Headache Relief For 11-Year-Old - What Meds Are Safe And gluten-free?

[ImaMiriam]

My daughter (she has Celiac) keeps getting headaches. I think some of them are tension headaches because she just started in a new school.

 

Whatever the cause of her headaches (could be accidental gluten, too), I've been giving her Junior Strength Advil (Pfizer).

 

Does anyone know if this is gluten-free? Does anyone know of other over the counter ibuprofen that she could take? We live in NY state.

 

I'm going to try to call them, but it's Saturday and their website says they are only open M-F. She has a bad headache right now and I'd like to give her something.

 

Thanks for your help. 

[nvsmom]

Up here in Canada, children's tylenol is gluten-free.

 

I hope she feels better soon.

[BelleVie]

I take excedrin migraine, the plain version that's the uncoated white pill, and that works miracles for me. I know it's bad to rely on a medication like that, but I won't leave the house without it. Regular advil is also gluten free, according to this gluten free drugs website: http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/list.htm.%C2'>

[ImaMiriam]

Yesterday we tried Junior Tylenol. It didn't help her with her headache. :-(

 

Today I gave her Jr. Strength Advil, which seems to help more. I will contact the company tomorrow.

 

We have both the Pfizer Advil, and the CVS Ibuprofen -- chewable tablets. I'm concerned that because they are chewable, they might have gluten in them.....

 

Thanks!

[tarnalberry]

If they are tension headaches, the meds aren't going to help a whole lot.  Massage (you can learn how to do it), stretches, plenty of sleep (hahahaha!), and heat/ice (alternated) can help.  Ibuprofen (advil - which is safe) can help a bit if there is associated inflammation.

[bartfull]

BelleVie, Exedrin is asperin and kids can't take it.

[BelleVie]

BelleVie, Exedrin is asperin and kids can't take it.

Really? I had no idea! Isn't there such a thing as "baby aspirin"? Is is that the aspirin content in excederin is too high? Thanks for telling me! 

[bartfull]

There is a thing called Reyes syndrome that kids who take aspirin can get. They used to give kids aspirin all the time. Heck, I took it when I was a kid, but now that they've discovered a link between this syndrome and aspirin in kids, they say we should use Tylenol for them instead.

[shadowicewolf]

...or you can give her a bit of chocolate or a nice cup of tea. Caffeine is one of the best ways to treat headaches.

[jepacar]

Up here in Canada, children's tylenol is gluten-free.

 

I hope she feels better soon.

Does this Tylenol works for fever too? my girl has 40.1 now and I don't know what else to do...(9she is almost 5 years old)

[ImaMiriam]

I think massage would be nice, so I hope my husband will give me one soon! ;-)

 

Ok -- now I'm gonna be serious again.

 

I talked with pediatrician today and she said either Tylenol or Ibuprofen. No aspirin for children (seems weird to me, as I took aspirin as a child in the 1960s!) The pediatrician said that if my daughter takes ibuprofen a lot, she may have a "rebound" headache when she stops taking it. I'm a bit concerned about stomach aches from the ibuprofen.

 

When I finally was able to reach the company, I learned this: Advil (Pfizer) will not guarantee that their meds are gluten-free. CVS brand (generic from that drugstore, which is near my home) will check by the lot number of the product. They said that they will always produce the product (which is children's chewable orange flavor ibuprofen)....and if CVS makes it, it's gluten-free. However sometimes they don't have all the necessary ingredients, so they use outside sources, in which case it might not be gluten-free or they might not know for sure....

 

Luckily the lot number on ours was gluten-free. :-)

 

Question for Shadowicewolf -- how much black tea would you recommend? Today when she had another headache, I was actually thinking about giving my daughter a cup of black tea (or a half a cup)....as I know I find that soothing sometimes. She doesn't like chocolate. Also, does black tea "stunt" your growth? I've heard that coffee can stunt a child's growth, I don't know if that's true or not, and whether it's the caffeine or something else....

 

Thanks, All! :-)

[psawyer]

I learned this: Advil (Pfizer) will not guarantee that their meds are gluten-free.

That is a very common legal disclaimer, and I would not allow it to worry me. The key word is "guarantee"--that would create a legal liability in the event they received a contaminated ingredient from a third party supplier. Since they don't test for gluten, they will not "guarantee" it.

That position is common in food manufacturers as well as pharmaceutical companies and makers of dietary supplements. Don't let it worry you.

If they say it is "not gluten-free," that could be another variant on the same thing, so ask further. Read more about customer service answers here.

[ImaMiriam]

Thanks for writing, psawyer. I see your point, and will read your info about customer serve answers.

 

I wonder, though -- isn't it best to find Certified gluten-free products, if they're available? I mean, the CVS brand/generic is gluten-free (once they check the log# for you). Isn't that better?