How long does it take for paracetamol to stop a headache for you?

[2025willbemytime]

Finally gave in at 3.30 and took two paracetamol. Hadn't made any difference. Is there a better medication for headaches and is it relevant why the headache is there in the first place?

Why didn't you just take them within the first hour?
Usually work within the hour for me.
I don't tend to take tablets or want to, probs like yourself, but soon realised you don't get extra points for suffering!

It takes about an hour and there’s some evidence to show that taking it with caffeine and/or on an empty stomach makes it work slightly more quickly.

Drink a coffee with it

20 minutes. Why would you suffer when you can take something that gets rid of it?

I've been told ibuprofen better for headaches by doctor

Co codamol

For a lot of people paracetamol.doesnt work

www.ox.ac.uk/research/what%E2%80%99s-point-paracetamol

Usually 30 mins, but if I wait too long to take it, it isn't always very effective.

I drink loads of water and go to bed in the dark.

A million years. Paracetamol never works for me, at least on its own.

Paracetamol is hit and miss for me, but Ibuprofen usually works. Though not on an empty stomach as it makes me feel sick.

The majority of over the counter medication is a placebo and you would have felt better in the same time if not taking anything.

Depends - normal headache about 15 mins. If it's a migraine only vomitting will help. Followed by a banana milkshake and fries from the Yellow Arches!

About an hour although I get sickening g headaches that take 2 doses to clear. Depends on the headache. Though, anything swelling related is an ibuprofen job.

Analgesics are not placebos. Please refer to the peer reviewed formation that backs up your claim?

They don't, might just take the edge off but most of the time I might as well take a couple of smarties, I have to take Ibruprofen.
DS is the same but Paracetamol seems to work for DH and DD ok

Paracetamol doesn't touch my headaches I need my migraine medication and pain killers and a lie down in a darkened room!

What a stupid and nonsensical thing to say!

About an hour if it's a bad headache, and hormonal ones it takes at least two doses of medication. Ibuprofen works much better than paracetamol for me.

Are you actually including paracetamol and ibuprofen in this statement? Those very widely-used painkillers which have a proven analgesic effect? So much so that they're used after surgery?

Because that is a completely batshit conspiracy theory 😂

Yeah they are just sweets, the only reason they say not to overdose is the worry about diabetes! Behave!

🙄

Doesn’t work for me at all on headaches. Does help for period pains though.

I think my headaches are tension based which is possibly why ?

I get more relief from either one or a combination of ibruprofen, wheat bag or cocodamol.

And the G5 microchips in our blood counteract the effects of most medicine anyway.
#bigpharmaconspiracy
🙄
(sarcasm obvs)

Unfortunately I can't take ibuprofen.
Every so often I get a headache that no painkiller will touch that lasts for weeks but normal headache about an hour then wears off after 4 hours.

I knew there would be comments about why don't you take meds immediately. People are different and not everyone can take something immediately and I'm not asking for a medal for suffering.

I can't take co-codomol so I will have to try ibuprofen.

No change with the headache.

Thanks.