Treatments for back pain: Pharmacological therapy
Analgesics
Objective
To reduce pain.
Theoretical base
Different types of analgesics act in different
ways. In general, they interfere with the activation mechanisms
of pain detecting or conductive nerves, or with the mechanisms of
pain transmission.
Evidence of efficacy
Available scientific studies prove the efficacy
of analgesics for reducing the intensity of back pain episodes.
Risks and contraindications
When taking a pharmacological agent orally, by
suppository, or by intramuscular injection, the drug is introduced
into the blood and spreads throughout the body.
Most common side effects of analgesics are drowsiness
and constipation; they may appear in up to 50% of patients.
The portion reaching the structures involved in
back pain may improve it, but the remaining portion is useless and
may have adverse effects. Therefore, it is quite important to avoid
self-medicating and only taking medications if prescribed by a physician.
Drugs that have previously caused allergies must
not be used, just as those deemed unadvisable by your physician
for your specific case.
Indications
The use of analgesics is recommended for episodes
of acute pain, or during a crisis or exacerbation of chronic pain.
In general, with exceptions, they should not be used for more than
14 days.
Due to lesser side effects, some of the existing recommendations
based on scientific evidence advise to initially start with acetaminophen
or others with
paracetamol.
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