What is the Best Painkiller?
REGULAR use of painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol could be dangerous, according to new research. The American study showed that men who took daily doses were about a third more likely to have high blood pressure, increasing their vulnerability to heart disease, strokes and kidney failure.
pain killers
But look in any typical household medicine cabinet and you are likely to find at least one type of over-the counter painkiller. Which type will depend largely on how susceptible the family is to the marketing hype that helps drive the half-a-billion-pound a year painkiller market.
So which products should you be using, and when should you be using them?
Here’s a guide to getting the most out of over- the- counter painkillers – HEADACHE Paracetamol (the cheapest nonbranded version you can buy) remains most doctors’ choice as a first-line painkiller for all types of headache.
As long as you stick to the recommended dose it’s about as safe as medicines get, and if you are only going to have one painkiller in your household then this should be it.
Avoid paracetamol preparations that claim to be more powerful, or fasteracting. Although theoretically beneficial, in practice additives like caffeine and codeine are unlikely to do anything other than lighten your wallet or purse.
Some people find ibuprofen (Nurofen, Brufen and Junifen) more effective but be careful if you are suffering with a hangover, or prone to indigestion – ibuprofen can upset a tender stomach.
BACK PAIN/ACHING JOINTS/PULLED MUSCLES Unlike paracetamol, ibuprofen has a mild anti-inflammatory action which may give it an edge in treating sprains and strains throughout the body.
Anti-inflammatory creams and gels (ask your pharmacist) can help, but the active ingredient is ibuprofen, or a related drug, and I remain to be convinced that they are anywhere near as powerful as taking the same products by mouth.
PERIOD PAINS Ibuprofen is likely to be more effective than paracetamol for treating the cramps associated with periods.
If you are going to take ibuprofen regularly for three to four days at a time, try to take it with meals to protect your stomach, and switch to paracetamol if you start getting indigestion.
Never take aspirin, as its blood-thinning properties can make the bleeding heavier. Aspirin does have its good points – it is cheap and powerful and it has a unique action on platelets, reducing the stickiness of blood, and offering significant protection against heart disease and stroke. But its sideeffects rule it out as an everyday painkiller, and certainly not for period pains.
EARACHE AND TOOTHACHE If anything, ibuprofen is slightly more powerful than paracetamol and if you have a serious bout of earache or toothache then you are going to need all the help you can get. I would start with ibuprofen (available in liquid form for children) and would even consider adding in paracetamol if the pain is severe (as it often is).
MIGRAINE Simple paracetamol is probably the best bet for milder forms of migraine but you can now buy a migraine-specific treatment without prescription.
Tags: ibuprofen, painkiller, paracetamol