I have seen previous posts referring to various sources for antibiotics, but I began wondering about pain relievers. I think it would be terribly unnerving for a family to have someone suffering from pain and no doctor available to consult. I realize these types of pills could not be taken indefinitely, but is there something more powerful than extra-strength Tylenol? What types of medication are some of you storing? Are there herbs that are effective for pain? Thanks and God bless. Mary

-- Mary (SWEEP6@prodigy.net), February 10, 1999

Answers

Mary, for non controlled-substance pain relievers, often doctors simply prescribe heavier dosages in two or three times the amount advised in over the counter analgesics. For instance, my daughter has been prescribed motrin at triple the over the counter dosage. If you have a family doctor, ask them what the maximum safe dosage of things like ibruprofen, etc. is. Different analgesics work better for different people, too. Some people have great success with acetaminophen (Tylenol), and it does next to nothing for others. Adults should try acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibruprofen at different times and see what works best for them. Tylenol is safest for children.

Adele Davis, the nutritionist, also swore that calcium was a great natural pain inhibitor, and recommended taking mega-doses for women in labor.

-- Bonnie Camp (bonniec@mail.odyssey.net), February 10, 1999.

Everclear works good.

-- (z@z.z), February 10, 1999.

Learn about magnetic therapyGet a shortwave.Tune into Lou Lyons Mon.,Tues. at 7:00pm EST. 5070.0 I do not sell these magnets. The magnets relieve pain with no side effects. Really quite amazing!

-- Betty Arnspiger (Barn266@aol.com), February 10, 1999.

Careful with taking excessive amounts of Tylenol or any other acetominophen product - it can place a great strain on the liver, sometimes with very serious results. Aspirin in large doses can cause bleeding of the stomach lining. Calcium is indeed a pain reliever par excellence, but needs to be administered via injection for best results. It is also a potent muscle relaxant and tranquilizer when combined with magnesium. Dolomite is a 60/40 combination of Ca/Mg and is excellent for this purpose. Women, next time you're experiencing menstrual cramps, try some of those along with a glass of milk - you'll likely be pleased with the results. BTW, calcium can't be properly assimilated if taken with any sugary food.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), February 10, 1999.

What Bonnie Camp said is sound advice. I'm an RN and I would say the same.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) works better than Tylenol for many people, especially menstrual cramps, muscle pain, headaches etc. It is prescribed for arthritis at up to 800 mg dosages that I've seen (OTC max recommended dosage is 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours, not to go over 1200 mg in 24 hour period.) But make sure you consult your physician on the maximum dosage you can take for your perticular physical condition/age/body weight etc. It is less toxic to the liver than Tylenol in higher dosages, but Tylenol in OTC strength is still safer for kids under 12. Ibuprofen is also a good fever reducer. Aspirin is the most dangerous of the 3, with the most side effects. (If aspirin were invented today, it would be a prescription drug dispensed for a few selected conditions. But Bayer has been around too long and has a powerful lobby.)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 10, 1999.

#1 pain reliever post Y2K: Marijuana! And you can grow all you need.

-- Pothead (ifeelnopain@jj.com), February 11, 1999.

Pot head has the right idea!

-- puffingaway (puffingaway@toke.com), February 11, 1999.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, etc.) has the same mechanism as aspirin (both are NSAID's*, and both inhibit the same prostaglandins). this means that they both can have negative effects on the stomach lining (prostaglandins have a big role in the secretion of the mucus that protects the stomach from the pepsin and HCl). Long term, dosages of over 1800 mg of ibuprofin per 24 hours(I have had dosages as high as 2400 but don"t try this at home!!!) have a potential to seriously damage the liver.

acetaminiphen (Tylenlol) at a typical OTC dosage and a SMALL quantity of alcohol can also seriously damage a liver. Over-doses of tylenlol are typically fatal, but NOT quick about it, as they toast the liver, and the person dies of liver failure, not a quick, painless, or pretty way.

When dealing with children and infants, READ THE EFFING LABEL!!!!!! Infant tylenol happens to be MORE CONCENTRATED than Children's because the dosage is in drops for infant and teaspoons for children. HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!

As always, none of the above should or can substitute for information from your personal physician or pharmacist, and none of it constitutes a recommendation.

(Protecting the EMT-P Ticket!!)

