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Remedies for the 8 most common types of pain

Toothache

The remedies indicated to relieve pain are analgesics and anti-inflammatories, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, as they reduce the production of inflammatory substances in the body, such as prostaglandins or thromboxanes, and can be used for various types of pain, such as body pain , sore throat, menstrual cramps or headache, for example.

Depending on the situation to be treated, the doctor may also decide to combine other medications, such as muscle relaxants, antispasmodics, antidepressants or anticonvulsants, for greater treatment effectiveness.

Pain medications should be used under medical advice, with individualized doses according to the cause of the pain and the duration of treatment advised by the doctor.

In cases of mild to moderate pain, some of the remedies that may be recommended are:

1. Remedies for body pain

The remedies for body pain that may be recommended by your doctor are:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen;
  • Painkillers, such as paracetamol or dipyrone;
  • Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine.

Furthermore, in the case of body pain caused by fibromyalgia, the doctor may recommend the use of antidepressants, such as duloxetine or amitriptyline, for example.

Remedies for body pain must be prescribed by your general practitioner according to the cause.

It is important to highlight that in the case of body pain due to dengue, Chikungunya or Zika, the only medications recommended are paracetamol or dipyrone. The use of anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants is contraindicated in these cases. See the main remedies for dengue.

2. Sore throat remedies

Throat pain and inflammation can be relieved with the following remedies:

  • Painkillers, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) or dipyrone (Novalgina);
  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Ibupril), diclofenac (Voltaren) or nimesulide (Neosulide, Nimesilam);
  • Analgesics and local anesthetics, usually in the form of suckable tablets, such as benzydamine (Ciflogex) or benzocaine (Neopiridin).

These remedies should be used according to the doctor’s instructions or according to the dosage on the leaflet and if there is no improvement in the sore throat after 2 days or other symptoms such as fever and chills appear, for example.

Therefore, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner or an otorhinolaryngologist, as the pain may be caused by tonsillitis or pharyngitis, for example, which may need to be treated with an antibiotic. Learn more about sore throat treatment.

3. Toothache remedies

Toothache can appear suddenly and can be caused by the presence of a cavity, inflammation of the gums or an abscess and, therefore, you should go to the dentist as soon as possible. However, to relieve intense pain, the person can use analgesics, anti-inflammatories or local anesthetics:

  • Painkillers, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) or dipyrone (Novalgina);
  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Ibupril), diclofenac (Voltaren) or nimesulide (Neosulide, Nimesilam);
  • Local anesthetics, usually in spray form, such as benzocaine (Neopiridin).

It is important that as soon as pain in the gums or teeth appears, the dentist is consulted, as this way it is possible to identify the cause of the pain and, in this way, it is possible to start the most appropriate treatment, as the use of analgesics only relieves the symptoms but does not treat the cause.

See natural ways to reduce toothache.

4. Ear pain medicine

Ear pain should always be evaluated by an otolaryngologist because, in most cases, it is caused by an infection inside the ear canal that must be treated with the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

Some of the remedies that can be used to relieve pain are:

  • Painkillers, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) or dipyrone (Novalgina);
  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Ibupril), diclofenac (Voltaren) or nimesulide (Neosulide, Nimesilam);
  • Wax remover drops, such as Cerumin, if the pain is caused by excess wax buildup.

In the presence of symptoms such as the release of foul-smelling liquids, fever or hearing problems, it is important that the otorhinolaryngologist be consulted so that the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.

See other remedies that may be indicated for ear pain.

5. Stomach pain medicine

Stomach pain can be caused by irritation of the gastric mucosa or by excess food inside the stomach, and different types of medication can be used, depending on the symptoms presented and only if recommended by the doctor:

  • Antacids, with aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, such as Estomazil, Pepsamar or Maalox;
  • Acid production inhibitors, such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole;
  • Stomach emptying accelerators, such as domperidone (Motilium, Domperix) or metoclopramide (Plasil);
  • Gastric protectors, such as sucralfate (Sucrafilm).

If the pain lasts for more than 1 week or if other symptoms appear such as fever, diarrhea or constipation, stools with mucus or blood, swollen belly and excessive gas, you should go back to the general practitioner or gastroenterologist to have it done. diagnostic exams.

6. Back pain remedies

Back pain is very often the result of poor posture or excessive training at the gym, which can be easily relieved. However, in some cases, it may be a sign of a more serious condition that should be seen by a doctor.

The medications that are generally prescribed by a doctor for back pain are:

  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Ibupril), naproxen (Flanax), diclofenac (Voltaren) or celecoxib (Celebra), indicated for mild to moderate pain;
  • Analgesics, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) or dipyrone (Novalgina), for example, indicated for mild pain;
  • Muscle relaxants such as thiocolchicoside (Coltrax), cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride or diazepam help relax the muscle and reduce pain;
  • Opioids, such as codeine and tramadol, for more severe pain, and in very severe cases, the doctor may recommend even stronger opioids;

Furthermore, in mild cases, the local application of an anti-inflammatory gel or plaster may be sufficient. Know how to identify the cause of back pain.

In more severe cases of chronic pain, and where justified, the doctor may also prescribe tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, for example. In cases where other medications are not sufficient to relieve pain, it may also be necessary to administer cortisone injections.

7. Headache remedies

Headache is a very common symptom, as it can be caused by various causes such as fever, excess stress or tiredness, for example. Some of the most commonly used medications to relieve headaches are:

  • Painkillers, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) or dipyrone (Novalgina);
  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Ibupril) or acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin);
  • Ergotamines, such as or Cefaliv;
  • Triptan (Sulmatriptan, Zolmitriptan, Naratriptan), such as Naramig, which causes constriction of blood vessels and blocks pain.

Although the headache may improve after using these remedies, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner when it takes more than 3 days to go away, when the pain is very frequent or when other symptoms appear, such as excessive tiredness, pain in other parts of the body, increased fever or confusion, for example.

8. Remedies for menstrual cramps

Menstrual cramps are caused by excessive contraction of the female reproductive organs or by swelling. Some of the remedies that can be used are:

  • Painkillers, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) or dipyrone (Novalgina);
  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Ibupril), diclofenac (Voltaren), mefenamic acid (Ponstan), ketoprofen (Profenid, Algie), naproxen (Flanax, Naxotec);
  • Antispasmodics, such as scopolamine (Buscopan);
  • Hormonal contraceptives, which also lead to a decrease in prostaglandins in the uterus, reducing menstrual flow and relieving pain.

See other tips to reduce menstrual cramps.