With so many painkillers ready at
our disposal, we often don’t know when to use which. In a spot of
bother, we open our medicine cabinet to find an assortment of half-used
painkiller boxes and often just pick one at random. Which painkiller should we use when? Does it matter which one we use?
Well, today I’m going to attempt to answer those questions, and I hope it’ll help to smooth out any crinkles of confusion you might have.
Adult dose of aspirin: 300-900 mg every four to six hours, maximum 4g daily.
What is aspirin? Aspirin belongs to the group of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
When should you take aspirin? Aspirin can be used to relieve pain and inflammation caused by rheumatic and muscular pain, sprains, backache, headache, sore throat, toothache and period pain. It can also be used to treat flu-like symptoms and reduce fever in adults. In low doses, it can be used to thin the blood.
What are the dangers of taking aspirin? Some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, asthma, stomach ulcers, and liver and kidney disease, could make aspirin a bad choice for you.
Taking aspirin with other medications? Aspirin can mix badly with other medicines, vitamins, herbals, or dietary supplements. People who are already using a prescribed medicine to thin the blood should talk to a health professional before using aspirin, even occasionally.
Aspirin was the first of the painkillers to be discovered and has been in use for over 100 years, so we have a fairly good grasp of how it works and how it affects users.
It is the same type of drug as ibuprofen, an NSAID, and, therefore, has similar effects. Again, it should be taken with food and asthmatics should be careful and monitor for side effects.
It is different, however in that it also has an anti-platelet effect
that affects the ability of the blood to form clots. This means that if
there is a blood wound in the body, it will take longer to stop
bleeding.
What is paracetamol? Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a non-opioid (or non-narcotic) painkiller and fever reducer that belongs to a group of medicines known as analgesics.
When should you take paracetamol? Paracetamol is used to ease mild to moderate pain from headaches, toothache, muscle and joint pains and period pains.
What are the dangers of taking paracetamol? Paracetamol side-effects are rare if you do not take more than the maximum recommended dose. However, it can be very dangerous if you take an overdose.
Taking paracetamol with other medications? It is usually safe to take paracetamol with other medications but check with your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer from liver or kidney problems. And be careful if you're taking other non-prescription remedies, such as cold treatments, which may also contain paracetamol.
Despite our uncertainty about how paracetamol works, it has been used by enough people around the globe for us to have a very good idea of the effects of using paracetamol. On the whole, it is very safe – in children, in pregnancy, in the general population.
The big downside is what happens to the liver if we overdose on
paracetamol. Usually, paracetamol is processed and broken down in the
liver but when it is overloaded, toxins (aminotransferases) cause damage
to the liver. Therefore, we need to be careful never to take too much
paracetamol. Many other medications (such as cold and flu medications)
contain combinations that include paracetamol so you should always check
that you aren’t doubling up on doses without realizing.
Final result which one to be use .
Well, today I’m going to attempt to answer those questions, and I hope it’ll help to smooth out any crinkles of confusion you might have.
Aspirin
Adult dose of aspirin: 300-900 mg every four to six hours, maximum 4g daily.
What is aspirin? Aspirin belongs to the group of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
When should you take aspirin? Aspirin can be used to relieve pain and inflammation caused by rheumatic and muscular pain, sprains, backache, headache, sore throat, toothache and period pain. It can also be used to treat flu-like symptoms and reduce fever in adults. In low doses, it can be used to thin the blood.
What are the dangers of taking aspirin? Some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, asthma, stomach ulcers, and liver and kidney disease, could make aspirin a bad choice for you.
Taking aspirin with other medications? Aspirin can mix badly with other medicines, vitamins, herbals, or dietary supplements. People who are already using a prescribed medicine to thin the blood should talk to a health professional before using aspirin, even occasionally.
Aspirin was the first of the painkillers to be discovered and has been in use for over 100 years, so we have a fairly good grasp of how it works and how it affects users.
It is the same type of drug as ibuprofen, an NSAID, and, therefore, has similar effects. Again, it should be taken with food and asthmatics should be careful and monitor for side effects.
Paracetamol
Adult dose of paracetamol: 500mg -1g every four to six hours, maximum 4g daily.What is paracetamol? Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a non-opioid (or non-narcotic) painkiller and fever reducer that belongs to a group of medicines known as analgesics.
When should you take paracetamol? Paracetamol is used to ease mild to moderate pain from headaches, toothache, muscle and joint pains and period pains.
What are the dangers of taking paracetamol? Paracetamol side-effects are rare if you do not take more than the maximum recommended dose. However, it can be very dangerous if you take an overdose.
Taking paracetamol with other medications? It is usually safe to take paracetamol with other medications but check with your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer from liver or kidney problems. And be careful if you're taking other non-prescription remedies, such as cold treatments, which may also contain paracetamol.
Paracetamol (Panadol)
Considering how widespread the use of paracetamol is, it may come as a shock that no one is exactly sure just how it works (read here). The way I like to envision it (and this is in no way scientifically proven) is that paracetamol stops the “message” of pain reaching our brain. Say we sliced open the end of our finger, for example, and the poor little nerves are feeling a little cut up, so they send SOS messages of pain to the brain. Paracetamol interferes with the message just before it gets to the brain. In this way, it can stop pain messages from all over the body because it acts centrally near the brain.Despite our uncertainty about how paracetamol works, it has been used by enough people around the globe for us to have a very good idea of the effects of using paracetamol. On the whole, it is very safe – in children, in pregnancy, in the general population.
Final result which one to be use .
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