Can someone explain pain killers to me please
As I am getting older, I am experiencing the aches and pains associated with age etc. I have only been used to taking paracetamol and ibuprofen ( i have taken codiene twice in my life). However, my friends talk about pain killers like codeine, tramadol, naproxen and some others…. Interestingly, i have tramadol, naproxen and codeine in my medicine cabinet, but have never taken them (with the exception of codeine twice, after being prescribed by doctors)
I have never even considered taking when in pain as to me they are drug drugs.. feel free to laugh at my ignorance im sure.
What exactly are they and what would warrant taking them opposed to paracetamol and ibuprofen?
What pains would warrant me taking certain types of pain killers over the others?
Ive tried researching the internet but i just end up on medical journals etc and I dont really understand them
Many thanks if anyone can shine a light on these types of pain killers
In: 1
Codeine and Tramadol are the actual “painkillers” – they’re opiates made from the opium poppy and highly addictive with a huge abuse potential. They block pain receptors in the brain to offer immediate relief of severe pain but they don’t actually treat any causes of the pain.
Ibuprofen and naproxen are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID) and are suited for more regular use to treat swelling, muscle aches, headaches, cramps, and general inflammation of the body. Both are non habit forming and relatively safe.
The short version is if your pain isn’t managed by one move onto something stronger.
Check out the section of the [Equianalgesic chart under “Opioid Equivalency”](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equianalgesic) to see how meds roughly stack up against one another.
If your pain isn’t managed properly you may not heal properly. BUT, opioid addiction is a hell I’ve lived through and I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
If paracetamol and ibuprofen work for you, then you don’t need anything stronger. The only reason to take anything stronger would be if neither of those two worked for you.
Also, it depends on what’s causing the pain. If it could anything caused by a problem with your gait (the way you walk), or neck and shoulder pain caused by stress, or sciatica, then osteopaths and physiotherapists can often help you.
By the way, there are people with certain medical conditions who aren’t supposed to take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, so they might be more likely to try cocodamol for reasons that other people wouldn’t.
Resident physician here. The right pain medication will depend on the specific pain generator. Depending on where ur pain is worst and the cause. If it’s arthritis, anti inflammatories is usually the cause. There’s also radiculopathy or pain caused by the nerve roots in the back cause back and pain down the legs or arms.
Pain killers work by messing up transmission or receiving of pain signal in one way or another.
Codeine and morphine are opioids. They bind opioid receptors is nervous system cells, messing up their ability to transmit pain signal.
Opioids are also addictive and are drugs of abuse. If you are offered one, it would be a good idea to think carefully whether you need it. You may as well be making a bargain with the devil. Needless to say, prescription of opiates is a very controversial topic. See Oxytocin disaster.
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs). They bind a different type of receptors. They are less powerful than opiates, but are not addictive. However, constant use can cause liver damage. There is data showing that they can be as opiates when taken together at high doses, but I am not qualified to properly assess that claim.
So, when you take which will be your decision. Your physician will be wble to look at your particular situation and give a recommendation. When it comes to severe pain and opiates, there is no clear answer on what one should do.
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