Table of contents:
- Choice of a powerful headache medication
- 1. Pain relievers
- 2. Sumatriptan
- 3. Dihydroergotamine
- 4. Octreotide
- 5. Lidocaine
- 6. Inhaling oxygen
- Choice of drugs to prevent headaches
- 1. Calcium channel blockers
- 2. Nerve block
- 3. Corticosteroid injections
- 4. Antidepressants
Attacks of one-sided headache can last from days, weeks, even months. Certain types of headaches, such as migraines or cluster headaches can even recur when triggered. So if you want to get well quickly, what are the options for the next headache medication that is effective in relieving pain on the right or left?
Choice of a powerful headache medication
There are many things that can cause one-sided headaches. However, not all headache medications in pharmacies can relieve all causes of headaches on the one hand. Therefore, the choice of drug must also be adjusted to the type of headache that attacks.
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, here are drug options to relieve headaches right or left according to the cause:
1. Pain relievers
Headaches on the right or left that are still mild and are not caused by a serious health problem can be treated with headache medications at pharmacies, such as paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen.
A deep research The Journal of Head and Face Pain stated that paracetamol seems to work more effectively in dealing with migraine-induced headaches when used together with aspirin and caffeine.
These pain relievers work to relieve headaches by blocking the activity of enzymes in the body that produce prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormones that help send pain signals to the brain and trigger inflammation. When the production of prostaglandins can be controlled, the pain can be stopped.
However, these drugs have the potential to cause rebound headache (recurrent headaches) if used long-term.
2. Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan is a medicine for right or left headaches caused by acute migraines. These medications are specifically designed to stop migraine-induced or cluster headaches immediately after an attack has started.
As an acute migraine medication, triptans help relieve aura symptoms as well as common onset symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
Sumatriptan works to stimulate serotonin, a chemical in the brain that can stop pain by reducing inflammation and constricting blood vessels.
Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor as soon as you experience the first symptoms of a migraine. The dosage is based on the medical condition and response to treatment. If it doesn't get better, do not add a dose of this medication on your own without your doctor's approval.
If the pain is only partially relieved or the headache returns, you can take your next dose at least two hours after the first dose. Do not use more than 200 mg within 24 hours.
Sumatriptan cannot prevent migraines or reduce how often one-sided headache attacks occur.
3. Dihydroergotamine
Dihydroergotamine is a medication to treat migraine symptoms that last more than 24 hours.
Dihydroergotamine can be inhaled directly by sufferers or injected into a vein, into a muscle, or under the skin by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
The content of this drug is useful to help narrow the blood vessels in the head, thereby reducing the throbbing effect of a headache.
This medication works best when it is used immediately when the first signs of a migraine headache occur. If you wait until the headache worsens, the effect of the medication may not be as pronounced.
This medicine should be used sparingly and is not intended for daily or even long-term use.
4. Octreotide
Octreotide is a synthetic compound derived from somatostatin, a substance normally found in the human body. This substance works to inhibit the effects of growth hormone.
This injection drug is claimed to have a longer effect than triptan drugs to treat headaches on the right or left side. Octreotide is also considered safer for those of you who have other conditions such as hypertension or heart disease.
5. Lidocaine
Lidocaine is an anesthetic drug that is injected to produce a sensation of numbness (numbness / numbness) in the area of the head on the left or right that hurts.
This medication is also available in the form of a nasal spray or nasal drop containing 4% lidocaine to relieve headaches caused by migraines or clusters.
This medicine requires a prescription from a doctor.
6. Inhaling oxygen
Headaches right or left that are very severe can be treated with the help of oxygen. Inhaling pure oxygen for a short time can provide a relieving effect. This procedure is relatively safe, without side effects, and can provide pain relief after 15 minutes.
Choice of drugs to prevent headaches
There are several drugs that aim to prevent chronic headaches due to migraines or debilitating cluster headaches. However, it is necessary to consult a doctor first before using some of the treatments below.
1. Calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers are drugs that are claimed to be often the first choice for preventing chronic one-sided headaches.
2. Nerve block
Nerve block or nerve block is also one of the preventive drugs that you can choose to relieve the recurrence of chronic chronic headaches. This drug will be injected into the area around the occipital nerve, which is located at the back of your head. However, this method may be of use only temporarily.
3. Corticosteroid injections
This one-side headache-preventing drug is an inflammation reliever. Your doctor will give you this injection if you have one-sided headache conditions, either those that have a pattern of short periods or are classified as long.
Corticosteroid injections are a good option for short-term use. The use of corticosteroid drugs to prevent headaches can increase the risk of side effects in the form of diabetes, hypertension, and cataracts.
4. Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, can be prescribed by your doctor to prevent migraine headaches or cluster headaches. However, these drugs have side effects such as drowsiness and weight gain.
Partial headaches due to certain medical conditions or those that have been long lasting may need different treatment. Consult your doctor further if the drugs you are using are not effective for dealing with headaches on the right or left.