Pain Comes In Many Forms, From Acute To Chronic, And The Pharmacy Is The First Stop For Relief.
From stubbing a toe to enduring a headache, pain is unfortunately one of life’s constants. And while only time, and music, can ‘heal a broken heart’, the local community pharmacy can deal with practically everything else.
For many people in Ireland, pain is a serious and debilitating presence in their lives which can lead to increased unemployment. According to Chronic Pain Ireland, one-in-three people in Ireland have chronic pain, while one-in-five have had pain that lasted more than 10 years. Pain is taken seriously by healthcare professionals of all kinds.
To begin with, there is a range of over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relief medications. For babies and toddlers there is paracetamol-based Calpol, already well-known to many parents, while for adults, there is a number of other medications.
One highly respected ibuprofen product, and part of the Nurofen range, is Nurofen for Children, a liquid medicine which provides effective relief for children suffering from pain, fever, cold, and flu. It starts to work in just 15 minutes and lasts for up to eight hours for fever. It is available in a range of formulas, including Nurofen for Children Six Plus.
Nurofen for Children is also available in suppository form, specially designed to enable the fast absorption of ibuprofen to lower fever quickly and relieve pain for babies aged from three months and weighing more than 6kg.
Another product is Nurofen Sinus & Pain tablets which provide non-drowsy relief from the symptoms of sinus pain, headache and fever, as well as easing the pain of sore throats. Combining the targeted action of Nurofen with the decongestant pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, each yellow, film-coated tablet provides relief from cold and flu symptoms, including nasal congestion.
IBUPROFEN
Easofen for Children also contains the painkiller ibuprofen to provide pain and fever relief for children aged from three months (and over 5kg) to 12 years. Its Strawberry Oral Suspension comes with a pleasant taste and a dosing syringe that makes it easy to measure and administer. It can be used for the relief of teething pain, earache, headache, sprains and strains, sore throats, and cold and flu symptoms.
Ibuprofen plus paracetamol is a powerful combination to fight pain. Easolief Duo film-coated tablets provide this combination, which is proven to relieve pain in two different ways, resulting in 80 per cent more pain relief compared with the same daily dose of paracetamol alone. Easolief Duo can be used when standard analgesics are not sufficient, and is proven to work faster than the standard dose of ibuprofen alone. It can be taken three times per day and is suitable only for patients aged over 18 years.
Disprin is another well-known and trusted brand. It contains aspirin, which reduces pain and inflammation and is effective in relieving headache, toothache, back pain, and period pain. It also reduces temperature and fever.
There is also the Anadin range for adults, which includes tablets, capsules, and soluble tablets. Anadin provides tailored pain relief, with ibuprofen, paracetamol, and aspirin products available.
One such product is Anadin Original. It has a dual-action formula – aspirin and caffeine – to relieve headaches and migraines. Aspirin targets the source of pain, while the caffeine helps speed-up pain relief. Anadin Original can be used to treat headache, migraine, body and muscular aches, period pain, toothache, sore throat, and the pain and fever associated with cold and flu.
Panadol is one of the world’s leading paracetamol-based pain relievers. Panadol Extra Film-Coated Tablets provide up to 30 per cent more powerful pain relief than standard paracetamol, and can start to work in as little as 10 minutes. The product contains a combination of active ingredients – paracetamol and caffeine – and is clinically proven to provide more effective pain relief than standard paracetamol tablets.
IBUPROFEN PLUS PARACETAMOL IS A POWERFUL COMBINATION TO FIGHT PAIN
Panadol Baby is another oral suspension product which is suitable for babies and children from two months to 12 years, and is effective for teething pain, sore throat, toothache, and colds and fever.
There is also the Calpol family of paracetamol products, which have been developed over a number of years for the effective treatment of the illnesses and symptoms that most commonly affect children.
PAIN AND FEVER
Calpol Infant Suspension provides soothing relief from pain and fever in children, but is still gentle on delicate tummies. Trusted by parents for over 50 years, Calpol Infant Suspension is gentle enough to use from two months of age. There is also the Calpol Vapour Plug and Nightlight, which releases soothing lavender and chamomile vapours that comfort a child through the night and help with clear and easy breathing.
Teething is part of any baby’s natural growth, but it can be a very difficult time if the teeth cause discomfort and pain as they break through the gums. Specific pain relief products are available to treat the symptoms of teething. Calpol Teething Gel is one. It has a mild anaesthetic, which numbs the gums, and also contains a gentle antiseptic that can help prevent infection. It can be taken alongside Calpol Infant Suspension if pain and fever relief are also needed.
One of the best-known pain remedies for a sore tooth is clove oil, and there is a wide variety of clove oil brands available in pharmacies. Colgate says that eugenol, an ingredient within clove oil, provides pain relief. Eugenol is a natural anaesthetic and antibacterial agent, and is effective at reducing inflammation in the mouth. Bonjela is also used for teething and mouth ulcers; it is a fast-acting gel that creates a protective film on a baby’s gums to help relieve teething pain, discomfort, and inflammation.
