It affects your joints, making them stiff and painful. If you have back pain, it can make everyday living tough and doing day-to-day chores can be even more of a burden. This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence.
It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals and deemed accurate on the date of review. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers. The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. We do not accept advertising on this page. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the About our health information section. Back to top Menu. Over-the-counter painkillers. Uses of over-the-counter painkillers You can use over-the-counter painkillers to give you pain relief.
They can: ease short-term acute mild-to-moderate pain such as headaches, period pain, muscle and joint aches and toothache lower a fever — for example, if you have a cold or flu treat long-term chronic pain such as pain from arthritis or back pain though only if a healthcare professional advises you to. What are the main over-the-counter painkillers? The main over-the-counter painkillers are: non-opioid painkillers, such as paracetamol e.
Nurofen and aspirin weak opioid painkillers such as codeine — these are usually added to another painkiller such as paracetamol e. Panadol Ultra. How do over-the-counter painkillers work? Need a GP appointment? Telephone or Video GP service.
Taking over-the-counter painkillers If you have mild-to-moderate pain, start by taking a non-opiate painkiller such as paracetamol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. You can buy over-the-counter OTC painkillers in several different forms, including: tablets, caplets longer tablets that are rounded at each end that may be easier to swallow or capsules that you swallow a powder or tablet to dissolve in water a liquid or syrup suppositories — soft, shaped tablets that you put into your anus gels or sprays that you rub into your skin patches that you put on your skin You can buy OTC painkillers from a pharmacy, supermarket or other shops without a prescription from your GP.
How much to take The recommended amount of the main OTC medicines that an adult should take are below. Painkiller: Paracetamol How much to take: mg to 1,mg usually one or two tablets every four to six hours. Painkiller: Aspirin How much to take: mg to mg every four to six hours. Painkiller: Ibuprofen How much to take: mg to mg three to four times a day. Taking too much Any medicine can be dangerous if you take too much of it.
Interactions of over-the-counter painkillers Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs can interact with several other medicines, including medicines to lower blood pressure, treat depression and reduce blood clotting e.
Children and over-the-counter painkillers You can give paracetamol or ibuprofen to children over the age of three months to help ease pain and discomfort or lower a fever. If your baby is under three months, ask your pharmacist or GP for advice about how much to give. Can anyone take over-the-counter painkillers? Painkiller: Paracetamol Those who need to take special care: People with liver problems, although most people can still take it — ask your doctor if you can. Painkiller: Aspirin Those who need to take special care: People with a bleeding condition such as haemophilia, and anyone who has or had a peptic ulcer.
Painkiller: Ibuprofen Those who need to take special care: People with heart, kidney or liver problems. Painkiller: Codeine co-codamol Those who need to take special care: Older people and those with breathing problems or kidney or liver problems.
Side-effects from paracetamol are rare when you take the recommended dose. Medicines checklist Our handy medicines checklist helps you see what to check for before taking a medicine. Frequently asked questions Expand all. Did our information help you?
Complete the survey. About our health information At Bupa we produce a wealth of free health information for you and your family. Related information. Lower back pain. Read more. Medicines and pain relief for lower back pain. Daily chores and back pain. Desk stretches to ease aches and pains. In December British woman Laura Plummer was jailed for three years for bringing Tramadol painkiller tablets into Egypt.
While the sentence shocked many in the UK, the case shone a light on a painkiller addiction problem blighting millions of Egyptians. I picked up a billiards cue and smashed it over his head. I was screaming abuse at everyone. I even broke the windows. Abdul Hameed, now 24, remembers the moment he realised his drug habit had spiralled out of control. Two years earlier, aged just 13, he had tried the opioid-based painkiller Tramadol for the first time.
Like many young Egyptians, he started by taking one quarter of a mg tablet to get high. By the time he went berserk in the games arcade Abdul Hameed was taking 57 painkillers a day - a mixture of Tramadol and other commonly available opioid-based tablets. Tramadol is their drug of choice. It first appeared on the market in Egypt 20 years ago. Cheaper than heroin and easily available, it quickly became popular with addicts and then spread to the wider population as a way to deal not just with physical pain but also the stresses of everyday life.
Tramadol has taken such a hold in Egypt that addiction helplines say they are getting as many as calls a day from people desperate to break the habit. Addicts are likely to be young. The government-run drug rehab centre at Cairo's Abbasiya Psychiatric Hospital told the BBC more than half its patients are aged between 21 and Young mum Ahlam started taking Tramadol to cope with the drudgery of housework and childcare.
Like Abdul Hameed she began with a quarter of a mg tablet, but quickly progressed to four tablets a day and now, even if she ups the dose the drug no longer has the same effect. The toll addiction is taking on Ahlam is plain to see. She is pale and thin, chain-smokes cigarettes, and looks much older than her 28 years. But of course it wasn't true. I used the money to buy Tramadol and I fed them cheap pasta instead.
Index of Core Concept Chapters. About Core Concepts. Over-the-Counter Medications. Non-prescribed analgesics may be used for mild pain. Prescription Medications These medications are prescribed for moderate to severe pain or pain refractory to non-opioid analgesics.
Acetaminophen with Codeine - schedule III controlled substance and does not require triplicate to prescribe. Tramadol - schedule IV controlled substance and does not require triplicate to prescribe.
This is a weak opioid related to codeine and is less likely to be associated with respiratory depression than stronger opioids.
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