Cure headaches: Common questions

Headaches | Migraines | Treating headaches | Migraine relief | Painkillers

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We talked to Boots pharmacist Angela Chalmers, who gave us her expert advice on some common questions about painkillers

Can I take ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time?

'If you want to, you can take an ibuprofen and then take a paracetamol, because they are different types of drugs. However, try to stagger the times you take them and don't do it for too long.

You must never take aspirin and ibuprofen at the same time, though, because they both work in the same way and are likely to irritate your stomach lining and cause an upset.'

Can you really overdose on paracetamol?

'Yes, you can. Never exceed the maximum dose, as recommended on the side of the pack. You can take paracetamol up to four times a day, every 4-6 hours.

One thing to watch out for is if you take paracetamol and then take another branded product for something else - these often contain paracetamol as an ingredient but it's not obvious from the packaging or the name. Always check the ingredients.'

Can I take codeine?

'You can, but it's more difficult to find than it used to be. Codeine is an opioid, part of the same family as opium and you can become addicted to it.

In the UK, it's now only available on prescription on its own. You can find in some over-the-counter branded products as co-codamol, where it is mixed with paracetamol, for example Nurofen Plus or Paramol. These tablets are still supervised by pharmacists and numbers are limited per customer.'