Which drug class is used to treat headache symptoms?

Analgesics are a class of drugs specifically designed to alleviate pain, making them the primary choice for treating headache symptoms. These medications work by blocking pain signals in the brain or by affecting the perception of pain, thus providing relief from discomfort associated with headaches. Common examples of analgesics used for headaches include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.

In contrast, antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and would not be appropriate for headache relief. Antihistamines primarily address allergy symptoms and may have some sedative properties, but they are not intended for treating pain or headaches. Lastly, antidepressants are not used directly to treat headaches; while some may have preventative effects for certain types of headaches, they do not serve as immediate relief options like analgesics do. Therefore, analgesics remain the correct and most effective choice for managing headache symptoms.