Mouth ulcers are a common problem for people of any age. They are painful spots that form in the mouth, often on the inside of the cheeks and lips. They can also appear on the floor of the mouth and on the underside of the tongue. There are a number of Bonjela products that help to ease symptoms. One of these is Bonjela Adult. This aniseed-flavoured gel is used for the relief of pain, discomfort, and inflammation caused by common mouth ulcers and cold sores. It helps to fight minor mouth infections and aids in the healing of sore spots and ulcers due to dentures and braces.
After a long winter, people are looking forward to being active and getting out again. However, picking up an injury such as runner’s knee or tennis elbow can be a common occurrence. As with anything, prevention is better than cure and the local community pharmacy staff can provide details on exercise classes or healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, who will help treat and prevent sports injuries.
You can also provide advice on treating common injuries, such as sprains and strains, with RICE therapy, which can be done at home.
- REST – stop any exercise and try not to put any weight on the injury.
- ICE – put an ice pack on the injury for up to 20 minutes every two-to-three hours.
- COMPRESSION – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it.
- ELEVATE – keep the area raised on a pillow as much as possible.
Painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, as well as a range of other OTC pain medications, are also available to deal with discomfort and pain caused by injuries.
Deep Heat and Deep Freeze products are some of the best-known treatments for sports-related aches and pains and are a staple of many people’s kit bag. Deep Heat products work by generating penetrating warmth in aching, injured, and sore muscles. Deep Heat Pain Max Strength can be used before and after exercise and contains ingredients that provide pain relief plus heat.
Similarly, Deep Freeze products can be used for sprains, strains, and minor sports injuries, as well as for sharp, shooting muscle and joint pain. Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patch and Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Gel are also suitable for the relief of muscular back pain in pregnancy.
Deep Heat and Deep Freeze sprays are some of the most popular sports injury treatments, and many athletes use them even before events. In its iconic red can, Deep Heat Spray is a pain-relieving and warming spray to be used on the skin. It is recommended for the relief of pain in muscles, tendons, joints or bones, lower back and thigh pain, sprains or strains. It can be used before and after exercise.
Deep Freeze Cold Spray works like ice, delivering an instant burst of targeted cooling to areas, such as the back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet. There is also a range of Deep Heat and Deep Freeze patches to use on affected areas.
Biofreeze products are also very popular, providing fast-acting cold therapy treatment. These products come in a spray, gel, or patch formulation and are readily available from the community pharmacy.
Another popular cream, particularly for athletes, is Ovelle Menthol and Wintergreen Cream. It is used for the symptomatic relief of muscular pains, lumbago, rheumatic pain, fibrositis, and strains.
IF A PERSON IS DEHYDRATED, THEY CAN EXPERIENCE MUSCLE CRAMPS AND DIZZINESS
LOCALISED RELIEF
The Voltarol range also has OTC products available. Voltarol Emulgel P provides targeted and localised relief from pain and swelling in muscles and joints. It contains an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac, which targets the source of pain and has been used as a pain reliever for more than 30 years in Ireland. Diclofenac relieves pain at source and reduces inflammation, which helps to speed up recovery.
There are also a range of Epsom salt products, such as Ultrapure Laboratories Epsom Salts Gel with arnica. This is a natural fragrance-free gel infused with aloe vera, designed to support natural muscle recovery. It is suitable for professional athletes, those doing endurance training, adults and teens suffering from muscle and joint pain, and people with no time or access to Epsom salt baths.
Meanwhile, Ultrapure Laboratories Epsom Salts infused with lavender essential oil is an effective and natural way to relax and unwind after exercise or a busy day. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath allows the magnesium sulphate ions from the salt to absorb through the skin, which may help alleviate muscle soreness. Both Epsom Salt and lavender essential oil naturally help the body to relax and promote restful sleep.
Diclac Relief 1 per cent gel is another popular and trusted brand. It is an anti-inflammatory gel used for pain relief and to reduce inflammation. Diclac Relief is suitable for use with injured or damaged joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and in local soft tissue bruising.
Remaining hydrated during sport and exercise is very important. During exercise or activities such as a triathlon, marathon, or ‘hot yoga’ session, body heat increases making a person sweat to cool down. However, if a person is dehydrated, they can experience muscle cramps and dizziness. Dioralyte Sachets can help restore a person’s natural fluid and body salt balance.
And as well as creams, sprays, and pain relievers, the community pharmacy has a range of supports and insoles to help prevent injury and pain. One of these is the Scholl Gelactiv Sport range, which is developed to absorb shocks effectively and help reduce excessive pressure caused by running or sports. With a strong arch support and cushioning, it is carefully designed to fit athletic footwear. It provides strong arch support for active feet, impact cushioning for heels, knees, and ankles, and a sole shape design for all-day comfort. There is also a range of knee, ankle, and elbow supports available from the pharmacy, including those from Elastoplast.
Finally there are devices to treat muscle pain, such as deep tissue massage percussion guns, which work to relieve soreness and stiffness. TENS machines are also available and work to help ease aches and pains, including back and shoulder pain.
