the source of pain within 20 minutes after you drink it.

If the mother previously had allergic reactions to the action of the medication, then during breastfeeding it is better to completely abandon the use of Paracetamol. Otherwise, it may lead to allergies in the child.

When breastfeeding, a mother can take the drug in the following cases:

1. Body temperature rises above 38 degrees. If the temperature is lower, then it is not recommended to use any medications, since such an increase helps fight the virus that caused it.

1. Sharp and squeezing headache or toothache. At the same time, if the headache is minor, then you should stop using any medications. It is better to provide air access to the room, go outside or lie down to rest. Sometimes pain in a person occurs due to a lack of glucose in the blood. Therefore, in some cases, it is enough for mom to drink warm sweet tea.

Analogs

1. Tsefekon, Agnus compositum-GF, Apis, Normagast, Alumina, Pamol, Acetofen, Prokhodol (Russia).
2. Panadol, Calpol, Sanidol, (UK).
3. Efferalgan, Perfalgan, Dafalgan, Panadol (France).
4. Tylenol, Apotel, Pyranol, Aminadol, Acetomay, Bartel Drugs, Dynafed (USA).
5. New Jessica (Canada).
6. Mexalen (Austria, Germany).
7. Strimol (Netherlands).
8. Xumapar (Italy).
9. Panadol (Ireland, Greece).
10. Lekadol, Daleron (Slovenia).
11. Febricet, Paracet (Yugoslavia).
12. Lupocet (Croatia).
13. Medipirin (Slovakia).
14. Aldolor, Akamol-Teva (Israel).
15. Volpan, Siphenol, Deminofen (Türkiye).
16. Adol (UAE).
17. Pacimol, Opradol, Dolomol, Pasemol, Flutabs, Bindard, Paramol, Ifimol, Dolo, Vinblastin-Richter, Unispaz (India).
18. Napa (Bangladesh).

The main active component of these drugs is still paracetamol. The differences lie in the forms of release and production technologies, which allow, for example, taking medicine at an early age.