Quick fixes from those in the know

DISSOLVE soluble aspirin in a fizzy caffeinated drink. Dr Jessica Briscoe, a GP and headache specialist says: ‘The bubbles will increase the surface area of the active ingredients and get them into your bloodstream quicker, and the caffeine may improve the effectiveness of the aspirin, though the mechanism isn’t fully understood.’

HIT a migraine hard, as early as possible. ‘If you feel a migraine coming on, it’s important you take the right painkiller at the right dose and at the right time,’ advises Professor Paul Booton, a retired GP and migraine adviser. ‘Around a third of migraine sufferers get warning symptoms up to 24 hours before a migraine starts, and this is the ideal time to take painkillers. Take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as three 300mg aspirin tablets, a combined dose of 900mg) — or ibuprofen (three 200mg tablets, a combined dose of 600mg) — and a prescription-only antisickness drug, such as domperidone, at a 10mg dose.’ Codeine should be avoided as it doesn’t work for migraines and can make nausea worse.

DRINK coffee, but only if you don’t normally drink much. ‘Caffeine has some pain-killing properties,’ says Dr Giorgio Lambru, lead neurologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Headache Centre. ‘Strong coffee can improve headache pain if used once in a while — this applies to tea and Red Bull as well. However, if you generally drink a lot of it, a caffeinated drink can make symptoms worse and cause a rebound headache when you drink less of it.’