Medication Decisions for Pain Management

PUBLISHED ON:

June 5, 2021

Pain is the main issue of concern for patients suffering from both acute and chronic diseases. Nearly 40 million folks in the USA suffer from acute pains; hence they turn to various approaches to alleviate their symptoms, as stated by the National Institute of Health. One of these approaches is using medication.

Medicated pain management solution is the most prevalent approach used to reduce suffering. According to data released by CDC, from 2015-2018, at any time, 10.7% of the USA’s population was using one or more prescription pain medications, and females were leading the race. So is it right to exclusively treat pain using medicine?

Medication decisions a patient can take to treat pain.

Use opioids for treating chronic pains, such as in cancer cases

Opioids are a group of drugs naturally found in the poppy plant. These drugs trigger specific effects in the brain that produce a variety of outcomes. Among them is pain relief.

According to John Hopkins, opioids can be legally used as painkillers following a doctor’s prescription, but an illegal version of these drugs shadows the streets in the form of heroin.

Prescribed opioids are effective pain relievers; you can add them to your list of medications. It is highly recommended you seek help from qualified doctors to prescribe an appropriate dose of opioid after examining your problem. A skilled doctor will come up with clear medication doses which will not only relieve you from pain but also reduce the risk of addiction.

Here are some examples of opioids you are likely to use;

  • Codeine
  • Morphine
  • Oxycodone

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for mild pain and headaches

NSAIDs are drugs used to treat mild pains ranging from headaches, flu, colds, and painful periods. These drugs are inexpensive, and most of them do not require a doctor’s prescription, i.e., they are over-the-counter drugs.

Although there are over 20 NSAIDs, not all of them have the same effects. Sometimes they cause life-threatening side effects, hence limiting certain categories of people from using them. Therefore, who should not take NSAIDs before consulting a doctor?

  • Aging patients over 65 years
  • Pregnant and lactating mother
  • Patients with any form of allergic reactions
  • People with chronic conditions such as liver, kidney, or heart diseases
  • Patients in other medical treatment regimes

If you don’t fall in the above-named category, you are free to use NSAIDs at your own will but do not overdose. Similarly, discontinue NSAIDs in case the pain persists and visit a doctor for further directions.

These are two major medication decisions you can always take, of course, after seeing a green light from a doctor. Otherwise, learn your options for pain management at SEPSC.