Back pain is one of the most common conditions affecting around 80% of the population of the USA alone. It is second only to headaches as the most frequently occurring painful conditions that affect a person 30 years old and above. The condition is so common, in fact, that four out of five people may have experienced or are already experiencing back pain.
But the good news is there are several treatment options available for those suffering the stresses and strains of back pain, including physical therapy, core strengthening exercise, and of course, over the counter or prescribed back pain medication.
Many back pain medications can be bought over the counter without need of prescription. These drugs can be very helpful in relieving back muscle pain and addressing several of the symptoms related to an episode of back pain. In addition to nonprescription drugs, back pain medications may also be procured through a doctor’s prescription.
So lets take a look at the pain killing medications available:
Acetaminophen
One of the two types of over the counter back pain medication, acetaminophen is a pain reliever drug that acts by switching off the brain’s pain perception. In this regard, it is unlike any other back pain medications, which are mostly anti-inflammatory in addition to being pain killers.
The common dosage of this back pain medication may be up to 1000 mg taken every four hours, provided that no more than 4000 mg is taken within 24 hours. The fast acting pain relieving effect of this back pain medication makes this drug perhaps the single most effective drug to treat the condition and associated pain.
Additionally, this back pain medication is recommended mainly because:
· It has few side effects.
· There is no chance of addiction.
· Tolerance level of patients (when the drug loses its pain relieving effect) is slow to develop, even with extended use.
· Very few patients are allergic to it.
Although this medication will bring some level of relief, it does not directly treat the cause of the pain, and if the pain was caused by an injury, taking a medication that switches off the brain’s pain perception will not prevent you doing further damage to the injured area.
NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs)
Another commonly used back pain medication that is available over the counter is NSAIDs. Since inflammation is a contributing factor in many painful episodes that back pain patients encounter, back pain medication such as NSAIDs with anti inflammatory effect are especially helpful.
Working like aspirin, NSAIDs relieve pain by limiting the formation of inflammation. But what makes this back pain medication better than aspirin is that it has far less gastrointestinal side effects.
Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and COX-2 Inhibitors are only among the few NSAID drugs used as back pain medication.
Narcotic Pain Medications
These types of back pain medications are for severe back pain, particularly those affecting the lower back. Narcotics are only available with a doctor’s prescription, for obvious reasons – they are strong and potentially addictive forms of medication.
The effect of these back pain medications is dissociative in nature, which means that they do not actually deaden the pain, but works to dissociate the patient from the painful feeling. Back pain medications under this category include codeine, propoxyphene, hydrocodone, and oxycodone.
Taking these medications are not recommended for the long term due to the obvious risk of addiction. It would be better to focus on fixing the problem, and working on strengthening the supporting muscles that make up the core of the body to prevent further injury, or worsening of the symptoms.
There are many back pain treatments and therapies you can try other than just relying on pain-killing medication, and it is worth trying a few out to find the solution that best suits you. For more advice about how to deal with your back pain by a team of experts trained in back care and pain management, see below.
Author Resource:-
M Newbold is a prolific writer who enjoys writing about family, health & fitness, food and nutrition. For more information about easing your back pain condition and to download a free mini-ebook, visit http://www.expertbackpain.weebly.com or http://www.backpaincompendium.com
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