Q: why does vicodin give me a head ache
Many pain medication can cause headaches, nausea, and itchiness. All of these side effects are due to a histamine (an inflammatory messenger) release by the pain medication. All of these side effects are treated with an anti-histamine like benadryl or vistaril.
Some pain medications do not release histamine like dilaudid and fentanyl, thus these medications tend to have less side effects. But, everyone is different.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
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