Headache pills can cause headaches

Regular use of over-the-counter painkillers can actually lead to "withdrawal" headaches, Choice has warned.

The consumer group has investigated the usage and marketing ofpopular analgesics such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen.

Spokesman Christopher Zinn said while the drugs were found to be generally safe while providing temporary relief, doctors were increasingly reporting seeing the effects of analgesic overuse.

This included users suffering "withdrawal" headaches caused by overuse of the same medications used to treat them.

"In response, you take more painkillers and the cycle continues," Mr Zinn said in a statement on Thursday.

"After a while, your body becomes used to the presence of a certain level of the drug and stopping it results in withdrawal."

Mr Zinn said while this was dependant on both the individual and the type of painkiller used, a medication overuse headache could arise from taking as few as 10 to 15 doses of a painkiller within a month.

Choice has also questioned the use by pharmaceutical companies of the term "targeted" in the marketing of certain painkillers.

An assessment of ingredients showed how targeted and ordinary painkillers could have an identical list of ingredients.

"A product marketed for back pain doesn't only go to your back," Mr Zinn said.

"It will treat any pain, anywhere, which just goes to show you don't need to empty your wallet by filling your medicine cupboard up with a different painkiller for each part of the body."

The Choice report suggests a number of natural alternatives to analgesic medications.

Feverfew, a herbal remedy, has been found to reduce the incidence of migraines as have riboflavin (vitamin B2) and magnesium supplements.

"There's so much choice these days, its difficult to know exactly what you should be taking to effectively reduce pain symptoms," Mr Zinn said.

"So if in doubt get a specific headache diagnosis from your GP."