Navigating Pain Killer Medicines from An Online Pharmacy in Singapore

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience linked to, or similar to, the experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Pain can negatively impact one’s ability to function and affect their social and psychological well-being. As such, it is critical to manage pain effectively with the variety of painkillers available in the market.

With a myriad of pain reliever medications categorised as General Sales List (GSL), Pharmacy Only (P Only), and Prescription Only Medicine (POM), navigating the options can be overwhelming. Some popular pain relief medications that we will be exploring in this article include:

• Arcoxia
• Tramadol
• Panadeine
• Ibuprofen
• Nurofen

To ensure that you select the appropriate medication suited to your needs and preferences, it is best to consult a trusted healthcare professional for advice. Glovida-Rx is a premier online pharmacy in Singapore that provides convenient access to these pain relief options.

Understanding Pain and Pain Management

Pain can be categorised as acute or chronic pain based its frequency and the duration it typically lasts.

	Acute pain	Chronic pain
Onset and duration	Sudden onset and usually subsides when the cause is addressed	Ongoing pain that generally lasts beyond 6 months or beyond the expected healing time
Characteristic	Usually a sharp sensation, acting as a warning signal of a threat to the body.	Varies in characteristic and intensity, ranging from mild to severe pain that does not disappear

Different types of pain may benefit from different pain relief medications. For example, acute pain may benefit from milder analgesics such as ibuprofen and Nurofen while chronic, long-standing pain may benefit most from stronger analgesics such as tramadol. 

Allowing your healthcare professional to understand the underlying cause of the pain that you are experiencing helps them to select the most effective treatment for you. Consulting a healthcare professional also allows you to understand more about the potential side effects of the various pain relief medications, as well as how to safely use these medications to prevent overuse or misuse.

Ibuprofen and Nurofen: Over-the-Counter Relief

Ibuprofen, more commonly known as Nurofen, the branded form of ibuprofen, belongs to the same class of medications as Arcoxia, called NSAIDs. NSAIDs are popular pain relievers for inflammatory conditions such as injuries and arthritis. They possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties, making them useful agents for pain relief, inflammation, and fever.

At Glovida-Rx, ibuprofen is available in different forms, including:

• Nurofen 200mg Coated Tablets (GSL)
• Nurofen 100mg/5mL Children Oral Suspension Orange Flavour(GSL)
• Brufen 20mg/mL Oral Suspension (GSL)
• BRUFEN (Ibuprofen) 200mg tablets (POM)

Nurofen can be used in several instances, including fever and common pains such as headache, migraine, dental pain, back pain and more. It is also useful in managing inflammatory symptoms such as redness, swelling and warmth.

For mild to moderate pain as well as pain and inflammation associated with musculoskeletal and joint disorders, it is recommended for adults to take a total of 1.2g of ibuprofen daily in divided doses. Feel free to reach out to our friendly pharmacists at Glovida-Rx for assistance on your dosage regimen.

Short-term use of NSAIDs may lead to stomach upset. Compared to COX-2 selective NSAIDs like Arcoxia, long-term use of non-selective NSAIDs like ibuprofen are more likely to cause gastrointestinal distress like gastric ulcers and bleeding. Due to its propensity to cause.gastrointestinal issues, it is important to always take ibuprofen only after meals.

Other common side effects of ibuprofen include:

• Increase in blood pressure
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting

If these side effects become severe or intolerable, do contact your healthcare professional for medical advice.

In addition, please consult your healthcare professional or go to the emergency department immediately should you experience any of the following:

• Black tarry stools or blood in your vomit, which could be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding
• Swollen ankles, blood in the urine, or difficulty urinating, which could be a sign of kidney injury
• Severe chest or stomach pain which could be a sign of gastrointestinal perforation
• Difficulty breathing or worsening asthma symptoms
• Swollen eyes, lips, tongue, throat, itchy skin rashes all over your body or difficulty breathing are signs of allergic reactions

Arcoxia: A Deep Dive

Arcoxia is a POM containing the active ingredient etoricoxib. Etoricoxib belongs to a class of medication called coxibs, which are a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is a medication commonly used for pain relief as well as arthritis. 

