Information for the public

Treatments for tension‑type headache

Treatments for tension‑type headache

Pain relief

Your healthcare professional should offer you a painkiller, which may be aspirin, paracetamol or an NSAID, to help relieve tension‑type headache. They should take into account your preferences, any other health problems you have and the possible side effects of each drug.

If you are aged under 16 you should not be offered aspirin.

You should not be offered an opioid to treat tension‑type headache.

Reducing future tension‑type headache

If you have tension‑type headaches on 15 days per month or more you may be offered a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture to help prevent future tension‑type headache.