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Commonly used pain medications
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| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are among the most common pain relievers used in adults. They are also a common treatment for long-term health problems, such as arthritis and lupus. Most people are familiar with over-the-counter NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen. These drugs are more than just pain relievers. They also help reduce inflammation and lower fevers. NSAIDs block proteins, called enzymes, in the body that help make prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are a group of naturally occurring fatty acids that play a role in pain and inflammation. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, asthma, or have a history of kidney or liver disease, or have had ulcers in the past. People over 65 should be especially careful while taking NSAIDs. Also tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking. NSAIDs can intensify or neutralize the effects of some drugs.
Ibuprofen
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Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, better known as NSAIDs. The prescription form of Ibuprofen is used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used to relieve mild to moderate pain, including period pain. Over-the-counter ibuprofen is used to reduce fever and to relieve minor aches and pains caused by headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, menstruation, colds, toothaches, and back pain. Ibuprofen comes on its own and in combination with other drugs. Some of these combination products are available by prescription only, and some of these combination products are available without a prescription and are used to treat symptoms of coughs and colds and other conditions. If your doctor has prescribed a medicine that contains ibuprofen, be careful not to take over-the-counter medicines that also contain ibuprofen.
Naproxen
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| Naproxen is typically prescribed to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine. Classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, prescription naproxen may also come as an extended-release tablet, designed for pain caused by bursitis or tendonitis, or in liquid. The over-the-counter form of naproxen, which has the brand names Aleve or Naprosyn, is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever. People who take blood thinners like warfarin should avoid naproxen because it also thins the blood, and excessive blood thinning can lead to bleeding. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, as naproxen can harm the unborn child and cause problems with childbirth if taken around 20 weeks or later during pregnancy.
Aspirin
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| Aspirin is the most well-known form of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, which is effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. Unlike other NSAIDs, however, aspirin can be used to prevent blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Most patients benefit from using aspirin, but serious side effects like nausea and cramping can occur and usually tend to be dose related, so it is advisable to use the effective dose at the very latest. lower to minimize risk. Aspirin should be avoided in patients with peptic ulcer disease or kidney failure, as this medicine can make both conditions worse. Children and adolescents should avoid aspirin for flu or chickenpox symptoms because of the associated risk of Reye’s syndrome, a serious disease of the liver and nervous system that can lead to coma and death. All aspirin use should be discontinued before elective surgery due to a slight tendency to interfere with blood clotting.
Acetaminophen
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| The drug acetaminophen, known commercially as Tylenol, is not an NSAID. It is a pain reliever and fever reducer but does not have the anti-inflammatory properties of NSAIDs. However, acetaminophen is sometimes combined with aspirin in over-the-counter products, such as certain varieties of Excedrin. Prescription NSAIDs are often recommended for rheumatologic diseases or for moderately painful musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. You may have side effects if you take large doses of NSAIDs or if you take them for a long time. Some side effects are mild and go away, while others are more serious and require medical attention. Unless your doctor tells you to, do not take over-the-counter NSAIDs with a prescription NSAID, multiple over-the-counter NSAIDs, or more than the recommended dose of an NSAID. This could increase the risk of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, or stomach pain.
Thousands of listeners trust him every week, T. Glenn Pait, MD, began offering expert advice as the host of the UAMS ‘Here’s Your Health’ program in 1996. Dr Pait has started working at UAMS in 1994 and has practiced medicine for over 25 years.
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