Painkillers are used all around the world to cure a wide range of diseases. From chronic disorders to minor health concerns, painkillers are utilized for different purposes. Subsequently, painkillers are also known as ‘analgesics’ (an-al-gee-sic), which is basically the medical term for it. 

As the name suggests, painkiller takes care of the pain a person experiences. It works as a safety measure for moderate to mild pain associated with different problems. For instance, severe migraine, back pain, arthritis, sore muscles, etc. However, all types of painkiller pills have various side effects, with some advantages as well. 

What Are The Different Types Of Painkiller Pills?

Depending on the level of pain, different types of painkiller pills are prescribed. This is done after a brief or thorough examination, just to make sure the patient recovers soon. Anti-inflammatory painkillers and paracetamol work best to relieve back pain and headaches. The basic aim of these medications is to cure the problem and improve a person’s health from time to time. The majority of the people rely on painkiller pills because they are effective to use and work within seconds. 

For better understanding, let’s look at the different types of painkillers used for different purposes:

● Ibuprofen:

Ibuprofen is one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to cure any inflammatory problem. Diclofenac and naproxen are also used beside ibuprofen to relieve stress. 

Precautionary measures:

Ibuprofen is not the cure to every sort of pain. It should be used under control and not for longer time periods. Consulting a doctor will be a viable option to consider before using it. Using Ibuprofen for longer time periods will increase the risk of stomach problems, kidney and heart issues. Pregnant women are strictly advertised to consult their doctor before using the recommended dose. An alternative for pregnant women will be paracetamol. 

● Paracetamol:

Migraine and non-nerve pain are treated through paracetamol. People having severe headaches use 500 mg dose of paracetamol almost 4 times a day. This is considered safe to use, but the quantity shouldn’t exceed the limit. 

Precautionary measures:

It is highly advised not to take 9 or more tablets within 24 hours. The overdose will lead to some serious side effects and will be unhealthy for the patient. 

● Codeine:

Paracetamol is usually combined with codeine, as it works better this way. The combination of both painkiller pills are available in the market under the name ‘co-codamol’. Typically, only a mild dose of codeine is taken to relieve mental stress. For a stronger dose, a doctor’s prescription is needed. Also, it is advised not to use codeine for a long-term basis, because of dependency issues. 

● Soluble painkillers:

Soluble painkillers are always better for people who find it hard to swallow painkillers. However, soluble painkiller pills have a high proportion of salt present. This leads to high blood pressure and some other serious health problems, like a heart attack. The use of soluble painkiller pills with less amount of salt should be used more. This will help in reducing salt intake and relieve pain faster. 

● Morphine:

Until now, morphine is the strongest painkiller pills to relieve chronic pain. Other morphine-like painkillers are fentanyl, buprenorphine, and oxycodone. All of these strong painkiller pills are mainly used to treat infection and severe pain. 

Precautionary measures:

Just like any other heavy dose of painkillers, morphine is also used under the guidance of a professional doctor or specialist. However, it is prescribed for a longer time period, until the course finishes. 

All of these painkiller pills are available globally. They are widespread and used almost on a daily basis. Even then, some precautions need to be taken into account at all means. Any over-the-counter painkillers shouldn’t be used without consulting a professional. A thorough study should be done about the pain relievers and side effects should be discussed beforehand.

Many drugs do not suit an individual and may be unsafe to use. People should be aware of that as well. For instance, people with allergies and chronic illnesses need to check which type of painkillers to need. In addition to that, if the pain keeps on increasing, then help from a professional should be taken. As professionals are better at monitoring pain and choose the best painkiller out there.