Disprin contains aspirin which is an anti-inflammatory painkiller and antiplatelet. Aspirin comes in two different strengths: 300mg and 75mg (also known as baby aspirin. The 300mg strength (found in Disprin) is primarily used as a pain reliever, and the latter is used as an antiplatelet. There are two Disprin products you can buy: Disprin soluble tablets and Disprin Direct tablets. Disprin soluble tablets should be dissolved in water before taking them, and Disprin Direct tablets should be dissolved on the tongue or chewed. Aspirin can start to work within 20 to 30 minutes if taken orally. It is important that it is taken with or after food as it can cause stomach irritation.

Difflam is a branded version of the anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication benzydamine. It primarily comes in three formulations: mouth spray, mouth rinse and lozenges. It is important that it is taken with food as it can cause stomach irritation.

Diclofenac sodium is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever. It comes in many different forms, including tablets, capsules, suppositories and rub-on gel (Voltarol), however, the only formulation available over-the-counter is the rub-on gel. This is the strongest anti-inflammatory rub-on formulation available over the counter. It can start to work within 20 - 30 minutes after applying, but full anti-inflammatory effects can take up to a couple of days once applied consistently. What is Voltarol? Voltarol is the brand for a range of anti-inflammatory products that are available over the counter as they are non-steroidal. Voltarol is available as a gel or plaster in different strengths. Voltarol gel 2 strengths are 1.16% and 2.32%. The higher-strength gel, Voltarol 12 Hour Joint Pain Relief, can be applied every 12 hours, whereas the lower-strength, Voltarol Back and Muscle Pain Relief, can be used 3 - 4 times a day.

With so many different over-the-counter and prescription medications out there, choosing the right one for you can seem overwhelming. When treating mild to moderate pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be very effective. Two of the most popular choices for NSAIDs are Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. They are commonly used to treat arthritis, joint pain, aching muscles and other instances of chronic pain. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about Diclofenac and Ibuprofen, helping you understand the key differences between the two, and which might be most suitable for your symptoms.

There are lots of painkillers available over-the-counter. Some products contain different types of painkillers in combination with one another. The most common painkillers found in combination products include paracetamol, opioids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These products are available as oral medications such as tablets, capsules, and dissolvable tablets. It is advised to only use a combined painkiller product when treatment with one painkiller alone has been ineffective. Below we will look at the different available options.

Codeine is a medicine known as an opioid. It is a painkiller (also known as analgesic) and is used for the short-term treatment of pain in a range of conditions, including headaches, migraines, toothache, period pain and muscle pain. It can be used by adults and children ages 12 and over, and you can buy it from any pharmacy or your doctor can prescribe it. Over-the-counter codeine comes in combination with other painkillers, namely ibuprofen, aspirin and paracetamol. You should only use this combination if these painkillers have not worked on their own. These codeine combination products are some of the strongest painkillers available over-the-counter and come as tablets, capsules or effervescent tablets (dissolve them in water before swallowing). You’ll need a prescription for higher strengths of codeine if your pain isn’t adequately under control. Codeine is used for other ailments. Codeine Linctus is a syrup available over-the-counter to treat a dry, tickly cough and codeine is sometimes used to treat diarrhoea in specific circumstances.

Co-codamol contains paracetamol and codeine, which are two different types of painkillers. This combined product is one of the strongest painkillers (or analgesics) available over-the-counter and can be used for the short-term treatment of pain in a range of conditions, including headache, migraine, toothache, period pain and muscle aches. You should try other painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin and paracetamol, and only turn to co-codamol if these have been ineffective.