Chuck

(*NSAID= Non-steroidal Anti- Inflamatory Drug)

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 11, 1999.

my husband gets occasional migraines in spite of all the preventive measures he takes. when that happens, he uses excedrin migraine or its generic equivalent. if it's really bad and he can't get to sleep, he follows that up with root beer schnapps, which he will tolerate as he rarely drinks any alcohol.

i find that it's best to take minimum doses of anything, then take another one in an hour if results are not satisfactory. painkillers in large doses are dangerous.

-- jocelyne slough (jonslough@tln.net), February 11, 1999.

1)Go to Canada and buy some aspirin or tylenol with codein. I bought 4000 pills they will last a while the expire in 2005. You can get them over the counter. 2) find a friend who sells you some demerol or oxicodein ( prescription drugs available in every bigger city on the street.

rickjohn

-- rickjohn (rickjohn1@yahoo.com), February 11, 1999.

If indeed the world turns to chaos best believe i'll be the 1st person to loot the pharmacies. I can imagine it would only take a split second for them all to be pillaged. I'd grab (not in alphabetical order)darvicet, demerol, dilaudid, oxycodone, hydrocodone, tylenol#3 oxycontin,vicadin,loratabs,tylox,percocet,percodan,ect..

-- blackdata (sama2@erols.com), February 11, 1999.

Just gotta stick my oar in here.

This old Bear started a hobby a few years back of falling on icy spots (about 4 times 1 winter) when he was still in cold country. Pretty sever or at least painfull every time.

Greybear *swears* by Naproxen Sodium as THE best of the OTC stuff. Have taken two two ever 12 hrs for about six weeks at at time. No noticable effects except being able to go to work. Brand name Aleve, generic equate at Wallys is half price.

Would be interested in opinion of you Pros.

Caveat Emptor - be SURE to go talk to the guy who makes you wait after you had an "appointment" and has an attitude proble. Yes, it frustrates the ol Bear to extremis, but it's still NECESSARY.

-- Greybear

- Got pills?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 11, 1999.

Chuck is right in that both Aspirin and Ibuprofen inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, but Aspirin is a salicylate (ASA) and Ibuprofen is a Nonsteroidal Anti-inflamatory Agent (NSAID). NSAID's have cross allergy potential to ASA, for that reason if someone is allergic to ASA, NSAID's should be given cautiously if at all. Tylenol (acetaminophen) should be used instead. Ibuprofen by itself would irritate the stomach lining, and for this reason the tablets are coated and any form of ibuprofen shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach. NSAID's (with the exception of endomethicin) have been demonstrated to have significant reduced gastro-intestinal side-effects and they are often better tolerated than Aspirin by people who have had GI side-effects with Aspirin. Aspirin is almost exclusively used by doctors for inhibiting platelet agregations in heart patients nowaday. NSAID's don't have that side-effect. Both ASA and NSAID's have entipyretic effects (reduces fever.)

Greybear, Naproxen is an NSAID, same family as ibuprofen. Naproxen is indicated for chronic or acute symptoms of musculoskeletal and soft-tissue inflamation and dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain). Ibuprofen is prefered for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, also used for dismenorrhea and general pain and aches as with naproxen. Simply try which one works best for you.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 12, 1999.

BTW, regarding narcotics and marijuana. Marijuana may very well help your mental pain, but it won't do much as an analgesic, unless you smoke enough of the stuff to render yourself unconscious. It is effective as an anti-emetic though (nausea and vomiting).

Codeine has the nasty side effect of reducing gastro-intestinal activity greatly, which will constipate and cramp you in 2-3 days of use. Combination pills of aspirin/tylenol and codeine such as Darvocet etc. are best used for temporary pain such as dental work, or the first couple of days of musculoskeletal injuries when the pain is most severe. NSAID's or tylenol will manage the pain after that.

Stronger narcotics such as demorol/morphine etc. should be used only for extreme longterm pain, such as cancer, or after an operation or broken bones etc. Mental and physical addiction to these will happen if used when severe pain isn't present.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 12, 1999.

The following is not the opinion of a trained medical anything; just one man's experience:

As I'm sure each of you know, pain-relievers do not work the same for everybody. Aspirin, acetaminophen & naproxen are absolutely useless for me.

Script NSAIDS work well for my tendinitis, but tear up my digestive tract. Good to have on hand for every now & then.

Rickjohn stated it right. Acetaminophen with codeine works wonders. It is OTR in Canada & quite inexpensive.

Marijuana can also be quite effective for pain relief in some folks. It is also among the safest of all drugs - including script/non- script medication. It can, of course, make one feel happy, happy! Moderation you stoners!

And finally, the peace derived through the practice of meditation/prayer can do wonders for the pain inside one's heart.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), February 12, 1999.