Your Guide to Anti Inflammatory Medication: Usage and Safety Tips
Understanding anti inflammatory medication is crucial for managing various health conditions effectively. These medications, particularly NSAIDs, play a pivotal role for individuals with chronic conditions. This article will offer insights into how these drugs work, their proper administration, potential side effects, and the importance of consulting doctors for personalised medical advice.
With Chemist2U, ordering your anti inflammatory medication is simplified, ensuring you receive your prescriptions and over-the-counter items promptly. Our commitment is to support and guide you through managing your health with the right information and resources.
In this article
How does anti inflammatory medication work?
Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indometacin (sold as Indocid and Arthrexin) offer relief by targeting the production of thromboxanes, prostaglandins, and prostacyclins. Thromboxanes help with clotting, while prostaglandins are involved in inflammation, fever, and pain relief.
By inhibiting enzymes called cyclooxygenase (COX) involved in their production, NSAIDs help with inflammation management, pain relief, and lowering fever.[1]
How do you take anti inflammatory medication?
Always adhere to the dosage instructions on the package insert and follow your doctor’s instructions to ensure safety and effectiveness. Typically, NSAIDs are administered orally in tablet form. The standard recommendations are as follows:[2]
For ibuprofen, an OTC anti inflammatory, the recommended dose is one to two tablets of 200 mg every four to six hours as needed for muscle pain relief, with a maximum daily limit of 1200 mg. Aspirin users seeking pain relief medication for conditions like back pain or joint pain should take one to two tablets of 300 mg every four to six hours, not exceeding 4000 mg daily.
For naproxen sodium, the recommended dose is one to two tablets of 220 mg every eight to twelve hours, with a daily cap of 660 mg.
Who can take anti inflammatory medication?
NSAIDs can be taken by adults and children over twelve, easing pain, inflammation, and fever. It’s crucial, however, to consult with your doctor before beginning any NSAID regimen. This ensures the medication is a safe choice for your specific health needs and doesn’t conflict with other treatments you may be undergoing.
Individuals with allergies to these drugs, those expecting or planning for pregnancy, and people with kidney or liver issues or a history of gastrointestinal ulcers or bleeding should steer clear of NSAIDs. Avoid giving aspirin to children under twelve without a doctor’s explicit advice, due to its association with Reye’s Syndrome.[3]
For those who cannot take NSAIDs or do not get adequate relief from them, your doctor might prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like sulfasalazine (sold as Salazopyrin) instead.
Side effects of anti inflammatory medication
These medications can pose risks such as gastrointestinal problems, heart issues and more.[4]
Their mechanism, which involves blocking specific enzymes, not only helps relieve pain but also increases the likelihood of bleeding and cardiovascular issues. Selective COX-2 inhibitors, in particular, carry a higher risk of heart-related problems, whereas other NSAIDs might be more prone to causing GI bleeds and kidney issues.
Furthermore, NSAIDs can exacerbate asthma symptoms, elevate blood pressure, and impact blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes, making careful monitoring and consideration crucial for those relying on these drugs for chronic conditions like arthritis.
Anti inflammatory medication and other medications
There are many over-the-counter products that contain NSAIDs, such as pain relievers, cough, cold, and flu medications. If you’re already using an NSAID, combining it with another over-the-counter medicine that includes an NSAID like aspirin could inadvertently increase your risk of side effects or lead to an accidental overdose.[5]
Before purchasing any over-the-counter medication, check the active ingredients and consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any doubts about its safety for your specific health situation. It’s recommended not to use more than one NSAID-containing medicine at the same time, unless advised by your doctor.
Medicines you should not use with anti inflammatory medication
Combining NSAIDs with certain medications can increase health risks. Some of them are listed below.[6]
When they are combined with blood pressure medications, such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs, there may be a decreased effectiveness of these blood pressure treatments. This is due to NSAIDs’ impact on the kidneys and body fluids, which can lead to an unwelcome increase in blood pressure.
Moreover, NSAIDs have been shown to interact with antithrombotic medications, including aspirin and warfarin, heightening the risk of bleeding.
This concern extends to those taking antidepressants and mood stabilisers; particularly, individuals on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants may face an increased bleeding risk because NSAIDs can affect platelet function.
It’s vital to discuss any current or planned medications with your doctor before proceeding to ensure that your treatment plan is safe and effective.
How to order anti inflammatory medication through Chemist2U
To order your prescription medication, simply download our easy-to-use app or do it from our website. Start your order by clicking ‘Shop Now’ or ‘Upload Script’. Then, effortlessly upload and save your eScript. Our platform also allows you to add any over-the-counter items to your cart, ensuring you have everything you need in one delivery.
A local, skilled pharmacist will meticulously prepare your order, ensuring accuracy and safety. Finally, if you’re located in a metro or significant regional area across Australia, you’ll benefit from the convenience of same-day delivery.
We’re your partner in health, offering supportive and understanding care tailored to your unique needs. Have your medications home-delivered by Chemist2U today!
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547742/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547742/
[3] https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/anti-inflammatory-medicines#safe
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4809680/
[5] https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/medications-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs#over-the-counter-medicines-can-contain-nsaids
