What Painkillers To Take For What?

[jyl]

I wonder if the docs and the pain-experienced among us can comment on what are the best OTC painkillers and for what. What should you have in the medicine cabinet and when should you take them?

I basically know of aspirin, acetominophen (Tylenol), and naproxen (Aleve). I don't really know what is best for what, and what is safer. My impression is that aspirin is for headaches, Tylenol is for fevers and flus, and Aleve is for muscle pain, though I definitely have no basis for that impression. I have occasion to take a few of these maybe every 2 months. After reading about acetominophen overdose I am rather paranoid about taking more than a couple Tylenol a day.

Also, what is a good but pretty safe prescription pain med? Something you can keep around, and use when something hurts quite a bit but not bad enough to go to the doctor?

I have only ever used hydrocodone/acetominophen (Vicodin). It is a leftover prescription from some doctor visit. I used to think it was ineffective because one pill never did anything for me. But earlier this week I took two, and that worked great - pain gone and I fell asleep. However, I'm kind of scared to take two, it feels like the first step down the path of drug abuse. I've taken like 10 Vicodin pills in my whole life and so far never more than 2 in a week - this week was 100% of my Vicodin consumption for the year.

[widebody911]

My x/g/f was a pharmacist, so this is what I learned from her. Basically, you need to take the appropriate med for the condition. Motrin for inflammation; tylenol for headaches. She hated naproxen and told me it was evil, would destroy your liver, etc, etc.

[jyl]

I forgot about ibuprofen (Motrin). I dont think we have any around.

[Schumi]

All of the above, crushed up and raked into a glass of scotch.

[stomachmonkey]

I don't take any OTC pain meds.

If it gets to the point that I need something it's prescription all the way baby.

OTC is for little girls.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by jyl

I wonder if the docs and the pain-experienced among us can comment on what are the best OTC painkillers and for what.

OTC Painkillers is an oxy-moron.

Oxycodone (Percocet) or Hydrocodone (Vicodin) seem to be the two analgesics of choice these days. Either should be fine in moderation/when warranted (some do better with one over the other). If you are "doctor shopping" or scoring it on the street, then you may have a problem.

If you are worried about your acetaminophen intake, you can request a different ratio mix. In other words, a common Percocet/Vicodin script is for 5/325's. Meaning 5mg of oxy/hydro-codone, and 325 mg's of acetaminophen. However, there are 10/325's, 7.5/600's, and a bunch of other "flavors" available (including those with an ibuprofen mix instead of acetaminophen). Talk with your doc.

[imcarthur]

Aspirin=headaches
Baby Aspirin=-heart what-if preventative
Oxi + buscabar(?)=kidney stones
tylenol 3=when pain is more than aspirin can deal with (but expect minor nausea)
toradol=tooth pain (it works for 3 hours & you must not take for more than 5 days)

This is from real experience . . . I always have all of the above handy wherever I am.

Ian

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by Schumi

All of the above, crushed up and raked into a glass of scotch.

With a Neosporin chaser

[aigel]

I shy away from aspirin due to it being able to mess up your stomach and mess with your blood clot (especially when outdoors, away from civilization, you want to make sure your blood clots normally ...).

Ibuprofen is my go-to pain med, if I ever need it. Usually if I hurt it is from sports and with joint pain, tendon pain, muscle aches etc, it helps because it is also anti-inflammatory.

I do not take acetaminophen. It does not last as long as ibuprofen and is at least as hard on your system as ibuprofen, so why bother?

I do not recall taking a prescription pain killer. Knock on wood. I would be very careful with opiates and rather take a little more pain if at all possible. Chances you get hooked may be slim, but I wouldn't want to take a chance nevertheless.

Generally I try to listen to my body. If I get a headache, it is time to get some more sleep, take a day off. If I feel my body ache after sports, it is time to slow down the training regiment.

No pain killers for hang overs (avoid them to start with) and muscle aches from weight lifting (yes, I know several people that take them for that reason).

George

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

OTC Painkillers is an oxy-moron.

Oxycodone (Percocet) or Hydrocodone (Vicodin) seem to be the two analgesics of choice these days. Either should be fine in moderation/when warranted (some do better with one over the other). If you are "doctor shopping" or scoring it on the street, then you may have a problem.

If you are worried about your acetaminophen intake, you can request a different ratio mix. In other words, a common Percocet/Vicodin script is for 5/325's. Meaning 5mg of oxy/hydro-codone, and 325 mg's of acetaminophen. However, there are 10/325's, 7.5/600's, and a bunch of other "flavors" available (including those with an ibuprofen mix instead of acetaminophen). Talk with your doc.

You need to work on your drug knowledge... Hydrocodone is most commonly Lortab, then Norco, then Vicodin. The difference is in what strength the mixtures is and what else is added. The Oxy and Percocet(Endocet) is a narcotic and stronger than the Lortab/Norco/Vico. There are TONS of painkillers available. Its about finding what works best for you for the cause of pain. It is really something you need to talk to your doctor about.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

You need to work on your drug knowledge...

