What can I take for a headache while on Prozac? (3 safe OTC medications) 

This blog post will answer the question, “what can I take for a headache while on prozac?”. Prozac is an antidepressant which is supposed to be used for a long period of time to achieve the desired results. 

People are often worried to take medications for common ailments along with their antidepressants because of the risk of drug-drug interactions. This blog will cover what medications are safe to take for headaches while you’re on prozac. 

What can you take for a headache while on prozac? 

You can take the following medications for a headache while on prozac:

• Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 
• Tylenol – Ultra relief (Acetaminophen + caffeine) 
• Advil (Ibuprofen) 

Note: Take Advil only if prescribed by your healthcare provider. The concomitant use of prozac and advil may increase the risk of bleeding in some individuals, especially those who already suffer either from a bleeding disorder or any liver or kidney disease.

There’s no denying the fact that headaches are pretty annoying and they can literally make your day worse. A headache can range from mild to severe, lasting from a few minutes to days. It comes with the following symptoms:

• Throbbing pain in forehead, eyes, eyebrow bone, and temples. 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sounds
• Loss of appetite 
• Irritability 

These symptoms can vary from person to person and depend on the severity of your headache. Make sure you report to your healthcare provider if your headache persists. 

How can you get rid of a headache without taking any medication? 

There are a few ways you can try to take your headache down a notch. These include:

• Use a cold or warm compress 
• Drink a caffeinated beverage 
• Stay rested
• Drink plenty of water
• Try ginger tea 
• Make sure you’re not putting pressure on your head
• Turn off the lights 
• Avoid the use of alcohol 
• Massage your forehead 
• Do not use electronic devices or smart gadgets 

Use a warm compress 

A warm compress on your forehead can really help reduce the intensity of your headache. It encourages blood circulation towards your head which causes a state of relaxation and pain relief. There are plenty of ways to do that. 

You can either use a heating pad or a rubber pouch that you can fill with hot water. If you don’t have these things available, you can simply iron your towel until it becomes sufficiently warm. 

Then you can fold it and put it on your forehead. Make sure you’re in a relaxed position as you’re doing it. Close your eyes and try to relax. Cold compress is not considered a good option for a headache, but studies suggest that some people can gain benefit from it.

Drink a caffeinated beverage 

Sip some tea, coffee or any other warm caffeinated beverage. Caffeine can increase your mood and alertness and can significantly tone down your headache if you consume it right after your headache starts. 

Several studies also suggest that caffeine can enhance the pain relieving effects of paracetamol. However, it is not recommended if you’re a caffeine addict as headache is one of the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. 

Make sure you don’t drink too much caffeine as it can make you anxious and agitated. It is also advised to drink plenty of water after having a caffeinated beverage, because caffeine acts as a diuretic. 

It can draw water and electrolytes out of your body and excessive amounts can make you dehydrated which can worsen your headache. 

Stay rested 

Headaches are quite disabling and they can make normal daily life activities much more difficult for you. It is recommended to stay rested during an episode of headache. 

Do not engage in any work or anything that requires you to concentrate, as the throbbing pain won’t let you do that. Lie down on your bed and try to take a nap. 

Drink plenty of water 

Several studies indicate that dehydration is one of the most common causes of headache in individuals. However, your headache might be a side effect of prozac. Whatever the actual cause is, hydration can help reduce the severity of your headache significantly. 

One study revealed that drinking water can start reducing your pain in as soon as 30 minutes. Make sure your water is not too cold, as excessive cold water can irritate your head even more. 

In order to ensure the maximum absorption of water in your system, it’s best to drink room-temperature water. 

Try ginger tea 

Ginger is well known for anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. It also acts as an antioxidant. Tea infused with ginger can really help reduce your headache. It can also unclog sinuses, as they can cause a headache as well. 

A 2014 study included 100 patients with migraine headaches and monitored the effects of ginger on them. The researchers found out that ginger significantly lowered the intensity of such headaches. 

Ginger tea can also help relieve the symptoms of nausea and vomiting associated with severe headaches. There’s nothing difficult about making ginger tea. Heat around a cup of water and bring it to boil. Add a teaspoon of chopped ginger root. 

You can also add a piece without chopping it. Turn off the heat and allow the ginger to steep in for a while. Drink this concoction in a lukewarm state and add a teaspoon of honey for some sweetness and a few addictive nutrients. 

Make sure you’re not putting pressure on your head

When you’re going through an episode of a headache, make sure you’re not putting any pressure on your head. Do not put your hair in a tight ponytail which can increase the pressure on your temples. 

Make sure you’re in a peaceful environment, away from extra noise. It is also recommended to stay silent for a while and not talk excessively. 

Turn off the lights 

Experts suggest turning off the lights when your head hurts or feels heavy. Severe headaches can make your eyes sensitive to light, which is why it’s best to avoid sharp lights. 

