I often take painkillers (acetaminophen aka paracetamol), but I’ve noticed that it’s much more effective if I take them TOGETHER with my ADHD medication (ritalin aka methylphenidate) + my morning coffee. If I don’t take them AT the same time, the painkiller is far less effective.

I do not exceed the maximum dosage of painkiller (1gram per intake, mornings), but alone this would barely suffice to kill my morning headache.

My hypothesis is that since the LIVER has to convert all three, I am effectively overdosing on either substance (painkiller or ADHD meds), and damaging my liver in the process.

  • @[email protected]
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    17 months ago

    Migraines come during sleep like that, but if Paracetamol works no way is it a migraine. That stuff literally does nothing for any pain I’ve had, ever.

    I agree with everyone here, this seems like a lifestyle thing - if your body is indeed sensitive to stress and relaxation, you are not doing it any favors with the paracetamol. Likely too stressed in day, too relaxed at night, the sudden change a trigger. Obviously you don’t want to fix that by being tense while asleep, so tackling the day stress responses make more sense. Do you exercise?

    What happens if you just have either coffee or the Adderall in the morning, without the painkiller drug?

    • @[email protected]OP
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      17 months ago

      What happens if you just have either coffee or the Adderall in the morning, without the painkiller drug?

      Not tested excessively, but quite sure it’s not relieving the headache whatsoever.

      I do not exercise. Usually I cycle to uni about 40mins a day, 4 times a week. I’ve exercised more rigorously in the past, running each day, but the effect is not significant… So unfortunate. But exercise is quite wearisome

      • @[email protected]
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        17 months ago

        Have you seen a neurologist or headache specialist or only a GP? If there is a cause maybe it can be treated and you can find relief. I do get migraines, but not every day, not even every week. My other guess is allergies, but in any event, keep a good record of what you are doing and feeling, and bring the information to a doctor! I don’t think it’s wrong at all to post and ask though, you get more ideas and that will help.

        Running doesn’t help me as much as a vigorous yoga class, the “flow” kind that is more athletic and movement based, then moves to static poses at the end. Or dancing, that works too. The cycling sounds like enough, honestly, anything that is regular and kind of exhausting, will relax your mind.

        • @[email protected]OP
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          17 months ago

          Only a general practitioner (a general doctor, right?). Although, no headache specialist, I have visited some people, like many physiotherapists, one manual orthopedic doctor, and one acupuncturist.

          Yep, I try to record my input and output to some extend. My ‘journal’ up til now is really weird, vague, and incomplete. I can probably try a kind of (mentally) relaxing exercise but honestly don’t know what. Something like yoga indeed, but not sure if exactly that is something for me.