Medicines for short-term pain

There are many kinds of pain, and many kinds of medicines to ease pain. This information is about medicines for short-term pain. It also looks at what you need to think about before taking them.

 
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Short-term (acute) pain

Short-term pain

Short-term pain is usually from an injury or illness that causes some damage in the body. This kind of pain often goes away within 3 months or less, as the damage gets better.

Pain that lasts for more than 3 months is called long-term pain. Long-term pain can have different causes than short-term pain and usually needs different treatment.

Medicines for short-term pain

You can buy many medicines for short-term pain ‘over-the-counter’ from the chemist, pharmacy or supermarket without a script from a doctor. These medicines are used to treat mild to medium levels of pain, like headaches and period pain

Some pain medicines can also be used to lower a high temperature (fever). They may also be taken together with other medicines to treat conditions, such as cold and flu.

Active ingredients in common pain medicines are:

  • paracetamol (brand names: Panadol, Herron Paracetamol, Hedanol)
  • aspirin (brand names: Disprin, Aspro, Solprin)
  • ibuprofen (brand names: Nurofen, Advil, Hedafen)
  • diclofenac (brand names: Voltaren).

Aspirin, ibuprofen and diclofenac are all members of a group of medicines called ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs). They can lower swelling and soreness in conditions like arthritis, and muscle and bone injuries.

For stronger pain, you can take paracetamol and ibuprofen combined in the same medicine (brand names: Nuromol, Maxigesic).

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Taking these active ingredients over a long period of time, or in amounts higher than suggested can be dangerous.

Pain is complex, and medicines will not always take your pain away. If your pain doesn’t go away after taking pain medicine, see your doctor. They can help you with treatment. This may involve different medicines and/or paths that don’t use medicine.

Use the Choosing Wisely 5 questions to ask your doctor to make sure you end up with the right amount of care.

What is an active ingredient?

Active ingredients are what make medicines work. Many pain medicines have the same active ingredient but different brand names. Knowing the active ingredients in your medicines is important. It stops you taking too much of one type of medicine.

Find out more about active ingredients.

Paracetamol

Many health professionals suggest paracetamol as the first medicine to take for short-term pain. Most people can take it without a reaction, and at typical amounts it has fewer side effects than NSAIDs. Always follow the instructions on how much to take.

What is it for?

Paracetamol eases fever (high temperature) and mild to medium levels of pain in the short term. This includes period pain and headache. Paracetamol can help some types of low back pain, which can help you stay active to get better quicker.

When to take care

Children between 1 month and 12 years can have paracetamol (usually as a liquid) at amounts for their age and weight. Make sure to use paracetamol that says it is for children on the packaging. Children's paracetamol is a different strength to adult versions of the medicine. 

Babies under 1 month should only have paracetamol under the watch of a health professional. People with chronic liver disease should talk with their doctor before using paracetamol. Always follow the dosing instructions on the package to avoid taking too much or too little.

Find out more about giving medicine to children

Possible side effects

If you take the right amount of paracetamol for a short time, side effects are rare. Don't take more medicine than shown on the box. Also, don’t use it for a longer time. Too much paracetamol can cause liver damage and, in extreme cases, death. Using it for too long can also cause these problems.

How much medicine should I take?

Always take the amount of medicine shown on the box, unless your doctor gives you other instructions. Most adults over 12 years should not take more than 1 g every 4–6 hours (usually as 1 or 2 pills, capsules or tablets) when needed up to a total of 4 g daily. The amount of medicine for children depends on their age and body weight. For liquid medicines always use the measuring device (cup, syringe, spoon) that comes with the medicine.

Medicines that can interact with paracetamol

Warfarin (Coumadin, Marevan): one-off amounts of paracetamol are okay for people taking warfarin (blood thinner). Taking paracetamol on a regular basis may stop your blood clotting as it should. Talk with your doctor if you take warfarin and need regular pain relief.

Some medicines for epilepsy (eg, carbamazepine: brand names Tegretol, Teril).

Other medicines that also contain paracetamol, which may lead to taking too much paracetamol.

Paracetamol and migraines

Paracetamol can be combined with metoclopramide (eg, Anagraine and Metomax) at the first sign of a migraine.

You can also type paracetamol or the brand name of the pain medicine you use into our Medicine Finder to learn more.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

NSAIDs are a group of pain medicines that have active ingredients such as aspirin, ibuprofen and diclofenac.

What are they for?

NSAIDs ease many types of short-term pain (eg, headaches and period pain). They help to lower fever. They also help to lower swelling and aching (eg, arthritis, muscle and bone injuries).

Other NSAIDs have the active ingredients mefenamic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, methyl salicylate, benzydamine or ketoprofen.

NSAIDs are more likely than paracetamol to cause side effects and react with other medicines. This is why paracetamol is mainly the first choice medicine for lowering fever and short-term pain.

When to take care

Talk to your doctor before taking NSAIDs if you have just had surgery, or if you suffer from asthma. Older people are more likely to have side effects with NSAIDs. Ask your health professional for advice.

When NOT to take NSAIDs

  • If you have a reaction to them.
  • If you are, or could be, pregnant, except on a doctor’s advice. Do not use NSAIDs in the last 3 months of pregnancy.
  • If you have heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular disease).
  • If you have a kidney or liver condition.
  • If you have a stomach ulcer or bleeding.
  • If you have inflammatory bowel disease – NSAIDs could make you feel worse.

Other medicines that might react with NSAIDs

  • Other NSAIDs – the risk of bleeding goes up.
  • Medicines for cardiovascular disease – the risk of kidney damage goes up. This includes medicines for high blood pressure like beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and sartans.
  • Blood-thinning medicines like warfarin – the risk of bleeding goes up.
  • Alendronate (for treating osteoporosis) – the risk of stomach ulcers goes up.
  • Methotrexate (when used for chemotherapy).

