Back headache medication at the pharmacy and at home

The choice of headache medication can vary according to the cause and location of the pain. This article will discuss various drugs that you can use to treat back headaches.

List of headache remedies on the back

Quoted from Medical News Today, the headache in the back itself is most often caused by tension headache, migraines, excessive use of headache medications, occipital neuralgia, and strenuous exercise.

The following is a list of various drugs that you can use and can take.

1. Aspirin

Back headache caused by tension headacheor tension headaches can be cured by taking aspirin tablets.

Aspirin belongs to the salicylate class of drugs. These drugs work to inhibit the body's enzymes to stop the production of too much prostaglandin hormone. Prostaglandins themselves are hormones that can trigger pain by sending pain signals to the brain.

When aspirin blocks the activity of this enzyme, prostaglandin hormone production stops so that the hormone cannot send pain signals to the brain. That's when your headaches will subside.

The recommended dose for headache relief is 30- 650 mg orally every 4-6 hours. Swallow the medication completely by drinking a full glass of water (240 mL), do not crush, chew, or split the tablet. Also do not lie on your stomach for at least 10 minutes after you have taken this medicine.

2. Paracetamol

Paracetamol is an analgesic drug to treat headaches in the back due to tense neck muscles or due to stress.

The use of this drug as a back pain medication for tension headaches is supported by a study published in the Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews which states that paracetamol is effective in relieving tension headache symptoms within two hours.

As with aspirin, this drug also treats headaches by blocking the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase to stop the production of the hormone prostaglandins in the body. However, if you are going to use this drug as a back pain medication, make sure you use it with caution.

The reason is, using too much acetaminophen can causerebound headache,or headaches from taking too much pain medication. In addition, excessive use of this drug can also cause liver damage.

Another thing to keep in mind, avoid consuming alcohol together with paracetamol or afterwards because the interaction can increase the risk of liver disease.

3. Sumatriptan

If the headache in the back that you feel is caused by a migraine, you can use sumatriptan to treat it. This drug belongs to the class of triptan drugs, which work to affect the serotonin receptors in the head.

When you have a migraine, it usually happens vasodilation or dilated blood vessels. This drug is believed to block pain in the head by constricting blood vessels to relieve migraines. Sumatriptan is also believed to relieve pain by affecting certain nerves in the brain.

However, you must be careful with the use of this drug. The reason is, this drug is not safe to use if you have a history of heart attack, a history of minor strokes or transient ischemic attack, coronary heart disease, or different types of angina. Therefore, you can only use this drug if it is prescribed by a doctor.

This medicine has various preparations, ranging from oral medicines in the form of pills, sprays, injection drugs, to powder medicines.

4. Octreotide

Octreotide is a drug option that you can use if you experience cluster headaches at the back of the skull.

Octreotide is a synthetic form of the hormone somatostatin, a growth hormone, in the brain. This drug works to reduce the amount of the hormone somatostatin in the body.

This drug is used by injection into your vein in an attempt to treat headaches in the back.

Even so, not everyone can use this drug. Consult a doctor before you take octreotide.

5. Naproxen

Naproxen or naproxen is an NSAID drug that you can use to relieve pain due to various conditions. This drug can also treat tension headaches due to neck muscle pain to headaches and migraines during menstruation.

The way it works is as a barrier to substances in the body that produce inflammation-causing substances. The dose required is 275 mg of naproxen sodium or 250 mg of naproxen every 6 to 8 hours as needed. While the maximum dose of naproxen is around 1000 mg.

This drug also has side effects in the form of stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness, itchy skin, and blurred vision. Discuss more about how to use this drug with your doctor to avoid the risks.

Backache medicine from natural ingredients

Not only pain medication consisting of chemical drugs, you can also relieve headaches in the back using the following natural ingredients.

1. essential oil

Several types of essential oils can be used to treat headaches in the back. Lavender oil and oilpeppermintare two types of essential oils that are believed to help reduce headaches.

Usually, peppermint oil used by rubbing it on the temple area to overcometension headacheor tension headaches, one of the causes of back pain.

Meanwhile, lavender oil can be used to treat migraines when applied to the upper lip or the aroma is inhaled through the nose.

But keep in mind, before you apply essential oils to areas of your body, you should do an allergy test first, by rubbing a little oil on the hand area, then waiting for a few hours. If there is no reaction such as redness or swelling, these essential oils are safe for you.

2. Ginger tea

You can also use ginger tea as a natural remedy for headaches in the back.

The reason is, ginger root contains many benefits, including as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances. In addition, ginger can also be used to reduce nausea and want to vomit. These two things are usually closely related to acute headaches.

You can use ginger powder wrapped in capsules or make a tea containing ginger if you want to take advantage of its properties in dealing with headaches in the back.

3. Caffeine

Apart from the two natural ingredients that have been mentioned above, you can also use caffeine to relieve back headaches. Caffeine is useful for improving mood, focus, and also constricts blood vessels. These three things are closely related to headaches.

If you want to take advantage of caffeine to treat headaches, you can consume caffeine-containing drinks such as tea and coffee. However, you also have to be careful with the caffeine intake you consume. The reason is, if you have stomach disease, then caffeine can irritate your stomach.