Pain Medicine: What’s Safe? What Works?

When you hurt, you want the pain medicine that works best. But reaching for that bottle in the medicine chest is more complicated these days. Not only are there more painkillers available, there’s a spate of recent warnings about the safety and potential misuse of both pharmaceutical and over-the-counter pain medications.

Painkillers and their Risks

What happened to Vioxx, and why is Celebrex on the firing line? Both of these medications are Cox 2 inhibitors and are implicated in cardiovascular risks, such as heart attacks, stroke, disrythmias, and platelet aggregation.

Naproxen, another pain medication currently available over-the-counter, has also been implicated in negative cardiovascular issues.

Aspirin and ibuprofen do not have any negative effect on the cardiovascular system, and because aspirin causes platelet disaggregation, it is often prescribed to reduce certain patients’ risks for cardiovascular problems.

Aspirin should not be used in children under age 14 due to the possibility of Reye’s Syndrome in conjunction with viruses. Also, ibuprofen and aspirin have a negative effect on the gut and on connective tissue. The most common danger of aspirin and ibuprofen products is gastric bleeding. Gastric upset, nausea and “burping” tend to be very common, especially in those over 50.

Acetaminophen, on the other hand, does not have gastrointestinal side effects, but does have a negative effect on the liver in high doses. Muscle strain, injury, sprains are best helped with ibuprofen or aspirin. Acetaminophen helps reduce pain, but doesn’t address the more important inflammation issue.

Athletes

Athletes often take these medications on a chronic basis and therefore the long-term risks and effects become apparent after several months or years of high dose use. For example, long-term and heavy use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aspirin and ibuprofen can lead to a deterioration of the joints, exacerbating the condition the athlete took the drug for in the first place.

Overdosage should be guarded against. Over-the-counter drugs are just that–drugs. In the case of acetaminophen and naproxen especially, and all commercial painkillers, overdosing can have serious health consequences.

Natural substances that are useful are bromelain and proteolytic enzymes for inflammation, Quercitin, turmeric, licorice and vitamin E are anti-inflammatory as well. Try homeopathic remedies incorporating arnica montanica for bruising, strains and sprains. Athletes should enhance their natural anti-inflammatory physiology and biochemistry by choosing the appropriate diet that includes an anti-inflammatory approach like decreasing fatty meats and decreasing hydrogenated oils while at the same time increasing ingestion of the good fatty acids such as Omega 3 fats found in fish products.

Arthritis

The safest pain medication for arthritis is ibuprofen or aspirin. All cautions about food and excessive dosages are to be followed. Those with allergies to these should not use them. Used occasionally, acetaminophen may give some relief. However, long-term and heavy use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aspirin and ibuprofen can lead to a deterioration of the joints, which creates a downward spiral effect.

Tension Headaches

For tension headaches, acetaminophen is probably the safest. Headaches are very often caused by food allergies, stress, dehydration, or hypoglycemia. Long-term use of aspirin-like medications will actually cause a deterioration and exacerbation of these headaches as a result of analgesic rebound. This phenomenon occurs as a result of a patient becoming dependent upon not only the analgesic, but also the caffeine that is often put into these products–the withdrawal from which causes headache. It would be far better for headache sufferers to go to an allergist or natural health expert to determine the cause of their headache. Chiropractic physicians are an excellent choice since the etiology of prevention and wellness is what chiropractic is all about.

Migraines

Over-the-counter medication for migraines, even those marketed as migraine-specific don’t always work well. There are natural products for migraine headache as well as tension and sinus headache. These include: feverfew, 5HTP, and proteolytic enzymes, which decrease the inflammatory process.

Patients may want to work with their physician to check for allergies and blood glucose levels, and also watch the amount of caffeine and alcohol ingested, both of which cause headache upon withdrawal.

Conclusion

So next time you reach for a pain reliever, stop and think, “Why am I taking this? Is this the best choice for my body and my type of pain?” Take a moment to reread the dosage directions on the label. The potency of the bottle of pills you bought today might be different than what you took a year ago.

While all substances used for pain reduction have risks, including natural substances, natural remedies and nutritional strategies are generally safer than any of the pharmaceutical alternatives.”

For more information on pain relief, or to discuss your condition with a chiropractic physician specializing in safe and natural pain treatment, contact an NUHS Whole Health Center.