Q. have mold allergies. Which nonprescription drugs are good to relieve headaches?
A. Many headaches can be relieved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Acetaminophen also is a good choice. Avoid using opioids to relieve headaches.
A more important question is, what causing the headache? There are several potential causes of for headaches. I recommend you see your physician for evaluation.
Common causes of headaches are migraine, tension and sinus headaches. Migraines are neurologic headaches. They often have an aura, such as a sense of nausea, shimmering lights, dizziness or other sensations that provide a warning that the headache is coming on. This early set of symptoms is call a prodrome.
Tension headaches are caused by stress. There is some controversy over whether tension headaches actually exist, since many are actually migraine headaches. Tension headaches are frequently treated with NSAIDs as listed above.
Allergies are a rare cause of headaches, though certain foods containing tyramine or phenylethylamine, such as chocolate or fermented cheeses, can induce headaches.
Sinus headaches don’t really occur in the head. A sinus headache is usually manifested as pain over the face, particularly the cheeks and forehead. Pain in the teeth is also common with sinus headaches. If you have these symptoms, particularly if you also have yellow-green nasal drainage, congestion and postnasal drip, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.