Paracetamol
Paracetamol is a commonly and freely available pain killer used for mild to moderate pain.
It is also helpful in combination with other pain relief for severe pain.
Paracetamol is available over the counter without the need for a prescription.
Paracetamol also helps to reduce a fever.
Pros – Effective and fast acting. Not addictive. Reduces fever.
Cons – Dangerous in overdose.
Available as a liquid, tablet or capsule.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory drug. This means that it reduces redness, swelling and pain in the body secondary to inflammation.
It is commonly used and freely available over the counter without the need for a prescription.
Ibuprofen is also helpful in combination with other pain relief for severe pain.
It’s use is often limited by its side effects and interactions with other medicines and medical conditions.
Ibuprofen is particularly effective for bone and muscle related pain.
Ibuprofen also helps to reduce a fever.
Pros – Effective and fast acting. Not addictive. Reduced fever.
Cons – Not suitable for asthmatics, those with a previous gastrointestinal ulcer or bleed, diabetics or those with kidney impairment.
Available as a liquid, tablet, capsule or topical gel
Naproxen
Naproxen is also an anti inflammatory drug but works in a different way to ibuprofen
It is commonly used but is not available without a prescription.
Naproxen is helpful in combination with other pain relief for severe pain.
It’s use is also limited by its side effects and interactions with other medicines and medical conditions.
Naproxen is particularly effective for bone and muscle related pain.
Pros – Effective and fast acting. Not addictive.
Cons – Not suitable for asthmatics, those with a previous gastrointestinal ulcer or bleed, diabetics or those with kidney impairment.
Available as a liquid or tablet.
Co-codamol
Co-codamol is another commonly used pain killer which is a combination of codeine and paracetamol.
It is available in 5 different strengths.
– 8/500 – available over the counter without a prescription
– 12.8/500 – requires a prescription
– 15/500 – requires a prescription
– 30/500 – requires a prescription
– 60/1000 – requires a prescription
Pros – Effective and fast acting.
Cons – Addictive, commonly causes constipation, nausea and headaches. Dangerous in overdose.
Available as a tablet, capsule or dissolvable tablet.
Co-codamol is commonly misused and as such its use is closely monitored by our medicines management team
Tramadol
Tramadol is a stong pain killer which is used for moderate to severe pain.
It acts on a number of chemical messengers in the body and as such has quite a range of effects and side effects.
In the UK, Tramadol is classed as a controlled (Class C or Schedule 3) and as such its use is strictly regulated.
Pros – Effective and fast acting.
Cons – Highly addictive. Many wide ranging side effects. Dangerous in overdose.
Available as a tablet, capsule or liquid.
Tramadol is commonly misused and as such its use is closely monitored by our medicines management team
Gabapentin
Gabapentin was originally designed as an ant epileptic drug.
It is now widely used in the UK for relief of nerve related pain.
Pros – Effective for nerve related pain.
Cons – Wide ranging side effects. Common drug of misuse.
Available as a tablet, capsule or liquid.
Gabapentin is commonly misused and as such its use is closely monitored by our medicines management team
Pregabalin
Pregabalin was originally designed as an ant epileptic drug and is similar to gabapentin in how it works.
It is now widely used in the UK for relief of nerve related pain.
Pros – Effective for nerve related pain.
Cons – Wide ranging side effects. Common drug of misuse.
Available as a capsule or liquid.
Pregabalin is commonly misused and as such its use is closely monitored by our medicines management team
Nefopam
Nefopam is a less frequently used pain killer which is effective for moderate to severe pain.
It’s mode of action is not well understood but is believed to interaction with a number of chemical processes in the body
As such, it has quite a range of side effects and is well known to causes changes to alertness and difficulties in thinking.
Pros – Effective for a variety of pain types.
Cons – Wide ranging side effects including confusion. Variable effectiveness.
Available as a tablet.
