Which Painkiller Should I Take?
The following article has used information provided by NHS Choices. MidMeds recommends you seek professional medical advice if you are unsure whether to be taking painkillers.
Paracetamol
This popular painkiller is commonly used to treat headaches and many non-nerve pains. The safe dosage for adults is two 500mg tablets up to four times a day. Typically there are no major side effects from taking Paracetamol, however there is an overdose risk. Taking more than the recommended amount of Paracetamol can lead to serious side effects including death, so always follow instructions on the box.
Ibuprofen
A type of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drug (NSAID), Ibuprofen is used commonly for cases of inflammatory such as arthritis or physical injury. You should not use this painkiller for long periods of time and never take more than the recommended dose.
Aspirin
Like Ibuprofen, Aspirin is another type of NSAID. However Aspirin is not as effective as a painkiller meaning it is not usually prescribed for pain. Please note, this painkiller is dangerous for children under the age of 16.
Codeine
Codeine isn't very effective by itself, it is commonly combined with paracetamol in a single poll. Low-dose codeine can be purchased over the counter, however a high-dose would require a prescription. Like other medium-strength prescribed painkillers, Codeine can cause dependency, meaning you may feel unwell for sometime after you stop taking them.
Soluble painkillers
There can be up to 1g of salt per tablet in effervescent pain killers and certain patients should be aware of this. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure which can put some people at risk of health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
Amitriptyline and Gabapentin
Amitriptyline is commonly used for depression, with gabapentin is taking for epilepsy. Both of these pain killers can also be used to treat pain caused by nerve sensitivity or nerve damage, such as shingles, diabetes nerve pain and sciatica. These two painkillers have to be prescribed by a GP. Side effects can include dizziness and drowsiness.
Morphine
Morphine, and similar drugs such as oxycodone, fentanyl and buprenorphine are some of the strongest painkillers out there. All of these morphine-like drugs, including morphine will only be prescribed by a medical professional. They all work in similar ways and are only used for severe pain as part of a long-term plan.
If you need professional advice on painkillers, you can talk to your pharmacist or call the NHS on 111.
Content provided by the Caffeine Informer