4 Medications That Cause Headaches

If you’re looking for the cause of your pounding headache, it’s best to quickly write down the names of the medications you’re taking. All medications have side effects, and headaches are usually one of them. In this article, you’ll learn about 4 medications that cause headaches.

A variety of medications, including birth control pills, heart medications, and even painkillers, can cause headaches. However, if you have a headache, don’t stop taking the medication on your own. Always talk to your doctor first so you can plan your next step. He or she may suggest changing the dosage or switching to a different medication altogether.

4 Medications That Cause Headaches

1. Painkillers

Yes, it may not be what you expected, but the fact is that some medications used to treat headaches can cause them themselves.

This is called a “returning headache.” This problem occurs when you take painkillers multiple times a day. When the medication wears off, your headaches return and you are forced to take more medication. Over time, you will notice that you have more and more headaches and often the pain gets worse.

This problem can occur when taking prescription or over-the-counter medications. Medications that cause rebound headaches include:

• Aspirin
• Acetaminophen
• Sleeping pills
• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen
• Codeine and prescription painkillers.
• Medications that contain caffeine.
• Migraine medications are called triptans.

The best way to treat recurring headaches is to stop taking the medication. Work with your doctor to find a medication that is likely to cause the symptoms. You may not be able to stop taking the medication or may need to taper off the dose gradually.

Keep in mind that when you stop taking the medication, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea, or worse, headaches. The good news is that if you stop taking the medication, your headache medication may work better and your rebound headache will go away.

2. Birth Control

When it comes to pain, their story is mixed. Some women with migraines find hormonal birth control pills helpful. Siren is aware that birth control pills and other hormonal prevention methods such as the birth control patch or vaginal ring can cause migraines.

If you have a headache and are taking birth control pills, your headache may be due to the decrease or drop in estrogen that occurs during the days you take inactive pills or placebo pills:

• Use birth control that has fewer inactive pill days, such as Seasonal or Seasonic 
• Use a birth control pill that lowers estrogen levels.
• Take over-the-counter or prescription headache medication on your off days (when you don't take the pill).
• Use birth control pills that contain only estrogen, not a combination of estrogen and progesterone.
• On your off days, take a low dose of estrogen pills or use an estrogen patch.

3. Nitrates

These are medications used to treat chest pain caused by heart disease. This medication, also called nitroglycerin, dilates blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily to the heart.

Headaches are a common side effect of nitrates. You may experience a mild headache very soon after taking the medication or a severe migraine about 3 to 6 hours later. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. The headache may go away as your body adjusts to the medication.

If you take nitrates and experience headaches, continue taking the medication but also consult your doctor. Do not try to self-medicate. Some medications used to treat migraines, such as triptans, can be dangerous if you have heart problems.

4. Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy treats menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. This can cause headaches.

If you get headaches while taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), talk to your doctor. They may suggest a few different changes to help ease your pain.

You can try a lower dose of HRT or different types of HRT to find what works best for you. For example, an estrogen skin patch is a type of HRT that releases small amounts of estrogen. This method of HRT causes fewer headaches.