Medicines

Advice: All the medicines stated here are for educational and informational purpose only. The diagnosis and treatment differs from person-to-person basis and can only be advised after a consult. Please do not self treat. Consult a doctor before starting any medications.

Pain Killers

Painkillers (Analgesics) are one of the most commonly used medicines in the world that are used to treat pain. There are a large number of painkillers available and they all come in various types and different brand names. However, three main types are most commonly used:

Paracetamol – Dolo, Crocin
NSAIDs – Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Aceclofenac and Aspirin
Opioids – Codeine, Tramadol, Morphine

Paracetamol – Its one of the most popular over the counter medicine. Though they are most commonly used for fever, they have a mild to moderate pain relieving action. Their popularity is mainly due to lesser side effects compared to other pain killers. However increased dosage (more than 4000mg/day) and long term use may result in liver failure.
Uses: Fever, Pain, Cold
How to take: After food, 2-3 tablets per day

Side-effects: Liver failure (large doses)
Prescription Required: No
Drugs: Acetaminophen
Brands: Dolo, Crocin

Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Have a higher pain relieving activity and is associated with anti-inflammatory effect.

This is very useful to reduce pain and swelling and hence are the best drug used in injury, muscle sprains and fractures.

Uses: Fever, Pain, Injury, Fractures
How to take: After food, 1-2 tablets per day

Side-effects: Stomach ulcer, Kidney failure, reduced blood clotting, Affects fracture healing
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Aceclofenac, Ketorolac, Etoricoxib, Naproxen and Aspirin
Brands: Ibugesic, Zerodol, Etoshine, Saridon

Opioids -They are further divided into Weak and Strong Opioids. Weak opioids are commonly used and are available as tablets in pharmacy. Strong opioids are mostly used in hospitals under observation. They have fever side effects compared to NSAIDs and hence can be used in elderly people for longer duration.

Uses: Chronic Pain, arthritis, After surgery, Cold and Cough (in cough syrups)
How to take: After food, 1-2 tablets per day

Side-effects: Nausea, Vomiting, Drowsiness
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Tramadol, Codeine
Brands: Ultracet

Muscle Relaxants

Having a muscle spasm means that one or more of your muscles is twitching or cramping out of your control. It can happen for a lot of different reasons, and can sometimes be very painful.

Muscle relaxants are the drugs that relaxes the muscle by decreasing the muscle tone and reduce muscle spasm, pain and hyperreflexia. The commonly used relaxants (spasmolytics) relieves the tension in the muscle caused due to injury or sprain thereby reducing the pain.

They are usually prescribed in combination with other pain-killers.

How they work: The muscle relaxants acts by reducing the stiffening nerve impulse from the brain which causes the muscle spasm, ultimately relaxing the muscle and reducing the pain.

Uses: Back pain, Muscle spasm, Strain, Muscle pull
How to take: After food, 2 tablets per day

Side-effects: Mild sedation
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Tizanidine, Thiocolchicoside
Brands: Zerodol-MR, Etoshine-MR, Ibugesic-TH

Anti-Edema

The term anti-edema and anti-inflammatory are broad concept including many NSAIDs (which are primarily painkillers) and Steroids. However this section is focused on the anti-edema medicines used to reduce swelling due to injury and other causes.

These medications are usually used along with other painkillers to quickly reduce swelling which inturn relieves pain and inproves mobility.

Uses: Acute swelling, fracture (esp. lower limbs), foot swellings, ankle sprains
How to take: Before food, 2-3 tablets per day

Side-effects: Nil
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, Bromelein (Usually in combinations)
Brands: Chymoral forte, Usen DR

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply. There are thousands of types of antibiotics and they help the body’s immune system to resist the infection. Most of the antibiotics functions to fight a specific type of bacteria, hence a single antibiotic cannot be used for all types of infections.

How they work: There are many groups of antibiotics and each work in particular function. But in unison, they work in affecting the structure of the bacteria cell wall or DNA making them difficult to survive.

Uses: Infections, Prophylaxis against infections
How to take: After food, 2-3 tablets per day

Side-effects: Varied (depending on the antibiotic type).
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Pencilin, Cephalosporins, Amikacin, Gentamycin, azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Linazolid, Metronidazole etc
Brands: Augmentin, taxim-o, Cipro, Flagyl, Bactrim etc

Stomach Protectives

Stomach or Gastro Protective drugs are those medications used to protect the outer layer of the stomach against the gastric acid. They are usually given when medications which causes gastric erosion are prescribed (Such as Painkillers and antibiotics).

How they work:

There are 2 types of stomach protectant drugs –

1. Acid Reducers: Protects by reducing the gastric acid secretion. (eg. Pan, Rantac)

2. Stomach-liners (Antacids): Protects by forming a protective outer layer. (Eg: Digene, gelusil)

The protective layer forming drugs affect the absorbption of certain drugs, hence acid reducers are more commonly used for this purpose.

Uses: Along with painkillers, steroids and antibiotics. Stomach ulcer and gastritis
How to take: Before food, 1-2 tablets per day

Side-effects: Less, decreases digestion and absorption.
Prescription Required: No
Drugs: Pantoprazole, Ranitidine, Esmoprazole
Brands: Pan, Pantop, Rantac

Neurologics

Neurologics are drugs that reduces the abnormal stimulation of the nerves. They are used in spine and orthopaedic conditions to treat sciatica or radiating nerve pains.

How they work: The neurologics works by reducing the sensitivity of the nerves to external abnormal stimulation. When the nerve is compressed due to any causes, the pain fibres are trigerred along the pathway. The neurologics acts by reducing this stimulation thereby reducing nerve related pain.

Uses: Sciatica, Radiculopathy, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, Complex regional pain syndrome, Diabetic Neuropathy
How to take: After food, Usually at night time before sleeping

Side-effects: Drowsiness, giddiness
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Pregabalin, Gabapentin
Brands: Pregaba, Lyrica, Gabaneuron

Joint Preserving

Joint Preserving drugs or Chondro-protectives are a group of drugs that works in preserving and regrowing the cartilage layer of the joints. They are used in early arthritis and in tendon inflammatory conditions. Though no confirmatory research has proven any advantages of their uses, they have been used widely all over the world. They are usually available as a 4 or 5 drug combination.

How they work: The drug works as a supplement, to replenish the damaged and used collagen and by attempting to reconstruct the cartilagenous layer. They may not work in severe arthritis as the wear and tear are so severe to compensate for any supplements.

Uses: Early stage arthritis, Tennis elbow, Plantar fascitis,
How to take: After food, 1-2 times a day

Side-effects: Nil
Prescription Required: No
Drugs: Chondroitin sulphate, Collagen, Glucosamin, Diacerein, Boswellia sereta
Brands: Cartigen, Tendocare, Colloshot

Supplements

Supplements are nutritional medications that are usually prescribed for vitamins and mineral deficiency. Vitamins and minerals are important nutritions essential for the good functioning of the body. They are available in normal diet, however, when they are deficient in it is essential to supplement with medications. They are usually available in combinations.

How they work: Supplements contain a component of the vitamins or minerals in their best absorbable property. Once taken, they get directly absorbed into the bloodstream and maintain the normal functioning of the body.

Uses: In Deficiencies – Vitamin (esp Vitamin D and B12), Calcium, Iron
How to take: After food, 1-2 times a day

Side-effects: Nil (avoid overdose)
Prescription Required: No
Drugs: Multi-vitamins, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc
Brands: Supradyn, Zincovit, Cobadex Forte

Osteoporosis Drugs

Osteoporosis is the decrease in bone density and strength resulting in bone pain and fractures. They are very common in females and in old ages thereby requiring treatment. Recent advancement in medical sciences have promoted development of many types of Osteoporotic medication which are very effective in recovering bone mass.

How they work: Osteoporosis medications work by 2 types –

Reduce bone loss
Increase bone density

They work by reducing the activity of bone resorbing cells (osteoclasts) in the body and increse the activity of the bone forming cells (Osteoblasts).

Uses: In osteoporosis due to Old age, females, tumour contitions etc.
How to take: Each drug has different method and varied frequency

Side-effects: Gastric irritation, Bone hardness, Jaw necrosis.
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Bisphosphonates (Zoledronic Acid, Alendronate), Teriparatide, Denusumab
Brands: Zolephos, Terifrac, Bonista

Rheumatoid Drugs

While there’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, physiotherapy and medication can help slow the disease’s progression. Most patients can be managed with a class of medications called anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS). These drugs can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and save the joints and other tissues from permanent damage.

How they work: There are many types of anti-rheumatoid drugs although their main function is to counter the immune cells that act against and damage the joints.

Uses: Rheumatoid and associated conditions
How to take: Varied (as per doctors advice)

Side-effects: Varied.
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, Sulphasalazine, Biologics

Ointments & Gels

Ointments and Gels have been one of the major sold drugs in the orthopaedic pharmacy for pain management. They have the advantage of easy application, faster action, and with no side effects. Most of the ointments are a combination of multiple drugs and can be purchased over the counter without any prescription.

How they work: The ointment when applied penetrates the dermal layer of the skin and acts locally in reducing the pain mediators. In addition, some drugs stimulate the local sensory nerve endings and gate the pain nerves blocking their stimulus.

Uses: Back pain, joint pain, muscle sprain.
How to take: Local application 2-3 times a day

Side-effects: Skin problems (dryness, itching, redness)
Prescription Required: No
Drugs: Diclofenac, menthol, methyl salicylate, Linseed oil
Brands: – Voveron, Volitra, Moov, Iodex

Steroids

Steroids are man-made version of naturally produced hormones in the human body. They are one of the most effective and the most abused drug for pain and inflammation. Their superior action is only countered by their added side-effects due to long-term use. However, used specifically for indicated conditions, these complications can be prevented. Steroids injections have very good relief for certain subacute and chronic conditions such as early arthritis, tennis elbow and plantar fascitis.

How they work: Steroids work by reducing the inflammatory mediators which are responsible for pain and inflammation. They mimic the action of corticosteroids, a naturally occurring harmone in the body.

Uses: Rheumatoid arthritis, auto-immune conditions.

Steroid injections for early arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow.
How to take: After food, 1-2 tablets per day

Side-effects: Kidney failure, osteonecrosis, affect fracture healing, stomach ulcers, oral ulcers,
Prescription Required: Yes
Drugs: Prednisolone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Triamcinolone
Brands: – Omnacortil, Medrol, Wysolone, Predone, Kenocort

Medicines

Pain-Killers

Analgesics

Stomach Protectives

Gastro-protectives

Osteoporosis Drugs

Anti bone resorptives

Muscle Relaxants

Anti-spasmotics

Neurologics

Nerve protectants

Rheumatoid Drugs

DMARDs, Anti-rheumatoid Drugs

Anti- Edema

Reduces Swelling

Joint Protectives

Cartilage and Chondro-Protectives

Ointments

Pain Killer and Muscle relaxants

Antibiotics

Anti bacterial and Anti Tuberculosis

Supplements

Vitamin and Mineral Tablets

Steroids

Corticosteroids

Pain Killers

Muscle Relaxants

Anti-Edema

Antibiotics

Stomach Protectives

Neurologics

Joint Preserving

Supplements

Osteoporosis Drugs

Rheumatoid Drugs

Ointments & Gels

Steroids

Quick Links

Links