- Image via Wikipedia
Just because you take a pain medication doesn’t mean you understand what it is or what it’s made from. The fact is that whenever you put a drug in your body you should be fully aware of how to take a medication and what the medication is that is being taken. This is why hospitals and assisted living pharmacies keep such a close eye on pain medications and the dosages given the each patient, especially when it is something that might be taken as frequently as a pain medication.
There is Aleve which is a low grade strength of naproxen sodium. This is also an NSAID which is used to treat joint and muscle pain which helps with arthritis. It’s usually seen in 220 mg over the counter but naproxen can be given in 500 mg. There are no addiction issues when taking Aleve.
Celebrex is a drug that is used to relieve short-term pain and rheumatoid arthritis and is one of the most expensive medications in the pharmacy. It is given in two different types of strengths: 100 mg and 200 mg. Many health insurance companies don’t like to pay for Celebrex as there are other drugs that treat the same pain that are far cheaper than Celebrex but many patients have found a particular liking to it.
One of the more popular medications that is used is Ultram which is known better by its common name of tramadol. It comes in only one strength of 50 mg, and it is used to treat moderate pain. Doctors enjoy giving this drug as an alternative to narcotics like Vicodin and Darvocet. It is often given in higher quantities. There is also Ultram ER which is given in 100, 200, and 300 mg tablets.
These drugs are just some of the many drugs that you might get the next time you go to the doctor’s office or get discharged from the hospital. Knowing them and the difference between them is good knowledge to have.