Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Headache.

I hate getting headaches. I get bad ones sometimes and they drive me crazy! Nothing seems to work other than going to bed with an icepack, and even that doesn't always help. For some reason, several people, including my doctor, have suggested I try using Excedrin. This morning I was a bit desperate so I went to the local pharmacy to find some.
For $4.27, I could buy a 24-pill jar of Excedrin Migraine. For $4.29, I could buy a 24-pill jar of Extra Strength Excedrin. They actually have the exact same ingredients: 250 mg of Acetaminophen, 250 mg of aspirin, and 65 mg of caffeine. So I decided to buy the migraine version and save 2 cents. And I did this while knowing full well that I already have generic acetaminophen at home, as well as coffee, and I could easily buy some cheap generic aspirin to construct for myself the exact same combination of active ingredients for less money.
But like I said, headaches drive me crazy. The Excedrin hasn't helped. Groan.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The next time you get a bad headache, try this: Buy some peppermint oil from your local holistic food store, rub two drops on each temple and along the base of your neck.

I use peppermint oil in conjunction with an ice pack and my migraine is gone within twenty minutes or so.

Anonymous said...

I can tell you exactly the best use of that Excedrin Migraine: hangovers. Seriously, it's the best.

Anonymous said...

Give the combination a try next time ... acetaminophen and ibuprofen. It might just be a mental thing, but some pharmacists suggest that there is a synergistic effect. I've recently added a buffered aspirin since my stomach handles it pretty well and believe that 'thinning' the blood helps the other two work better? (that's my own conclusion and it might have to do with my concluding that it works?)

frugal zeitgeist said...

8 hour Tylenol is the bomb in my book. Feel better.

A. Marigold said...

I can't even imagine how bad a headache must be if Excedrin can't help; that stuff is like magic. Do you have migraines? The first suggestion sounds good. I bought a peppermint pillow once (like a beanbag filled with peppermint and lavender); I heat it up for a few seconds and hold it under my nose and breathe. It helps with migraines, but not sinus headaches. Those are a different monster altogether

Anonymous said...

You might want to try Aleve (active ingredient is naproxen sodium). It is the only thing that works for my headaches.
If the headache is really bad, I'll take 2 aleves with a 20oz bottle of coke... That is the only time I drink soda, ever.

Anonymous said...

It would likely be helpful to figure out if you have migraine, tension, or sinus headaches. If you have migraines, here are some things I have found helpful: continuous use birth control pills (my migraines are triggered by hormonal fluctuations), non-flushing niacin supplements, calcium supplements, peppermint oil, avoiding trigger foods (these vary from person to person, but common ones are chocolate, red wine, aged cheeses, MSG, meats with nitrates).

Anonymous said...

Exedrin migraine works for me sometimes. If not, Motrin usially does the trick.

Anonymous said...

I had a professor in an advertising class tell me that the secret in advertising is to "sell the sizzle, not the steak." Sounds like Excedrin has the sizzle part down, especially for someone in pain.

Beatrice said...

About 5 years ago, I had a summer of horrible headaches. My doctor even sent me in for an MRI, on the chance that I had a brain tumor! No tumor, just a lot of stress in my life at the time.

The doctor also prescribed some sort of special migraine medication; I don't remember it helping me that much, but perhaps it is worth looking into?

msfrugal said...

Much cheaper: the store's own copy-cat brand of generic Excedrine!

Anonymous said...

I second the Anon person above who said that you should try to find out what type of headache you are getting, and what your trigger foods might be.

I bought a book on migraines once and learned that my triggers are the three C's: Cheese, Chocolate and Citrus. If I had all three C's on the same day, I was just asking for a migraine!

I also learned that I was the type of person who needed to eat every 3 hours or risk a migraine.

Another thing I learned was to detect the early signs of a migraine (such as feeling very thirsty), and take medication right away. If I waited until the migraine was fully upon me, medication did not work.

When I lost some weight (I was very overweight), and reduced my blood pressure, my migraines stopped completely.

Madame X, if you discover that you are having migraines, walk with a zip-lock bag at all times. You can fill it with ice for an instant ice pack for the back of your neck. Ice is the wonder drug, better than Excedrin, and restaurants give it away for free! Migraines are caused by too much blood flowing to the brain, and ice helps to constrict the blod vessels.

Best of luck to you!

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog today and am thoroughly enjoying it! Thank you!

Anyway - 90% of headaches are caused by dehydration (alcohol really dries you up and thats why you get such horrible headaches with hangovers)... And water is free (from the tap at least...) So, stay hydrated and drink tons of water!!! It is the best preventative medicine out there...