HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Headache Help

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/3/2008 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
What can an IBDer take for headache relief? My 17 year old son is laying in bed holding his head in pain. He has taken two ibuprofen (I know...) and that is not even helping. He said the pain is at a 7 (1-10 scale) and he has a pretty high pain tolerance.

Is there an IBD safe headache medicine out there? Tylenol doesn't do anything for him. Usually ibuprofen helps, but not this time. What is available prescription wise?
Posted 11/3/2008 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Julie, I sure wish I could help you here, but I can't other than a heating pad helps me when I have a headache. I'm just sorry your baby is hurting.

Gigi1227
Posted 11/3/2008 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Julie, if he's having a migraine, I think some of the migraine medications are safe for UC. Of course the trick with some of the newer ones is that you have to take them at/near headache onset.

I wish I had an answer for you. I get bad headaches, too, and have found no replacement for Advil/Aleve.
Posted 11/3/2008 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I hope your son is doing better today? I get frequent headaches and sometimes migraines. I found that Excederin Migraine works very well but it has acetaminophen as well as aspirin and caffeine. I don't take it too often because the aspirin can cause me to bleed but sometimes you have to make the choice of having your head falling off or intestinal bleeding - truthfully I would take the intestinal bleed over my head falling off any day!
Posted 11/3/2008 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
I get frequent terrible headaches and migraines and Tylenol doesn't even faze them. For the headaches I usually try something like Excedrine first but for the migraines I have to take something like Ibuprofen or, if it's really bad I have a prescription for Imitrex. As far as I know it's safe for someone with IBD to take but when I'm feeling like that, I honestly couldn't care less about my UC, I'm just trying to get the pain to stop!
Posted 11/3/2008 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
I suggest massage. Usually my headaches are caused by tension - too much of which will trigger a migraine :(

If he's still having problems, best to call the GP. Sudden, severe headaches can be worrisome.
Posted 11/4/2008 3:54 AM (GMT 0)

Keylime,

  Is he taking any meds like Canasa or anything? Those can cause headaches and usually MD's/pharmacists don't tell you that until you say "you know I've been having headaches..."  Anyways, this is probably not great advice but I take Excedrin Migraine and on occasion I will take Advil.  Sometimes I have such headaches that taking the Advil once won't kill me but will alleviate the headache.  Make sure to take it with milk (if he can handle that) or with some food in his stomach.  I've had plenty of bad flares but none that I feel was caused nor worsened by taking Advil.

Becky

Posted 11/4/2008 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was and am able to tolerate prescription migraine meds without a problem, currently Relpax works for me. Definitely call his internist and see what they recommend. You do need to take the meds right at onset of the headache for them to work most effectively. In a pinch, Tylenol with Codeine works well too, and this is actually good for UC, as codeine slows things down a bit, poop-wise.

I find that ice helps until the meds kick in -- alternate an ice-pack wrapped in a cloth on the forehead and at the base of the skull at the back of the neck.

Migraines are the worst, hope he gets relief soon!
Posted 11/4/2008 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
AFAIK the advice is avoid Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) which include ibuprofen (brufen etc) and aspirin but paracetomol should be fine.
Posted 11/5/2008 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
The only thing that works for me is taking 2 Aleve (naproxen sodium...an NSAID). It's generally not recommended that we take NSAIDs, but they don't seem to cause me problems and my GIs have okayed occasional use for my headaches. Sorry to hear your son has a bad headache.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply