Morphine and morphine-like drugs such as oxycodone, fentanyl and buprenorphine are the strongest painkillers there are. Depending on your individual circumstances, these types of painkiller may be prescribed as a patch, an injection, or sometimes in a pump you control yourself. But they all work in similar ways and should only be used for severe pain. They'll only be prescribed after consultation with a doctor or a pain specialist.
The dose and your response will be closely monitored. These drugs should only be used as part of a long-term plan to manage your pain. Find out about the NHS help on offer if you have persistent pain. Find a pharmacy near you.
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But not all pain relievers work the same way. Some kinds of pain respond better to one pain medicine than another. OTC pain relievers can be helpful in treating many types of pain.
These can include headaches, arthritis pain, earaches, toothaches, back pain, and pain after surgery. They can also treat pain from a cold or the flu, sinusitis, or a sore throat. For most people, OTC medicines relieve their symptoms. You may have another issue and need a prescription medicine. Acetaminophen brand name: Tylenol seems to work on the parts of the brain that receive pain messages.
It also works with the part that controls body temperature. But it has fewer side effects. This makes it safer for long-term use and for children. NSAIDs reduce the level of prostaglandins your body makes. This hormone-like substance irritates your nerve endings and creates the feeling of pain.
NSAIDs reduce the level of prostaglandins in your body. This reduces the feeling of pain. Some products contain both acetaminophen and aspirin some brand names: Excedrin, Vanquish. These typically contain caffeine as well. That combination of medicines make them good for treating headaches. Read the directions on the label before taking any medicine. Learn how much to take and how often to take it. If you have questions about how much medicine to take, call your doctor. If you go to the doctor, take this list with you.
Store all medicines out of reach and out of sight of young children. However, talk with your doctor if you take OTC pain relievers often. Taking them frequently can cause harmful side effects. Sometimes, acetaminophen can lead to liver damage. That equals 6 extra-strength mg tablets. It also treats inflammation such as strains and sprains , and pain from arthritis. It's available as tablets and capsules, and as a syrup that you swallow.
It also comes as a gel, mousse and spray that you rub into your skin. Ibuprofen is combined with other painkillers in some products. It's an ingredient in some cold and flu remedies, such as Nurofen Cold and Flu. You can buy most types of ibuprofen from pharmacies and supermarkets. Some types are only available on prescription. For unders, read our information on ibuprofen for children.
The Commission on Human Medicines has now confirmed that there is no clear evidence that using ibuprofen to treat symptoms such as a high temperature can make coronavirus COVID worse. You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat the symptoms of coronavirus.
We recommend that you try paracetamol first, it has fewer side effects than ibuprofen and is the safer choice for most people. Take our survey. Some brands of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup contain aspartame, colourings E numbers , gelatin, glucose, lactose, sodium, sorbitol, soya or sucrose, so they may be unsuitable for some people. To make sure ibuprofen by mouth or on your skin is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have :.
If you're over 65 ibuprofen can make you more likely to get stomach ulcers. Your doctor will prescribe you a medicine to protect your stomach if you're taking ibuprofen for a long term condition. The usual dose for adults is one or two mg tablets 3 times a day.
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of up to mg to take 4 times a day if needed. This should only happen under supervision of a doctor. If you take ibuprofen 3 times a day, leave at least 6 hours between doses. If you take it 4 times a day, leave at least 4 hours between doses. If you have pain all the time, your doctor may recommend slow-release ibuprofen tablets or capsules. It's usual to take these once a day in the evening or twice a day.
Leave a gap of 10 to 12 hours between doses if you're taking ibuprofen twice a day. For people who find it difficult to swallow tablets or capsules, ibuprofen is available as a tablet that melts in your mouth, granules that you mix with a glass of water to make a drink, and as a syrup.
Swallow ibuprofen tablets or capsules whole with a glass of water or juice. You should take ibuprofen tablets and capsules after a meal or snack or with a drink of milk. It will be less likely to upset your stomach. Do not chew, break, crush or suck them as this could irritate your mouth or throat. If you are prescribed ibuprofen as a regular medicine and forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. Taking too much ibuprofen by mouth can be dangerous. It can cause side effects such as:. Take the ibuprofen packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. The amount of ibuprofen you put on your skin depends on the product you're using — check the package leaflet carefully for how much to use.
Gently massage the ibuprofen into the painful area 3 or 4 times a day. Leave at least 4 hours between applications, and do not put it on more than 4 times in 24 hours. Never use ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray on your eyes, mouth, lips, nose or genital area. Do not put it on sore or broken skin. Do not put plasters or dressings over skin you've applied ibuprofen to. Don't worry if you occasionally forget to use it, just carry on using it when you remember.
If you swallow ibuprofen gel or mousse by accident, you may get symptoms including:. If you get a headache, vomit or feel sleepy after accidentally swallowing ibuprofen gel, contact a doctor or straight away. It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor.
Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. If you take them together, ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects like stomach ache.
NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies — for example, cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. The common side effects of ibuprofen taken by mouth happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to ibuprofen. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. You're less likely to have side effects when you apply ibuprofen to your skin than with tablets, capsules and syrup because less gets into your body. However, you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin. Applying ibuprofen to your skin can also cause your skin to become more sensitive than normal to sunlight.
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