How many doses is it safe to take a pain reliever? : function, dosage, side effects, how to use

Pain relievers can treat pain due to certain diseases, injuries, and surgery. However, this drug also has a number of side effects. That's why you need to understand the correct dosage when taking pain relievers, especially when taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

Safe dosages of various pain relievers

Here are some of the most common types of pain relievers and their recommended use:

1. Paracetamol

Paracetamol is used to relieve fever, headaches, menstrual pain, migraines, and body aches due to colds. This drug is available in tablet form at a dosage of 500 or 665 milligrams.

One-time dose for adults ranges from 500-1,000 milligrams or as much as 1-2 tablets. This pain reliever can be consumed regularly or only when pain appears, depending on the cause of the pain and the recommended dosage from the doctor.

Do not take more than 4,000 milligrams of paracetamol within 24 hours. If you need to take paracetamol regularly or the pain has not subsided, wait 4-6 hours from the time you took the previous paracetamol.

2. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a pain reliever drug that belongs to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Its function is to deal with pain caused by inflammation, such as in people with arthritis or people who have been injured.

This pain reliever drug has a one-time dose of 200-400 milligrams, the equivalent of 1-2 tablets. Daily consumption should not exceed 1,200 milligrams.

Like paracetamol, you should also give yourself a break each time you take ibuprofen.

If you are taking ibuprofen 3 times a day, give it a 6 hour break before your next dose. If you need to take 4 tablets of ibuprofen, allow 4 hours between each.

3. Naproxen

Like ibuprofen, naproxen is also an NSAID. This medication is used to treat various types of pain, including muscle aches, toothaches, migraines, and menstrual pain. In addition, naproxen can also relieve redness and swelling due to injury.

The safe dose of this pain reliever varies from person to person. In general, the conditions are as follows:

• Short-term pain such as sprains or muscle aches are given a dose of 250 milligrams at a time. Take this medication 3-4 times a day if needed.
• Long-term pain such as rheumatism is given a dose of 500 milligrams a day. You can take it as one dose at a time or split it into 2 doses, each of 250 milligrams.
• For gout sufferers, the first dose is 750 milligrams. Then, the drug is continued again with a dose of 250 milligrams every 8 hours until the pain subsides.
• For women experiencing painful menstruation, a one-shot dose is 250 milligrams. Take this medicine 3 times a day until the pain subsides.

4. Mefenamic acid

Mefenamic acid is used to treat various types of pain, especially pain during menstruation and toothache. This drug, which is included in the NSAID class, can also treat excessive bleeding during menstruation.

Like pain relievers in general, mefenamic acid can be taken regularly with certain doses or only when pain occurs. The one-time dose for adults is 500 milligrams, with a safe limit of no more than 1,500 milligrams a day.

Mefenamic acid can increase the risk of stomach problems if consumed in excess. Therefore, do not increase your dose without consulting your doctor. This medicine should not be taken for more than 7 consecutive days.

5. Codeine

Codeine is used to treat severe pain from injury or surgery. This drug is usually combined with paracetamol or ibuprofen to make it more potent.

Codeine is included in the opioid drug class, also known as narcotics. A single dose for adults ranges from 15-60 milligrams. The safe limit for consuming codeine in a day should not exceed 360 milligrams.

Narcotic pain relievers should be consumed based on the recommended dosage from your doctor. The reason is, these drugs can cause addictive effects if consumed incorrectly.

Pain due to injury, disease, menstruation, and other causes can reduce daily productivity. Painkillers will help you prevent this by dealing with the pain that is in your hand.

However, you still have to be wise in your consumption to avoid side effects. Know the exact dosage of the pain reliever you are taking and don't use it more than recommended.

If you have been drinking it for some time and the pain does not go away, see a doctor immediately to get a more appropriate treatment.