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.

If you're suffering with some form of arthritis, you are not alone. Millions of people are affected by this condition, and one of the most commonly affected areas is the knees. Knee pain can make walking from your couch to your kitchen feel like a tortuous journey. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that people get. This is where the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones breaks down causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Fortunately, there are some great creams and gels available to help with pain relief. In this article, we'll suggest the best creams to help treat arthritic knees.

Back pain will affect most of us and it usually improves by itself within a few days or weeks. Musculoskeletal back pain is the most common type of back pain, and it typically occurs in the lower back. This is the most vulnerable part to injury, and it can arise when you've lifted something heavy with incorrect positioning, or over time from overuse or incorrect posture. Doctors call this injury mechanical back pain. It mostly affects those aged between 40 and 60, and it can affect work and usual activities while you recover. Most cases are managed without seeing your doctor. Top tips are to avoid strenuous activity and treat yourself with gentle stretches or hot and cold compresses, plus painkillers if needed. Here at Healthwords, we will always tell you that prevention is better than cure. But once you’ve got a musculoskeletal back injury, you’ll want to do all you can to get back on your feet and free from pain, and we’ve got some suggestions for you.

Back pain is a common ailment that can sometimes require medication for effective relief. In this detailed article, we will explore different types of back pain and discuss the most suitable medicines for each case. It is crucial to understand that the strongest treatment is not always the best option, and milder approaches can be equally effective, such as stretching exercises.

Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory painkiller and antiplatelet. It tends to come in two different strengths: 300mg and 75mg (also known as baby aspirin). The 300mg dose is primarily used as a pain reliever, and the 75mg is used as an antiplatelet to help prevent blood clots forming in the body. Aspirin can come in many different formulations, including dispersible, gastro-resistant and regular tablets. When taken as a tablet, it is important that is taken with or after food as it can cause stomach irritation. It is also formulated as oral gels, heat rub-on gels and heat sprays. It can start to work within 20 to 30 minutes of taking it, or instantly with rub or spray-on formulations.