Contents:
- Medical Video: Hand & Foot Pain : How to Treat a Sore Calf Muscle
- Paracetamol
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- COX-2 inhibitors
- Corticosteroids
- Muscle relaxants
- Opioid
- Antidepressants
- Anticonvulsants (neuroleptic drugs)
Medical Video: Hand & Foot Pain : How to Treat a Sore Calf Muscle
There are many ways to treat muscle pain. Muscle pain can be caused by injury, overwork or musculoskeletal disorders. In order to effectively treat your pain, it is recommended to make changes in diet and lifestyle with a combination of drug therapy.
Depending on the cause and the severity of your pain, the doctor can recommend drugs or drugs from one or more of the following drug classes:
- Paracetamol
- Drug anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs)
- Muscle relaxants
- Opioid pain relief
- Corticosteroids
- Antidepressants
- Anticonvulsants, also known as anti-seizure drugs or neuroleptic drugs.
This medication can be used orally or given by injection (usually given by your doctor).
Paracetamol
Paracetamol can help relieve your muscle aches, but it is more effective for very mild pain such as headaches. The reason is because paracetamol has been proven to work mainly in certain parts of the brain, central nervous system, while other painkillers work in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. This is why paracetamol is very effective in reducing fever.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Like paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve fever and pain. Works a little differently and is more effective at relieving pain. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of prostaglandin, which is a chemical in our immune system that is responsible for pain and fever. More specifically, enzyme inhibitors called cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2). Common drugs include ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen.
Using NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke and is also known to worsen heartburn symptoms. NSAIDs should be used with caution in patients with heart conditions. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
COX-2 inhibitors
This is the latest class from NSAIDs. This drug works with NSAIDs but it does not block COX-1, which is the main cause of stomach irritation. This drug is good for patients who are sensitive to the stomach. COX-2 inhibitors commonly treat conditions such as arthritis and other joint disorders. Some common medicines include celecoxib (Celebrex ®) and etoricoxib (Arcoxia®).
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs and should only be used for a short period of time (1-2 weeks). Corticosteroids are usually prescribed by doctors and can be given as high doses. This means that you will start with high doses and slowly the dose will be lowered per day for five to six days or as instructed by your doctor.
Corticosteroids can provide several side effects such as weight gain, abdominal pain, headaches, mood changes, and difficulty sleeping. It can also weaken the immune system, and thin your bones. Avoiding long-term use can minimize these side effects.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are usually used in combination with other drugs for back pain associated with muscle spasms. It works centrally on the brain and not directly on the muscles. This drug tells your brain to relax the muscles. Some common medications include baclofen, cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril ®), carisoprodol (Soma®) and eperison (Myonal ®).
Opioid
Opioids are stronger painkillers commonly used for more severe pain. This drug requires a prescription from a doctor and regular monitoring. It works by blocking pain receptors in the brain. This can also affect heart rate and breathing. Some examples of opioids include:
- Morphine
- Fentanyl
- Oxycodone
- Codeine
Opioid side effects may include severe drowsiness, nausea, constipation, itching, a lower heart rate. Drug dependence can develop if you take opioids regularly for a long period of time. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent this.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are usually used to treat depression, but can also be used to treat pain by changing the chemical levels in the brain, specifically serotonin and norepinephrine. This brain chemical has been shown to affect pain receptors and mood receptors. People with chronic pain conditions that do not respond to other treatments can use this medication to control pain.
Some antidepressant drugs include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI: This drug increases serotonin levels. These include medicines such as citalopram (Celexa ®), fluoxetine (Prozac ®), paroxetine (Paxil ®), and sertraline (Zoloft ®).
- Antidepressants tricyclic, TCA: This drug increases levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. These include medicines such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin ®), doxepin (Silenor ®), imipramine (Tofranil ®), and nortriptyline (Pamelor ®).
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, SNRI: These include medicines such as venlafaxine (Effexor ®) and duloxetine (Cymbalta ®).
The most common side effects include blurred vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, dry mouth, fatigue, nausea and headaches.
Anticonvulsants (neuroleptic drugs)
Anticonvulsants are often used to relieve nerves or neuropathic pain. Patients may use neuroleptic drugs for long periods of time. In general, people react well to anticonvulsants. The most common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Some common drugs are gabapentin (Neurontin ®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®) and pregabalin (Lyrica®).
Not all types of medicine are suitable for you. You should talk to your doctor about your condition and the severity of the muscle pain you are suffering from. Don't try to treat yourself if you don't fully understand your condition.
