my first choice has always been an aspirin, but most of my coworkers tell me I’m wrong and I should use ibuprofen first.
What’s your take?
Excedrin = Aspirin + Tylenol + Caffeine
95% of the time, a headache for me means I’m dehydrated. So I drink water + electrolyte drops.
Ibuprofen if I’m at work, but at home I usually take a short nap and have some coffee after, which works better for me.
If it’s early and I’m under caffeinated, then I drink more coffee. If that doesn’t help or apply, then I assume I’m dehydrated and drink water. If that doesn’t help I try to take a nap. Usually by the time I run down the checklist it’s close enough to bedtime that I just turn in early. If none of that helps and/or I have stuff to do, then I reach for ibuprofen just because we are more likely to have that on hand than Tylenol.
I’ll go plain old paracetamol which works for me most of the time. If that fails then ibuprofen would be my next choice.
It depends on the cause, and your own biology.
Aspirin reduces pain signals but also reduces blood clotting, If your headache is from vasculature issues in and around your brain it’s extra insurance.
Acetaminophen just reduces pain signals in the nervous system. It doesn’t have any secondary advantageous effects but it is easier on your stomach.
Ibuprofen reduces pain signals and also as an anti-inflammatory. So if your headache is caused from minor swelling in the head it’s the obvious choice.
I feel like at least in the US most people tend to overtake ibuprofen when they’d probably be better suited with Tylenol or aspirin.
