# Aspirin or Paracetamol for a headache?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-or-paracetamol-for-a-headache/163879>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 24, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-or-paracetamol-for-a-headache/163879 "2003-03-24T21:28:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-or-paracetamol-for-a-headache/163879/21 "2003-03-25T17:16:23Z")

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\<hijack\>For whatever reason, I became dependent on / addicted to codeine based pain pills. During that period of my life I used an incredible amount of A.C. & C., which is an over-the-counter, codeine containing medication available in Canada. I know most people don’t become addicted to codeine, but it is possible. I urge those who use those medications to use them as sparingly as possible. The stuff sneaks up on ya.\</hijack\>

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**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-or-paracetamol-for-a-headache/163879/22 "2003-03-25T20:43:32Z")

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I wish we could get codeine over the counter.

Be careful with Tylenol, I hear it can be murder on the liver.

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**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-or-paracetamol-for-a-headache/163879/23 "2003-03-25T21:19:59Z")

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Wow … I’m allergic to aspirin and tylenol has the potential for liver side effects (especially since I take medication that affects my lifer) and the ibuprophin is bad for my already bad kidneys… that leaves me with “endure the pain” Although sometimes I do take asprin as it is the lesser of the evils if I am in a lot of pain!

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**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-or-paracetamol-for-a-headache/163879/24 "2003-03-25T21:51:03Z")

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I like Aleve (naproxen sodium, one of the NSAIDs I believe) as well; I started taking it for dysmenorrhea in college, when it was still prescription-only in the US, and was never so happy as when it went OTC. I take it now for headaches; I get migraines but was not told anything special to do for them the last time I went to see a physician.

Codeine is not, AFAIK, available as an OTC medication in the US.

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