You have just begun to suffer from a bad headache. You skipped breakfast because there was no time. The last drink of water you had was last night. You went to school, worked, and then finished your homework. You went to bed at 12:00am. Do you think that taking two Tylenol or Advil is the answer to that headache?

A large percentage of the students that I see with headaches and aches or pains are (after assessment) related to stress, lack of nutrition and lack of hydration. I encourage you to eat something, get a drink of water or juice and try some de-stressing techniques before taking an over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Caffeinated beverages actually dehydrate and, as such, are not the best choice when going for hydration.

SAU 41 has a policy in place that bans the carrying of OTC medications at school. This would also apply to not carrying OTC medications in student back packs, book bags, etc.

Certain OTC medications are stocked in the nurse’s office and parent permission is required to administer any OTC medication. The OTC parent authorization form is handed out to each student on the first day of school. All stocked OTC medications are listed on the form. There is a section on the form that allows parents to write any allergies or restriction to these OTC medications.

If a student responds better to an OTC product that we do not stock, parents can bring in a medication in the original packaging with the students name on it. There are times when it is very appropriate to administer an OTC medication.

However, there seems to be an increase in the use of OTCs among students with undiagnosed conditions and I am very concerned about that. I often hear that “it is just ibuprofen” with the understanding that is completely safe. This may be true if one is carefully and appropriately following the recommended doses on the package or by following your doctor’s advice. However I often feel that many OTC’s are being over used which can lead to many health issues.

The two main OTC meds that are stocked in the nurse’s office for headache/pain/fever relief are acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever ingredient found in many OTC meds such as Tylenol, and some prescription meds. Acetaminophen is generally considered safe and effective for pain but if used in excess or used long term, it can cause drug-induced liver failure.

Ibuprofen is a widely used non-narcotic pain reliever and anti inflammatory. This too is in a wide variety of OTC meds, such as Advil, and many prescription meds to treat headaches, muscle aches and menstrual cramps. When taken as directed it can be very safe. However if used in excess or if used long term, ibuprofen can lead to stomach bleeding and ulceration of the stomach or intestines. Decrease blood flow to the kidneys has been identified along with kidney function impairment.

In particular, related to the use of these medications for headaches, daily use of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), can lead to “rebound” headaches where the headache returns when the medicine is “not taken” and as such, you will take more “medicine” to help with the headache and a “non-healthy” cycle of use begins.

So if the scenario in the first paragraph sounds like you, why not try these other options to cure your headache.

Dr. Charles Cappetta, school physician for HBHS, contributed to this article.