Chronic pain is one of the toughest conditions to live with – either it’s unrelenting and impossible to get normal activities done, or it can come and go unpredictably, forcing you to cancel work or social plans. There are no clear figures as to how common chronic pain is but it may affect as many as one in three of the population. It's defined as persistent or episodic pain lasting more than three months and is a complex problem that isn’t just a simple physical one because it affects our mental health as well. As our nervous system adjusts to chronic pain, sensations become heightened and more widespread, and this complexity comes from our brain processing function, where pain can start to prevent everyday activities and dominate normal life. Our world becomes smaller and with less to distract us - and living in fear of pain - our pain sensation becomes even more heightened and worse. Chronic pain is more likely to come about from the slow pain fibres, which are loudly telling you that there’s injury: you should rest and recover by not moving much. This is as opposed to the fast pain fibres that let you know your toe has been stubbed and makes you move away from the external threat (with much hopping and howling). But resting for months on end is not likely to serve any useful purpose, and often sets up new problems, both mentally and physically. We also now know there are two forms of chronic pain called primary chronic pain, and secondary chronic pain. Chronic primary pain may affect around 1-6% of the population, and refers to the pain felt in conditions such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain and chronic primary headache. Chronic secondary pain is more common and refers to pain from conditions such as low back pain, joint pains and shingles pain.

CBD oil also known as cannabis oil or cannabidiol oil is formed from extracting cannabidiol from the cannabis or hemp plant and putting this chemical into oil. It has recently become well known with many health companies advertising it and selling it legally as a health supplement. CBD oil comes under the umbrella of medical cannabis and has at times been controversial. All of the CBD oil available to buy is classed as a ‘novel food and so they undergo lower levels of scrutiny than medications. Because of this there remain questions over the quality of these "health supplements" with potential variations in quality. There is not a huge amount of research on CBD but it has been shown that in some people it can help in the treatment of severe epilepsy that doesn’t respond to standard treatments. It is also thought to have some anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce anxiety and chronic pain. A very small number of people are able to get CBD oil prescribed by their doctor which is on the NHS. These are only for some cases of severe sickness due to chemotherapy, severe epilepsy or severe muscle problems in a condition called multiple sclerosis and is only used as a last resort if other treatments aren't working or unable to be used. These medications are very different from the CBD oil you can buy over the counter at your local pharmacy. Potential side effects of taking CBD oil are sleepiness, dizziness and bowel symptoms. It can also affect your liver and may interact with medication including painkillers and anti-epileptic medication.

Cannabis is a Class B illegal drug in its organic plant form. The active ingredients in cannabis are identified as THC and CBD. THC is the active ingredient that gets you high and contributes to hallucinations, psychosis and mania. CBD is the active ingredient that calms you down and has anti-inflammatory, muscle-relaxing and pain-relieving properties. It is Cannabis and THC that are illegal. CBD products are classified as food supplements and are, therefore, legal and available to the public. These products may contain traces of THC but must be below a specified limit to be permitted to sell. CBD products may also be licensed as medicines. CBD products licensed as medicines have undergone rigorous safety and efficacy testing to determine their use in treating certain medical conditions.

Sciatica is the sensation of pain, tingling, or burning running along the course of the sciatic nerve. This is a big nerve that emerges from the spine, in the lower part of the back, and extends across each buttock to the back of the thigh, the outside edge of the lower leg and to the foot. You have two sciatic nerves, one coming out from each side of the spine. Sciatic pain occurs due to compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This may be in response to a sporting or lifting injury to the lower back, prolonged sitting, or sometimes it's caused by a slipped disc. The specific location of the pain or altered sensation is dependent on where the nerve is irritated or compressed. Sciatica often resolves on its own, and pain can vary, but it's usually worst in the first few days and this can be managed with non-drug treatments and painkillers. The best painkillers for your sciatica will often depend on the severity and intensity of the pain, as well as any other health conditions you have and preferences for types of treatment.

Headaches are very common health conditions that most people will experience from time to time. Several things can trigger a headache; emotional factors (stress, sleep, depression, anxiety), associated infections (cold), flu, hay fever), environment (noise, temperature, humidity), including other factors such as hydration status, medication-related, and caffeine intake.