Pain Relief

WHAT IS PAIN? Pain is the way your body tells you that something is wrong. You may feel pain because of injury and disease or emotional upset and stress. The first step in treating pain is to find out why it is there. You may be able to do this yourself or you may need the help of your pharmacist or doctor. When you know the cause of the pain you may be able to remove it. If that can't be done your pharmacist or doctor can suggest the best treatment for you. TREATING PAIN Many people use pain relievers to help them cope with mild pain which doesn't last long, such as headache, sore throat, period pain or a slight injury. But you should see your doctor if the pain is severe or you need pain relief for more than three days in a row. Follow the instructions on the label carefully when you are taking pain relievers. Take only the suggested dose - taking more than the label says, or taking pain relievers for long periods of time, can lead to serious health problems. If you have any questions or concerns about what dose to take, contact Quins Pharmacy HOW DO PAIN RELIEVERS WORK? Messages run from the nerves to the brain to tell you when something is painful. Swelling around an injury is the way the body tries to protect an injured area. Pain relievers like paracetamol stop the pain message being sent to the brain. Other pain relievers like codeine stop the message from reaching the brain. Anti-inflammatory medicines eg aspirin, ibuprofen or diclofenac stop the body making chemicals which cause swelling around an injury. DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAIN RELIEVERS Each person feels pain differently and may feel different kinds of pain depending on the problem - headache, bruising, toothache, etc. There are several types of pain relievers, each works best for different problems. PARACETAMOL · There are different brands of paracetamol available. · Relieves mild aches and pains that settle in a day or two. · Lowers a high temperature or fever. · Is the most suitable pain reliever for infants and children. Use the liquid meant for children, in the exact dose for the child's age, no more often than suggested. Do not continue regular doses for more than 24 hours without contacting Quins Pharmacy. CODEINE · Is mixed with aspirin or paracetamol to improve pain relief. · Effective for strong pain eg dental pain, headaches, period pain, migraine, muscular aches and pains. · Helps to reduce coughing. · Can make you constipated when it is taken for a long time - more than three days. · It works near the brain and can make you sleepy. NON STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS) · NSAIDs eg ibuprofen and diclofenac; reduce pain, swelling and inflammation and lower temperature. · Relieve headache, muscular pain, dental pain and nerve pain. · Chemical substances eg prostaglandins are released when there is an inflammation. NSAIDs are particularly useful for pain associated with inflammation eg sports injury or period pain, because they limit the production of prostaglandins. · Before taking NSAIDs, contact Quins Pharmacy  if you are taking any other medicines, have a stomach ulcer or any other stomach disorder or are asthmatic or aspirin sensitive. ASPIRIN · Aspirin is also a NSMD and relieves minor aches and pain - eg. muscle and joint pain. · It also lowers high temperature and reduces swelling and inflammation eg with sprains and strains. · Aspirin also thins your blood to reduce the chance of a stroke or heart attack, but always check with your doctor first before taking it for this reason. · Products containing aspirin should not be taken during pregnancy; before surgery on the throat, teeth and gums; or if you have stomach pains or gout. Aspirin should be avoided by people with asthma, those who take medicines to reduce blood clotting and people under 12 years of age unless recommended by a doctor. Breastfeeding and pregnant woman should check with their pharmacist before taking any pain relievers. COMBINATIONS Some pain relievers are mixed with other medicines for different conditions. For example, they are often combined with cough and cold medicines to lower a high temperature or with a sedative to help people with pain get some sleep. Always check the ingredient list when buying medicines so that you don't double up. Ask Quins Pharmacy to tell you how each ingredient will affect you. SEE YOUR DOCTOR: · If your pain is becoming worse or lasts more than 2-3 days.

Quins Gore Pharmacy Ltd. will not supply of any controlled substances,
drugs of abuse or performance enhancing steroids.
We will not supply Phentermine, Redux, Meridia or any codeine based
painkillers such as Hydrocodone or Vicodin.

© Quins Gore Pharmacy Ltd 2000