When Pain Strikes

A Quick Guide On Pain Relief

1 For Headaches
Best OTC (over the counter) options
Start with paracetamol (Panado) or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like ibuprofen (Nurofen) or aspirin (Disprin). For a killer headache, try a med that contains caffeine. 
Safe limit 
Follow the dosage instructions.
Good to know
Wash NSAIDs down with coffee or tea (sans milk). Studies show caffeine boosts the drug’s effectiveness. If you need more relief If you have two or more headaches a week that interfere with your life, they may be migraines that require a prescription med.
If you need more relief
If you have two or more headaches a week that interfere with your life, they may be migraines
that require a prescription med.

2 For Fever, sore throat and Flu 
Best OTC options 
Paracetamol or NSAIDs. Start with paracetamol; NSAIDs can irritate your stomach. 
Safe limit Paracetamol: up to 4 000mg a day for up to three days. Ibuprofen: up to 1 200mg a day for up to 10 days. 
Good to know 
Don’t OD by mistake – lots of cold and flu remedies (including Med-Lemon) also contain these meds. Read the labels. 
If you need more relief 
Bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids are the best ways to ensure your body beats the virus as quickly as possible.

3 For sore muscles 
Best OTC option 
Paracetamol Safe limit Up to 4 000mg a day for up to three days. 
Good to know 
Skip ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. Research suggests that prostaglandins (messenger molecules in the body) help muscles heal, and these drugs suppress prostaglandin production. 
If you need more relief 
Try hot- and cold-packs or compression (wrapping the area). For severe pain, your doctor may give you a prescription strength painkiller.

4 For chronic pain 
Best OTC options 
Paracetamol or NSAIDs for flare-ups. Taken continuously, NSAIDs can irritate the stomach and paracetamol is potentially toxic to the liver. 
Safe limit 
Paracetamol: up to 4000mg a day for up to three days. Ibuprofen: up to 1 200mg a day for up to 10 days. Take higher doses only with a doctor’s go-ahead. 
Good to know 
NSAIDs may weaken the stomach’s lining and can cause ulcers. 
If you need more relief 
See your doctor for pain that lasts longer than a month. Acupuncture, exercise and massage may help.

5 For menstrual cramps 
Best OTC options 
NSAIDs, especially naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen; they cut the production of cramp-causing prostaglandins. 
Safe limit 
Naproxen: up to 600mg a day for up to 10 days. Ibuprofen: up to 1 200mg a day for up to 10 days. 
Good to know 
Start taking the meds a few days before your period is due. 
If you need more relief 
Heating pads or a good oldfashioned hot water bottle can ease muscle pain.