Symptoms
Symptoms of common headaches
Familiar, moderate, both-sided pressure is typical of tension-type headache. Neurological symptoms, fever, or a thunderclap onset are not.
Treatments
Headache Treatment Online
Request headache treatment online for tension-type pain. A clinician checks red-flag symptoms first, with discreet UK delivery if pain relief is suitable.
Introduction
Treatment overview
Most headaches are tension-type: a tight band around the head, often linked with stress, posture, skipped meals, or dehydration. They are miserable but not usually dangerous. Migraine is a different pattern — often one-sided, throbbing, with nausea or light sensitivity. We have a separate migraine treatment page.
We will review simple pain relief after checking red-flag features. A sudden “worst ever” headache, fever with neck stiffness, or new weakness needs emergency care, not a posted painkiller.
The condition
What is a tension-type headache?
A tension-type headache is usually a tight, pressing pain on both sides of the head, like a band. It can last hours. Nausea and light sensitivity are milder than in migraine, or absent. Stress, posture, jaw clenching, skipped meals, and dehydration are common associations.
Migraine is a different condition and has its own treatment page. Cluster headache is rare and severe, often around one eye with a red watery eye — that needs specialist care, not a simple analgesic plan.
Private Pharmacy Care can review short-term pain relief after checking red flags. A clinician decides. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription. A sudden worst-ever headache is an emergency.
Causes
Causes of tension-type headaches
The exact mechanism is not fully known. Muscle tension, stress chemistry, and sleep all play a part. Frequent painkiller use can itself maintain daily headache.
Products
Available products
Benefits
Benefits and uses
Paracetamol or ibuprofen, used correctly, is enough for many tension headaches. Codeine and frequent painkillers can make headaches worse over time.
Sensible short-term relief
A clinician can confirm a simple option that is safe with your other medicines.
Trigger advice
Sleep, hydration, screens, and jaw clenching are common and worth addressing.
Migraine signposting
If your story sounds like migraine, we will point you to that pathway instead of repeating simple analgesics.
Red-flag screening
We will tell you when to use NHS 111 or A&E rather than wait for a parcel.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Occasional tension-type headaches in adults who are otherwise well may be suitable. New headaches after age 50, or a changing pattern, need a GP.
May be suitable if
- A familiar tight or pressing headache you have had before
- You can use simple pain relief within licensed doses
- You will stop and seek help if the headache is sudden and severe or you develop neurological symptoms
- You can tell us about other medicines, stomach ulcers, and asthma
May not be suitable if
- Thunderclap headache, collapse, seizure, or new weakness, slurred speech, or vision loss — go to A&E
- Fever, neck stiffness, rash that does not fade, or you are very drowsy
- A new headache in pregnancy, after a head injury, or if you have cancer or a weakened immune system
- You already take painkillers on most days — possible medication-overuse headache; see a GP
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Start a consultation
Ready to check if headache treatment is right for you?
Start a confidential consultation. Go to A&E for a sudden severe headache or stroke symptoms.
- UK-registered clinician review
- Confidential online consultation
- Discreet UK delivery
How it works
How it works
Simple analgesics reduce pain signalling. They work best taken early, with food if using an NSAID, and not more often than the leaflet allows. Heat, rest, and easing neck and shoulder tension help many people. Opioids are not first-line for tension headache.
-
Complete a consultation
Answer a short, confidential questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history and current medicines.
-
Clinician review
A UK-registered clinician reviews your answers to check the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
-
Dispensing and delivery
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it in discreet UK packaging.
-
Support if you need it
Questions after you start treatment? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Safety
Safety information
A sudden severe headache unlike any before can be a bleed and is an emergency.
Taking painkillers on 10–15 days a month can cause medication-overuse headache.
- Go to A&E for the worst headache of your life, stroke symptoms, or a non-blanching rash with fever.
- Do not exceed paracetamol or ibuprofen limits — liver and stomach harm are real.
- See a GP for headaches that are new, worsening, or waking you from sleep.
- Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Side effects
Side effects
Paracetamol is usually well tolerated at the correct dose. Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach and is unsafe for some people with kidney, heart, or asthma problems.
- Stomach upset (NSAIDs) Take with food. Stop and seek advice for black stools or severe pain.
- Rebound or more frequent headaches Cut down if you are using painkillers most days and speak to a GP.
- Drowsiness (some combination products) Do not drive if affected.
- Allergic reaction Stop. Breathing difficulty is an emergency.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Using treatment
How to take or use the treatment
Always read the patient information leaflet. Do not exceed licensed doses. The steps below are general.
-
Take pain relief early, not in a stack
Use one suitable product first. Combining products only if a clinician or the leaflet allows it.
-
Limit how many days you take tablets
If you need painkillers most days, stop escalating and see a GP about medication-overuse headache.
-
Protect your stomach and liver
Food with NSAIDs. Never double-dose paracetamol hidden in cold-and-flu products.
-
Reassess if the pattern changes
A new type of headache is a reason to seek advice, not to assume it is “just tension”.
Safety netting
When to seek medical advice
Most tension headaches are not dangerous. A small number of headache presentations are emergencies. When unsure, NHS 111 can help you decide.
Seek urgent help (A&E) if
- The worst headache of your life, peaking within seconds to minutes — go to A&E.
- Weakness, facial droop, slurred speech, seizure, or sudden vision loss — go to A&E (stroke symptoms).
- Fever with neck stiffness, dislike of light, confusion, or a rash that does not fade with a glass — go to A&E.
- Headache after a significant head injury, or you are on blood thinners and have a new severe headache — urgent assessment.
Contact a clinician or NHS 111 if
- A new headache after age 50, a changing pattern, or headaches that wake you from sleep — see a GP.
- You are pregnant and have a new or different headache — seek same-day advice; do not assume it is ordinary tension.
- You take painkillers on 10 or more days a month — book a GP to discuss medication-overuse headache.
- Your symptoms sound like migraine — use our migraine page or see a GP rather than repeating simple analgesics only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to see the answer. If you still need help, our team is ready to assist.
Is this the same as migraine treatment?
No. Migraine often needs different medicines. Use our migraine page if you have typical migraine attacks.
Can I get codeine online for headaches?
Codeine is not a routine first choice and can cause dependence and rebound headache. A clinician may refuse it.
When is a headache an emergency?
Sudden worst-ever pain, stroke symptoms, fever with neck stiffness, or a rash that does not fade — go to A&E.
Is this service available now?
Yes. Start an online consultation. Use NHS 111 if you are unsure how urgent your symptoms are.
Why choose us
Why choose Private Pharmacy Care?
A regulated UK pharmacy service with clinician review, discreet delivery and support if you have questions after treatment is supplied.
-
UK-registered clinicians
Every request is reviewed by a UK-registered clinician before a medicine can be prescribed.
-
Confidential consultations
Complete a private questionnaire from home. Your information is used to check that treatment is safe and appropriate.
-
Discreet UK dispensing
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses it and sends it in plain packaging.
-
Clear safety checks
We ask about your symptoms, medical history and other medicines. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription.
-
Support after you order
Questions about side effects or how to take a medicine? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
-
Regulated pharmacy care
Private Pharmacy Care is a UK pharmacy service. Named clinicians and public register details are listed on our clinical team page.
Sources
References and medical sources
This page is general information for UK patients. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet or personalised clinical advice.
- NHS health A to Z Patient-facing NHS guidance.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries UK clinical reference used by healthcare professionals.
- Electronic Medicines Compendium (emc) UK Summaries of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets.
- MHRA UK medicines regulator.
Check eligibility
Leave your details
This treatment does not have an online consultation yet. Send your name, email and phone number and our team will contact you about Headaches.
Details received
Thank you. We have received your details about Headaches and will be in touch shortly.
Ready when you are
Start your private healthcare request online.
Browse treatments, start a consultation, or contact the team first if you are unsure which option is right for you.