- Supermarket house brands are much cheaper than leading-brand painkillers. And they give you the same level of active ingredients. Why pay more than you need to?
- Always read the instructions on the packet and follow the recommended daily doses for adults and children.
Medication-overuse headache
Sometimes using painkillers to treat a headache will simply make it worse. If you take a painkiller to treat a migraine or a tension headache for a long period (more than 15 days in a month or for longer than 3 months) your body may become used to the drug.
When you stop taking it, a "withdrawal" or "rebound" headache develops (the medical term is "medication-overuse headache"). So you start back on the painkiller and the vicious circle begins. In time you may end up taking painkillers almost every day.
If you take painkillers regularly for headaches, talk to your doctor about what alternatives are suitable for you.
More information
- Free online health information: www.moh.govt.nz/besttreatments
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