Don't just pop the same pill for every
ailment, whether it's a headache or cold
Got a hangover? Painful knee? Just pop some painkillers. It's easy to self-medicate, with painkillers available over the counter and in supermarkets. Yet Australians are in danger of becoming addicted. The Medical Journal Of Australia says misuse of over-the-counter painkillers is the third most common category of substance abuse after cannabis and ecstasy.
Before you treat your pain, you need to pinpoint the type. "There are two types," says Dr Ronald McCoy, spokesman for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. "There's the familiar pain, such as period pain, which you can treat as you usually would. But a new pain, which you haven't experienced before, appears unusual or lasts longer than about 24 hours, is an alert that you should see your GP." If pain is severe, see a GP as soon as possible.
Headaches
Headaches have affected 84 percent of Australians at some time in the past 12 months.
What to take: If it is the sort of headache you have had before, take one or two paracetamol pills.
Paracetamol doesn't have any anti-inflammatory side effects, so is generally safe for children and adults, provided it is taken as directed: 500 to 1000 milligrams for adults (usually one or two tablets), every four to six hours. Do not take more than the maximum of 4000 milligrams (eight pills) in a day.
"Don't take a dosage more than every four hours. If you need extra, see a doctor," Dr McCoy says. You should also examine the cause of the headache. "It could indicate dehydration, muscle strain or missing your morning coffee, so drink one or two glasses of water first," he says.
Stomach pain
"The most common cause of gut pain is from spasm. This is often associated with irritable bowel disease or diverticular disease, but can also result from bloating or wind in the gut," says Professor Terry Bolin, The Gut Foundation president.
What to take: "Choose a medication that will relieve the spasm and not simply dampen down the pain," Professor Bolin says.
He says non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Nurofen mask the symptoms but do not treat the cause. Instead, try the over-the-counter antispasmodic Buscopan, which is taken before a meal, or perscription-only antispasmodic Colofac (mebeverine hydrochloride). "Or try Iberogast (STW 5), a herbal solution available from your pharmacy. Take 20 drops, three times a day," he advises.
Chest pain
If you have not experienced this type of pain before, it needs to be investigated immediately. "The majority of chest pain is caused by muscle strain - usually a one-off stabbing pain - which can be treated with paracetamol," Dr McCoy says.
What to take: "Continual chest pain is one pain you should never ignore," Dr McCoy says.
The Heart Foundation says if you have chest pain for longer than 10 minutes, call an ambulance.
Muscle pain
The type of muscle pain you're experiencing depends on the type of treatment you require. "Inflammatory pain will hurt after a period of rest and feel better with small amounts of movement," physiotherapist Clare Singleton says. "Mechanical pain is worse on movement and better with rest."
What to take: "If the pain is inflammatory, take ibuprofen or Voltaren Rapid [diclofenac potassium]," she says. "If it's mechanical, take paracetamol."
Joint pain
Joint pain can be caused by problems around a joint, arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
What to take: "It depends on what form of arthritis a patient has, and can range from simple treatments such as fish oil and paracetamol to stronger pain-relieving medications or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs," rheumatologist Professor Malcolm Smith says.
Colds
Adults get about two to four colds a year, while children catch colds about eight times a year.
What to take: "If you have aches and pains, take a paracetamol or aspirin, up your fluid intake and rest," says Associate Professor Dominic Fitzgerald, physician at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney.
Period pain
"Period pain is mainly caused by a substance called prostaglandin," says Kellie Holland, from Women's Health Queensland Wide. "This causes the uterus to contract and inflame. Women who have period pain have too much prostaglandin or are sensitive to it."
What to take: Take an ibuprofen and a paracetamol two hours later, with food. "If you have persistent pain or bleeding, see a GP," Holland says.
Flu
If you have aching limbs, a chesty cough, lethargy and are feeling hot and cold, it's proper flu.
What to take: "Take paracetamol for several days, but no more than eight a day," Dr McCoy says.
If flu persists, visit your GP to check it's not an infection. And are cold-and-flu tablets worth the money? "They contain decongestants, which remove sinus pain," Dr McCoy says. "They're especially good if you're travelling."
Natural painkillers
If you want to avoid pharmaceutical medicines, try these natural remedies.
- Painful periods: Daily evening primrose oil supplements can ease symptoms.
- Headache: Massage the back of the neck with lavender essential oil.
- Colds: Add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the bath.
- Digestive discomfort: Drink peppermint tea after meals.
- Hay fever: Take 1000mg of garlic oil capsules three times a day.
- Heartburn: To assist digestion, take bromelain or papain (available from health food shops) as directed.
Source: The Essential Natural Health Bible by Nerys Purchon (Hodder).
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