Headaches may respond to aspirin or naproxen. If over-the-counter remedies do not control your pain, talk to your doctor about possible prescription medications.

Prescription medications used for migraine headaches include ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine with caffeine (Cafergot), isometheptene (Midrin), and triptans like sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), eletriptan (Relpax), almotriptan (Axert), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). Sometimes medications to relieve nausea and vomiting are helpful for other migraine symptoms.

If you get headaches often, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent headaches before they occur. Examples of these include:

Antidepressants such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil) for tension or migraine headache
Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) for frequent migraine headaches
Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil for frequent migraine headaches
Anti-epileptic medicines such as topiramate (Topamax)

If you are using pain medications more than 2 days a week, you may be suffering from rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are caused by a cycle of using pain medications for short-term relief, followed by the headache pain returning for increasingly longer periods of time despite taking more pain medications.

All types of pain pills (including over-the-counter drugs), muscle relaxants, some decongestants, and caffeine can cause this pattern. If you think this may be a problem for you, talk to your health care provider.

The following healthy habits can lessen stress and reduce your chance of getting headaches:

Getting adequate sleep
Eating a healthy diet
Exercising regularly
Stretching your neck and upper body, especially if your work involves typing or using a computer
Learning proper posture
Quitting smoking
Learning to relax using meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or other techniques

Generally, headaches will just go away by itself with the use of v and oftentimes, they do not really require a visit to physician. Treatment for headaches can decrease the severe of pain and the length of time the headache is present.

Treatment for headaches may also decrease other symptoms like muscle aches, anxiety, and nausea or vomiting.

If your physician had given you a prescription for your headache, it is recommended that you start immediately what your doctor had prescribed on you.

The most common type of medicines that is used to treat headache, fever or pain is:

Acetaminophen like Tylenol or Panadol
Ibuprofen like Advil or Motrin
Naproxen like Aleve or Naprosyn

It is important that you follow all the instructions that are given along with all your prescribed medications.

Following all the instructions for your headache is vital for you to get rid of the pain and for your own safety.

Some of the instructions that you have to observe in taking these medicines are:

Read, understand and follow all the directions that are given in the medicine bottle and medicine box.
If you have a past history of allergic reaction to any of the medicines, then do not take them again.
If your doctor had advised you not to take a certain medicines that may worsen your other medical conditions, then call your doctor before taking any medicines.
If you are pregnant, don't take any medicine. Call first your doctor before taking anything.
Never give any aspirin medications to individuals which are younger than twenty years old.

If you have mild headache, you may also consider the following:

Place a cold compress on the head
Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs
Rest in a dark and quiet room