If you’re scared of the dark, you don’t necessarily have to switch them off. Just dim them down, close your eyes and try to relax. 

Avoid the use of alcohol 

It’s best to avoid using alcohol while you have a headache as it might increase the intensity of your pain. It can even make you more irritated and may cause even more discomfort. Alcohol is a vasodilator, which can increase the blood flow towards your head. 

Excessive blood flow can increase the pressure in your head and may make your headache much worse. Several studies have also revealed that alcohol is solely responsible for causing pressure and headaches in people. So, it’s best to avoid it for a while. 

Massage your forehead 

Massaging your forehead is another way to release some of the pressure in your head. You can also try over-the-counter pain relieving balms to massage your forehead and temples. This increases the blood flow and provides warmth to help relieve your throbbing pain. 

There are some essential oils which possess pain relieving and relaxing properties. You can use such essential oils to massage your forehead. The examples include:

• Peppermint oil
• Rosemary oil
• Lavender oil
• Eucalyptus oil
• Chamomile oil

Do not use electronic devices or smart gadgets 

It is best to reduce your screen time while you’re suffering from headaches. Several studies suggest that mobile phones, laptops and several other electronic smart gadgets can omit rays which may increase your headache. 

These rays can, in fact, cause headaches all on their own. This is exactly why it is recommended to stop using your phone when your headache is giving you a hard time. 

It is also recommended to avoid talking on the phone as the same study also indicated that the occurrence of headache was found common in people who have longer call durations. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed what kind of pain relievers can be used when you’re suffering from a headache while being on prozac. Prozac is an antidepressant which is supposed to be used for a long period of time to achieve the desired results. 

People are often worried to take medications for common ailments along with their antidepressants because of the risk of drug-drug interactions. 

We have concluded that it’s safe to use Tylenol (Acetaminophen), Tylenol extra strength (Acetaminophen and caffeine) and Advil (Ibuprofen). However, take Advil only if prescribed by your healthcare provider. 

The concomitant use of prozac and advil may increase the risk of bleeding in some individuals, especially those who already suffer either from a bleeding disorder or any liver or kidney disease. We have also discussed some non-pharmacological treatment options to help get rid of your headache. 

FAQs: what can i take for a headache while on prozac

What pain reliever can I take with Prozac?

You can take Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and Tylenol extra strength (Acetaminophen and caffeine) with prozac. You may also take Advil (Ibuprofen) with your prozac but it’s not recommended to use Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) without your doctor’s approval. The concomitant use of these drugs with prozac can increase the risk of bleeding in some individuals. 

Can I take Tylenol with Prozac?

Yes, you can take Tylenol with prozac. However, it is not recommended to take any painkiller excessively with the use of antidepressants. This is because it’s hard to predict how your body will react to this combination in excess amounts. 

Can I take ibuprofen for Prozac headache?

You may take Advil (Ibuprofen) with your prozac but it’s not recommended to use Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) without your doctor’s approval. The concomitant use of these drugs with prozac can increase the risk of bleeding in some individuals. 

Can I take aspirin with Prozac?

It is not recommended to take aspirin with prozac with your doctor’s approval. The concomitant use can dangerously increase the risk of bleeding in some individuals. It is always recommended to ask your healthcare provider before taking any medication with your antidepressant. 

Can I take Sudafed with Prozac?

It is generally considered safe to use sudafed and prozac together but a few interactions are also reported. It is suspected that your antidepressant might cause your body to process sudafed more slowly. 

In addition, both medications can increase the level of serotonin. So, the concomitant use of prozac and sudafed may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome which is associated with disturbing symptoms. 

What should I avoid while taking Prozac?

• Monoaminoxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The combination use can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. 
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). The combination use can increase the risk of bleeding. 
• Pimozide. The concomitant use can increase the plasma concentration(availability of a drug in the blood) of pimozide to much higher levels. It can result in life-threatening arrhythmia.
• Controlled substances, including all narcotic analgesics. The concomitant use can cause severe psychological side effects. 
• Mood stabilisers 
• Alcohol 

References 

• Side effects of fluoxetine https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/side-effects-of-fluoxetine/
• Tips to Get Rid of a Headache https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/5-ways-to-get-rid-of-headache
• Barry M. Popkin, Kristen E. D’Anci, and Irwin H. Rosenberg (2010) – Water, Hydration and Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/#__ffn_sectitle
• Mehdi Maghbooli et al. Phytother Res. (2014) – Comparison between the efficacy of ginger and sumatriptan in the ablative treatment of the common migraine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23657930/
• Christian Wöber et al. J Headache Pain. (2006) – Trigger factors of migraine and tension-type headache: experience and knowledge of the patients https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16897622/
• Randolph W Evans et al. Headache. (2009) – Alcohol and cluster headaches https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19125881/
• Prozac side effects and how to avoid them https://www.singlecare.com/blog/prozac-side-effects/