To think nothing can help this?

[incogneto]

I've had a headache every single day for about a week. If I don't keep on top of paracetamol every 4 hours the pain is there instantly and I become incredibly sensitive to light and sound.

What other medication can GPs prescribe? I don't want to go to the doctors if they're just going to tell me to use otc pain relief, to keep hydrated etc because I'm already doing those things anyway

A headache lasting so long I would suggest a visit to the gp.

I had a headache that lasted a while and the gp prescribed co codamol, didn't work so they prescribed naproxen. Which worked.

I think mine was stress related as I was in the middle of planning a wedding in 4 months with people being awkward.

They could prescribe a number of things depending on the situation (some will be available otc, so you may as well buy those, but others won't be otc - depends on docs suggestion)

However, not to alarm you, your headache doesn't sound normal if you're someone who doesn't normally suffer them/migraines (and given your op question about what meds, sounds like you don't) so I would go and get it checked.

light and sound sensitivity sounds like it might be a migraine. Do you have any other symptoms, or just the headache? No rash or anything?

There are other medications which may help if it's a migraine. You could try having a chat to your pharmacist, they're often helpful.

All week is not normal for a headache. How is your stress level? Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm? Are you getting enough sleep? When did you last have your eyes tested? Any grumbling teeth?

They may check for tension in your neck, they may suggest its eyesight related, they may want to look at a neurological physiology issue, or they may offer medication.

Where is the pain, what kind of pain is it and is there a pattern of time of day or activity?

The pain is right in my forehead. Sometimes the pain is focused on the left and sometimes the right.

I used to get bad headaches a lot in my teens when I was stressed (usually when I had exams) but they weren't daily and never came back once pain relief had worn off

It's a constant dull throbbing pain

When was your last eye test and do you have much screen time each day?

@Lwmommy less than 12 months ago as I was on specsavers contact lens scheme so I had them regularly.

Not much screen time as I'm on mat leave and busy with DS.

Headaches can be so debilitating 😥

Probably silly question given you're on mat leave but are you getting enough sleep and if not is there a way for you to get a solid 6-8 hrs soon?

Is def a migraine and not a headache, do you take any contraceptive pill? I was like you few years back , it turned up it was the tablet I was on . Mine would last 2-3 days and I had to stay in bed in complete darkness , no painkiller worked but the quit and dark eased it off a little.

My DH used to suffer constant headaches when we were first going out. He took paracetamols every four hours and had for over a year. He didn't realise that overuse of paracetamol GIVES you headaches. Once I told him to stop his headaches eased and completely disappeared.

My advice is to stop taking them for a while and use something else. Ibuprofen for example.
Try other non medicinal methods if possible. Things like 4Head or migraine kool n soothe patches. Better yet, get a basin full of cold cold water and dunk your face in with a heat pack on the back of your neck. As a regular migraine sufferer I used methods like that and they worked wonders.

My headaches like that are hormonal.

I can't be on the type of pill that has the week long breaks as I have that headache the entire week.

I hope you're not constantly taking paracetamol every 4 hours
It's only 4 doses every 24hrs. So 6 hourly really. Or if you use your 4 doses up in 16 hours, you need to wait 8 hours before the next one.

Unless you want to risk paracetamol overdose, liver damage or even death.

It could be your neck. Can you go for a neck/ head massage? It may help get rid of it. Speaking from experience x

Sinuses?

Hope you feel better OP!

I've only just found out I'm suffering migraines and they feel very like what you describe. But I would drop the paracetamol. It'll rot your insides and make the headaches worse with prolonged use. Though I don't see why the cocktail of meds I take daily isn't a rotting innards issue either. And speak to the GP. And do all the sensible things PPs have said. You shouldn't have to feel like this.