As soon as I woke up, I knew it was going to be one of those days. A headache day. As in “I am going to have a headache all day long” day. I don’t know what causes those days. I don’t drink, so it wasn’t a hangover. Maybe I sleep in a weird position. Maybe my sinuses don’t like the dry Colorado air. I don’t really care what causes them. When one of those headaches hits, all I want is to get rid of the pain. So, when I saw a “Goody’s Headache Relief Shot” next to the “5 Hour Energy” shots at my local grocery store, I figured I’d try it. Here’s what I thought.
About the Product
Goody’s headache powder has 1000mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and 32mg of caffeine (which helps relieve tension-type headaches). In that respect, it’s about the same as taking two Tylenol Tension Headache pills. It also has water, blue dye, and artificial flavorings (so this might not be a good idea for you if you’re trying to avoid chemical additives). In other words, it’s basically liquid pills with some colors and flavors.
Taste
Taste is not where this particular product shines; it tastes like bad cough syrup. It’s not really the product’s fault. I know from previous experience with Goody’s headache powders (and chewable Tylenol) that acetaminophen is very bitter (which is why most pain relievers containing it are designed to be swallowed whole). The “berry flavor” did little to hide the taste of the drug. I didn’t really mind, though. If I wanted a sugary drink, I’d have bought one. I just wanted to get rid of the pounding in my head.
Effectiveness Vrs Other Medications
My frequent headaches have made me something of a headache reliever expert. I know what works for me. Tablets do jack squat for my headaches (I don’t think the solid pills break down all the way). My favorite headache meds are liquid-gels, which take effect in 20 minutes. I didn’t expect a “headache shot” to do better.
It did. Maybe because the medication is already in liquid form, maybe because the caffeine helps it, I felt the pain in my forehead and neck muscles start to ease off within 10 minutes. Within 20, the pain was gone. Nothing – and I mean nothing – does that (with the possible exception of whatever was in the IV I once got in the ER). I’d highly recommend this product to anyone who gets tough tension headaches; it doesn’t just make them bearable, it gets rid of them.
Tips and Alternatives
I usually combine medication with lifestyle remedies, since that seems to work best. Since a lot of headaches are caused by dehydration (and you are going to want to get the taste of the headache shot out of your mouth anyway), consider chasing it with a full glass of cold water or non-caffeinated clear soda or sports drink. A steamy shower helps sinus pressure, and going outside for some fresh air helps just about all headaches.