Pain-relief medicines
Key Facts
- Pain can be treated in several ways, both short-term and long-term.
- Some pain relief medicines are “over-the-counter,” while others need a prescription.
- Long-term or chronic pain can be managed best by combining pain medications with non-medicinal options such as meditation and exercise.
- If your medications aren’t helping you to manage your pain or you experience side effects. You should speak with your doctor.
What is pain relief medicine?
Pain relief medicines are part of an overall strategy for managing short-term (chronic) or long-term (acute) pain. They reduce pain by either addressing the source of the pain or by lowering its perception.
You can buy pain relievers ‘over the counter’ (OTC) without a doctor’s prescription.
Speak to your doctor if your pain persists or is not controlled adequately. If you need help with what to do, speak to him. They may suggest different strategies to manage long-term pain (chronic), including prescription medications and procedures that do not involve medicines.
What are the types of pain relief medicines?
Each person has a different experience of pain and therefore requires other methods to manage it. In addition, various options for pain relief are also appropriate in certain circumstances.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines include:
- paracetamol
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), such as aspirin , diclofenac, or ibuprofen .
- Topical medicines are gels or creams that contain medicines such as capsaicin and NSAIDs.
You may be prescribed a prescription medication, such as
- antiepileptic drugs such as gabapentin , carbamazepine or pregabalin .
- antidepressants such as amitriptyline and duloxetine
- opioids include codeine, morphine, and tramadol.
- Other types of medication that treat your pain’s cause, such as corticosteroids or muscle relaxants.
You can also reduce pain without using medicines. Examples include stress reduction, meditation, or physical exercise. Ask your GP for alternative treatments that may work best for you.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
You can purchase pain relief medicine from your pharmacy without a prescription if you are experiencing mild to moderate pain.
OTC medications are easier to access, but they do carry some risks. For example, these medications can cause unwanted effects and may affect the effectiveness of other medicines.
You can ask your pharmacist if you can safely take OTC pain relievers with other medications.
OTC pain medications are available in two main types:
- Paracetamol is often the first medicine recommended to treat short-term pain.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). A group of medications that reduce swelling and inflammation and relieve pain. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac are all examples.
Prescription medicines
A doctor’s prescription is required to obtain certain medicines at a pharmacy. Some dentists and authorized nurses are also able to prescribe these medications.
NSAIDs on Prescription
Some NSAIDs are available on prescription in stronger doses. These include naproxen and diclofenac. Some NSAIDs, such as Meloxicam and COX-2 Inhibitors (such as Celecoxib), are only available with a prescription.
The medicines are unsuitable for those with stomach or liver problems, hypertension (high blood pressure), or asthma.
Opioids:
Opioids (Oxycodone and morphine) can use for moderate to severe (acute) short-term pain following:
- surgery,
- an injury,
- or chronic pain among people with Cancer. Opioids should only prescribed when other treatments have failed to relieve your pain or if you cannot tolerate them.
Opioids are not prove effective in treating chronic pain that is not cancerous.
Opioids are addictive and can cause severe side effects, including life-threatening breathing issues. Nausea may occur, as well as vomiting: constipation, or drowsiness.
The longer someone takes opioids, the more likely they will suffer from unwanted side effects. Therefore, the shortest possible time is best for taking opioids.
Antiepileptic drugs:
People with nerve pain (neuralgia) or Fibromyalgia are often prescribe the antiepileptic drugs gabapentin.
Carbamazepine can also treat a severe facial pain condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Anti–depressants:
Anti-depressants change the way that you perceive pain. Antidepressants can prescribed to manage chronic pain. For example, to treat pain from Fibromyalgia and nerve pain.
Topical Products:
Topical pain relief medicines can applied to the skin at the source of the pain. Topical pain relievers can provide short-term relief of pain (for instance, for osteoarthritis).
Topical pain medications often contain NSAIDs like ibuprofen or piroxicam. These medicines work by reducing inflammation and swelling.
Capsaicin, an extract of chili peppers, is sometimes use as a topical pain reliever.
It is important to use only the correct amount of topical products. Before using any topical product, always carefully read the instructions. If you need more clarification, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Supplements:
Some evidence is that supplements may help manage chronic pain in certain conditions.
Some people who suffer from chronic osteoarthritis pain find relief by taking glucosamine or chondroitin.
Supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids may help relieve chronic pain in large areas of body:
- Back pain
- shoulder discomfort,
- and menstrual pain.
Other Medicines:
Some of the other medicines that can help with pain management include:
- Steroids such as Prednisolone and prednisone can manage pain due to inflammation or osteoarthritis
- muscle relaxants such as orphenadrine can help relieve pain from sprains and strains.
- Caffeine can added as a pain reliever to other medicines.
- Medicinal marijuana can effectively treat neuropathy pain if other medications have failed to help. It must prescribed by an experienced doctor with experience in using cannabis for pain management.
Is taking long-term pain-relief medication dangerous?
In some cases (such as arthritis), regular pain relief can be a key part of managing the condition.
You can ask your doctor or about possible side effects of medicines you are taking and how to minimize them.
Non-medical alternatives to managing pain for certain health conditions or types (such as chronic) may exist. Speak to your doctor about these options to determine if they could be helpful.
Are there side effects to pain relievers?
Some medicines can have unwanted side effects. Even if you follow your doctor’s instructions, you may still experience side effects.
After taking the medication for some time, you may notice that certain side effects have subsided. However, do not stop taking your medicine or change the dosage without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
for example:
can have serious side effects at any point during use. These include potentially life-threatening respiratory problems.
Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects.
Each medicine has a list of possible side effects. In addition, the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet contains more information on side effects.
Am I likely to become addicted to pain relievers?
In pain-relief medications are addictive.
After couple of weeks taking opioids, body can become tolerant. Mean you must take higher doses over time to get the same pain relief.
The more opioids you consume, the higher the risk for unwanted and fatal side effects.
You can also become addicted to opioids. Which means you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking the drugs.
Some people may become addicted to opiates. Which means they feel a need to take the drug even though it has a negative impact. Addiction symptoms include an uncontrollable desire to use opioids. And inability of the user to stop using them even when it is affecting their relationships or finances.
If you are prescribe opioids by your doctor to treat your pain, then you do not abuse them.
Use pain relievers safely: Tips.
- Be sure to doctor know what medicines you take, including those you purchased over the counter at a drugstore.
- Be sure to understand how you should use your medications. Take your drugs as prescribed by your doctor.
- Speak to your doctor about side effects or if your medications aren’t helping you manage your pain.
- Do not share your medicine with others or take another person’s medication. Prescription medicines are given to individuals according to their circumstances and can harmful if misuse.
- Do not abruptly discontinue taking pain relievers prescribed by your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor how to reduce or stop your medication.
- Keep medications out of reach of children.
- Any unuse pain relief medicines should returne to a pharmacist to be safely dispose of.
When should I consult my doctor?
You should consult your doctor if you’ve been using over-the-counter (OTC). But still feel pain or don’t know how to manage your pain at home.
Talk to your doctor if your medications aren’t helping you manage your pain or if you experience side effects. Some pain medications, particularly opioids, are addictive. It means that you may feel the need to keep taking them.
Speak to your doctor if you are concerned you know may addicted to pain medication. Or using it in ways their doctor did not recommend. Please encourage them to seek assistance.
tags: pain, pain relief