You need not be such a douche.

Hydrocodone is most commonly Lortab, then Norco, then Vicodin.

Sorry, the most commonly known/relatable/prescribed version is Vicodin.

Its about finding what works best for you for the cause of pain.

No, really? You don't say. Is that what they teach you in pharma school?

It is really something you need to talk to your doctor about.

Uh, yeah, kinda already said that.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

You need not be such a douche.

Sorry... All these self taught medical professionals grate on me...

Sorry, the most commonly known/relatable/prescribed version is Vicodin.
Hmm... Not around here... I would put Lortab at the top, Followed by Norco.

No, really? You don't say. Is that what they teach you in pharma school?
No thats what we tell people in the Pharmacy I work in....

Uh, yeah, kinda already said that.

Didn't mean to come of as a douche... Just wanted to make sure that people saw the errors....

[Schumi]

I put it in italics for effect, but it was not green text.

I usually substitute rum for scotch. And a handful of Dramamine to get you to sleep a bit quicker.

Then play the "how long can I move" game followed swiftly by the "I hope I wake up" game.

This was my college years.

[porsche4life]

Mike... Can you say liver damage?


Eric sorry again, but that whole post was full of halftruths and misinformation, not to mention being totally irrelevant. Class IV and Class II narcotics are something best discussed with a doctor and/or pharmacist and not your neighborhood remax agent...

[jyl]

I guess what I'm getting at is, there is 5 linear feet of OTC pain/fever/headache pills at the drugstore, the advertising is all a bunch of emotional manipulation, how does someone rationally decide what to take for
- a bad headache
- a fever and body aches
- a painful back or leg or other muscle
- a painful joint
- other
Without consulting a doctor - let's say the condition and duration does not appear to merit consuming medical resources, or you're in the backcountry or in a foreign country . . .

Is there a crib sheet?

[porsche4life]

Only 5 linear Feet? You need a bigger pharmacy!


Anyways. What we always tell people, Take w/e seems to work the best for you. They all have side effects. If taken in moderation its not going to do serious damage.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Didn't mean to come of as a douche... Just wanted to make sure that people saw the errors....

No worries. Primarily busting your chops as I knew you worked in a Pharmacy.

Although, I will stand by my Vicodin assesment. It's the most relatable form of Hydrocodone (at least to the lay person) IMO.

Even Google seems to agree:






Regardless, I think Schumi has the "painkiller" formula down pat.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Eric sorry again, but that whole post was full of halftruths and misinformation, not to mention being totally irrelevant. Class IV and Class II narcotics are something best discussed with a doctor and/or pharmacist and not your neighborhood remax agent...

Wow, an apology yet more condescension (douchebagery) in the same post. Please point out/correct this supposed "misinformation" (with credible sources). As far as being totally irrelevant, well I guess you suffer from reading comprehension (and/or don't know what the meaning of "relevant" is). Oh, and AGAIN, I already suggested the OP talk with his doc. Is that the reading comprehension thingy again? And "neighborhood remax agent..." WTF? Talk about "irrelevant (not to mention incorrect).

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by jyl

i guess what i'm getting at is, there is 5 linear feet of otc pain/fever/headache pills at the drugstore, the advertising is all a bunch of emotional manipulation, how does someone rationally decide what to take for
- a bad headache: jack daniels & ketamine on the rocks.
- a fever and body aches: powdered dilaudid snorted off a hooker's ass.
- a painful back or leg or other muscle: heroin, injected straight into your eye.
- a painful joint: bi-lateral morphine iv with dual pc buttons.
- other: well, i'm feeling no pain with this paulaner märzen.

:d

[Tobra]

Vicodin is definitely the brand of hydrocodone people know the name, I blame Slim Shady.

Tylenol-Acetaminophen is effective for pain and fever, not for inflammation. Processed by liver, use with caution in booze jockeys, hepatitis or other medications that are processed by liver, like cholesterol drugs.
There are about a gazillion anti inflammatory drugs on the market, Rx and OTC.

OTC NSAIDs(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Naproxen. These have effect on pain, fever and inflammation. Mostly processed by kidneys, some GI effect, inhibit clotting of blood.

NSAIDs are cyclo oxygenase(COX) Inhibitors. Some are COX 2 specific. Cyclo oxegenase is an enzyme and it blocks the process at a little different place on the path. This is desirable, as there are things COX does that you want. For example, it tells your body to secrete the goo that protects your stomach lining from the acid you have your food marinating in. Toradol/Ultram-Tramadol is a prescription NSAID touted as being as effective for pain as a narcotic.

Aspirin and tylenol are often mixed with other drugs, both prescription and OTC. If someone is taking 2 vicodins a few times a day and are taking cold medicine with tylenol in it, they can get a pretty toxic dose. You should lay off booze if taking this stuff.