Pain Relievers (Analgesics)
and
Fever Reducers (Antipyretics)
Pain is the most common reason for people to seek medical advice,
and
medicines for pain are the most frequently purchased over-the-counter
(OTC)
medications. Fever is one of the most common reasons for people to
seek medical
advice for their children, and one in five emergency room visits for
children
is due to fever. Since OTC medicines that are effective in treating
pain also
are effective at reducing fever, they will be considered together.
What
classifications of
pain are there?
Pain can be classified as acute, chronic non-malignant, or chronic
malignant. Headaches, the most common cause of pain, can be
considered a
separate class of pain.
Acute pain usually is due to mechanical or thermal (usually heat)
injuries.
Examples of mechanical injuries include soreness of muscles due to
overuse or
strain (and sometimes to viral infections), tears of the ligaments,
broken
bones, bruises, and cuts. These types of acute pain usually respond
well to OTC
medications for pain. Muscle soreness also may respond well to heat
and
massage.
Chronic non-malignant pain is a type of pain associated with
progressive,
debilitating diseases such as arthritis. OTC medications for pain
usually are
effective for this type of pain. However, because of the chronic
nature of the
pain, their use often leads to excessive use of the medications and
frequent
side effects. The pain of arthritis also may respond well to heat.
Chronic malignant pain is pain associated with advanced,
progressive
diseases (often fatal) such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and
terminal
kidney disease. OTC medications for pain may be useful for the
management of
chronic malignant pain. However, stronger prescription medications
usually are
necessary.
What types of
headaches are there?
Headaches--most common reason that analgesic medications are
taken-- can
be classified into three types: muscle contraction, migraine or
vascular, and
sinus.
A muscle contraction headache, the most common type, results from
the
continuous tightening of the muscles in the upper back, neck, or
scalp. This
type of headache often is described as a tight, pressing, or throbbing
sensation of the head. It can be brought on by emotional stress and
anxiety
("tension headaches"). Acute muscle contraction headaches
generally
respond well to OTC analgesics, but chronic muscle contraction
headaches often
require physical therapy or relaxation techniques.
Migraine or vascular headaches are due to dilation (expansion) of
blood
vessels in the head. Although many patients use the expression
"migraine" to describe any particularly painful headache,
many of
these are actually muscle contraction headaches. OTC medications for
pain may
be quite effective for treating migraine headaches. However,
prescription
medications that are specifically formulated for treating or
preventing
migraines often are necessary.
A sinus headache is caused by an infection or blockage of one or
more
sinuses in the head. The pain often is limited to the area around the
eyes or
the forehead where the major sinuses are located. The pain may occur
upon
awakening, and may decrease in intensity after the person has been
standing or
sitting up for a while. In addition to analgesics, OTC decongestants
can be
effective by helping to drain the sinus.
What is a
fever and
what is it's causes?
Most fevers are transient (lasting only a few hours or a few days)
and are
not dangerous, but they may cause a great deal of discomfort. A rectal
temperature of greater than 101.8 degrees F (38.8 degrees C), an oral
temperature of more than 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C), or an armpit
temperature of greater than 99 degrees F (37.2 degrees C) is
considered
abnormal. Fevers usually are due to infections, either viral or
bacterial, but
they also can be due to cancers, injury to tissue (for example, heart
attacks),
hyperthyroidism, other illnesses in which there is inflammation, and
dehydration. Additionally, over 40 different drugs have been reported
to cause
"drug fever."
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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