Keeping reading this article for more information about aspirin, ibuprofen and diclofenac.

    Aspirin

    What is it for?

    Aspirin eases fever, and mild to medium pain in the short term. It is used to treat things like period pain, headache and migraines. Under the care of a doctor, it can be used to reduce swelling in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Some people are told by their doctor to take low doses of aspirin over a long time. This is to help thin the blood, to lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

    When to take care

    Aspirin is an NSAID. 

    You you have one or more of the following only use aspirin if recommended by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist:

    • gout
    • a history of stomach ulcers
    • heart failure
    • high blood pressure that is not under control, or
    • are pregnant or breastfeeding

    This is because of the risk of unwanted effects (side effects).

    Older people are more likely to have side effects from aspirin.

    When NOT to take aspirin

    Do not take aspirin if you have a condition that makes you bleed easily.

    Children under 16 should not take aspirin for pain or fever due to the risk of the life-threatening Reye’s syndrome.

    Possible side effects

    The most common side effects of aspirin are:

    • feeling like throwing up (nausea), or throwing up (vomiting)
    • indigestion
    • stomach ulcer or bleeding
    • bleeding that takes longer than normal to stop
    • headache
    • dizziness
    • noises or ringing in the ears.

    How much should I take?

    Always follow the information on the box, unless you have specific instructions from your healthcare provider. Mainly, adults over 16 years should take 300-900 mg every 4-6 hours for pain relief when needed. This is usually as 1 to 2 pills, capsules or tablets at a time.

    Other medicines that can react with aspirin

    Aspirin is an NSAID so interacts with the same medicines as other NSAIDs. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking aspirin if you take any of the medicines below:

    • Corticosteroids (help inflammation)
    • Probenecid (for gout)
    • Valproate or acetazolamide (for seizures)
    • Anagrelide (used to lower platelet levels).

    You can also type aspirin or the brand name of the pain medicine you use into our Medicine Finder to learn more.

    Ibuprofen

    What is it for?

    Ibuprofen eases fever, and mild to medium levels of pain in the short term. This usually includes period pain, headache and pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

    When to take care

    See our information about NSAIDs.

    Children between 3 months and 12 years can have ibuprofen (usually as a liquid) at amounts for their age and weight. Make sure to use ibuprofen that says it is for children on the packaging. Children's ibuprofen comes in different concentrations to adult versions of the medicine.

    Find out more about giving medicine to children

    When NOT to take ibuprofen

    See our information about NSAIDs.

    Possible side effects

    The most common side effects are feeling like throwing up (nausea), indigestion, stomach ulcer or bleeding.

    How much should I take?

    Always follow the dose information on the medicine packet, unless you have specific instructions from your healthcare provider. Mainly, adults should take 200-400 mg 3-4 times per day when needed up to 2400 mg daily. This is usually as 1 to 2 pills, capsules or tablets at a time.

    The dose for children is lower and depends on age and body weight. For liquid medicines always use the measuring device (cup, syringe, spoon) that comes with the medicine.

    Other medicines that can react with ibuprofen

    Ibuprofen is an NSAID, and interacts with the same medicines as other NSAIDs. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking ibuprofen. As well as the medicines listed above under NSAIDs, ibuprofen can interact with:

    • Fluconazole and voriconazole (for fungal infections).

    You can also type ibuprofen or the brand name of the pain medicine you use into our Medicine Finder to learn more.

    Diclofenac

    What is it for? 

    Diclofenac eases mild to medium levels of pain in the short term. It is often used for period pain, and pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It can applied to the skin as a gel for local pain relief. Diclofenac is also used to treat some skin conditions like actinic keratosis. 

    When to take care 

    See our information about NSAIDs. 

    When NOT to take diclofenac 

    See our information about NSAIDs. 

    Possible side effects 

    The most common side effects are feeling like throwing up (nausea), indigestion and stomach ulcer or bleeding. 

    How much should I take? 

    Always take the amount shown on the medicine packet, unless you have specific instructions from your healthcare provider. Usually, adults should take 75-150 mg daily in 2 or 3 doses, up to 200 mg daily. 

    For 1% gel, rub into the painful area 3 to 4 times a day. For 2% gel, rub into the painful area twice a day.  

    The amount given to children is lower and depends on age and body weight. However it is not commonly used.

    Other medicines that might react with diclofenac 

    Diclofenac is an NSAID, and interacts with the same medicines as other NSAIDs. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking diclofenac if you take any of the medicines below: 

    • Voriconazole (for fungal infections) 
    • Colestyramine (for lowering cholesterol)

    You can also type diclofenac or the brand name of the pain medicine you use into our Medicine Finder to learn more.

    Learning more about your medicines

    Talk to your health professional about medicines for pain.

    Your doctor or pharmacist can help you decide the best pain medicine for you. They can help you with:

    • the brand name and active ingredients
    • how to take the medicine
    • the likely benefits of the medicine
    • the possible side effects of the medicine
    • other treatment options.

    Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is often inside the medicine packet or box. It is there to let you know about prescription and pharmacist-only medicines. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor to print it for you. You can also find it using our Medicine Finder.

    For questions about your medicines, call the Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424), Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm AEST.

    If you take more than one medicine and are not sure if you can take another medicine, ask your health professional.

    Keep a medicines list, if you don’t have one already. You can find one on the NPS MedicineWise website that you can print and fill out. NPS MedicineWise medicines lists are available in English, in 10 community languages and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Smart phone users can use the MedicineWise app by downloading it from Google Play or the App Store. It keeps a list of your medicines and can remind you to take your medicine.