Whakaoranga mamae ki ngā pakeke Pain relief medicines for adults

You can buy paracetamol from a pharmacy or supermarket without a prescription. It is important to take it at the recommended dose so the medicine works well and does not cause unwanted effects.

Most adults can take 2 of the 500mg tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Taking more than the recommended dose can be dangerous and can cause permanent damage to your liver.

Many combination products, such as cold and flu medicines, contain paracetamol. You should not take these at the same time as plain paracetamol or you may take an overdose.

If you need stronger pain relief, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Safe use of paracetamol in children — KidsHealth (external link)

Tablets, capsules and liquids (taken by mouth)

Anti-inflammatories are useful for treating pain and inflammation, in conditions such as arthritis or with muscle sprains. They are also known as NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some common NSAIDs include ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and celecoxib. They come in different brand names and strengths. Some, like ibuprofen, can be bought from the supermarket or at a pharmacy. Others, like naproxen or celecoxib, may need a prescription.

Ibuprofen for pain and inflammation (children) — KidsHealth (external link)

Aspirin is also an anti-inflammatory medicine that may be used to reduce pain and inflammation. However, it is more commonly prescribed in low doses to prevent clots forming in your blood. This reduces your chance of having a stroke or a heart attack.

Although NSAIDs are often very effective for pain and inflammation, they do have significant risks and are not suitable for everyone to take.

You should also check before taking anti-inflammatories if you have had:

• a stomach ulcer
• asthma
• problems with your kidneys
• heart disease.

Opioid pain relievers can help with severe pain. They have to be prescribed for you. They include:

• codeine
• morphine
• oxycodone
• tramadol.

All opioids have many possible side effects, such as:

• constipation
• drowsiness
• nausea.

If you are concerned about any side effects, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Opioids are often effective for short-term, severe pain and are useful in palliative care. But they may have several serious side effects if you use them long term.

Generally, they become less effective if used for longer than 7 days, as your body becomes used to them and needs higher doses for the same effect. This is called tolerance. So, it is best to use these medicines for short-term pain, such as after a major injury, rather than for treating long-term (chronic or persistent) pain.

Addiction to opioids

Becoming addicted to opioid pain relievers (also called dependence) is a problem for some people. People who have had addiction problems in the past are most at risk of becoming addicted. If you are concerned about this, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

If you are prescribed an opioid, your healthcare provider will need to see you regularly so they can monitor how well the medicine is working and keep track of any problems.

Other medicines, such as some antidepressants and anti-epileptic medicines, can be used to treat nerve (neuropathic) and long-term (chronic or persistent) pain.

Some pain relief medicines can interact with other medicines you might take. This can cause reactions or reduce how well one or other of the medicines work. Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking pain relief with other medicines.