Arcoxia exhibits analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties, making it suitable for pain, inflammation, and fever. It is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is an enzyme involved in pain and inflammation. Compared to nonselective NSAIDs, Arcoxia provides better gastrointestinal safety and generally has a favorable tolerability profile.

While Arcoxia has various benefits, it may also cause some side effects including but not limited to:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Swelling of the lower extremities
• High blood pressure
• Nausea 

For acute pain, the recommended dosage range for adults is 30mg to 120mg once daily, which can be taken regardless of food intake. If you have any existing conditions, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional for guidance on the specific dosage regimen suitable for your condition. Additionally, individuals with congestive heart failure or other heart conditions should take extra precautions and inform their healthcare provider before taking Arcoxia.

Tramadol: Essential Information

Tramadol is a POM and belongs to a class of medications called opiate analgesics, also known as narcotics. It is a strong pain reliever and is commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain such as post-operative pain. It works by changing how the brain and nervous system react to pain.

For moderate to severe pain, it is recommended to take one to two 50mg tramadol tablets every four to six hours, with a maximum of 400mg daily. It should be started at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration and gradually adjusted as per response and severity of pain. As dosage may vary due to individual variability and depending on the severity of pain, do consult a healthcare professional before starting on tramadol.

Tramadol may cause several side effects and while not everyone may experience them, it is useful to be aware of the potential side effects. These include but are not limited to:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Feeling tired or sleepy

If these side effects become severe, or intolerable or if you experience any hallucinations, confusion, extreme sleepiness, or difficulty urinating, do contact your healthcare professional immediately.

Tolerance is possible with long-term use of tramadol. This occurs when the body becomes used to the dose of tramadol being taken and a higher dose of tramadol will be needed to address the same pain. Thus, it is recommended to have regular check-ins with your healthcare professional to ensure the safe use of this medication.

Panadeine: Combining Forces for Pain Relief

Panadeine is a combination medication containing codeine and paracetamol, both of which have analgesic properties. A 500mg tablet of panadeine contains 8mg of codeine and 500mg of paracetamol. This medication is a P Only medication and can be obtained from a pharmacist without a prescription from a doctor.

The combination of ingredients is better suited for pain that requires stronger analgesia, which may not be achieved with a single ingredient alone. The presence of codeine, a mild opiate with analgesic properties, provides additional relief of pain. Panadeine is commonly used to treat acute moderate pain, as well as headache, migraine, and pain after dental procedures or tooth extractions.

For mild to moderate pain, it is recommended to take one to two 500mg panadeine tablets every four to six hours, with a maximum of eight tablets per day. It should be taken on an as-needed basis and can be stopped when you stop experiencing pain.

As with all other medications, panadeine may also cause side effects, such as:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Feeling sick or vomiting
• Constipation

These side effects may subside with prolonged use. Constipation can be managed by increasing consumption of dietary fiber and water, as well as exercising more. However, if these side effects become intolerable or serious, do consult your healthcare professional for advice.

Selecting the Right Painkiller with Glovida-Rx

Glovida-Rx, Singapore’s leading online pharmacy, offers a wide variety of pain relief medications, ranging from mild analgesics available as OTC medications like ibuprofen, to stronger analgesics which require a prescription, such as tramadol.

Name	Property	When to Use	Dosage
Arcoxia	Analgesic Anti-inflammatory Antipyretic	Pain, inflammation, fever, arthritis	30mg to 120mg once daily, consult a healthcare professional for specific guidance
Tramadol	Analgesic	Moderate to severe pain, post-operative pain	50mg tablets every four to six hours, maximum 400mg daily, start at lowest effective dose
Panadeine	Analgesic	Acute moderate pain, headache, migraine, dental pain	1 to 2 tablets (500mg each) every four to six hours, maximum 8 tablets per day
Ibuprofen/Nurofen	Analgesic Anti-inflammatory Antipyretic	Fever, headache, migraine, dental pain, back pain, inflammation	1.2g daily in divided doses, take after meals

It is advisable to seek consultation from a qualified healthcare professional to ensure that you understand the benefits and risks before starting on any medication. This ensures efficacy as well as safety of the treatment.

Glovida-Rx simplifies pain management by providing complimentary consultations with our expert pharmacists. A one-to-one consultation with our pharmacists allows for in-depth discussions tailored to your needs and preferences, empowering you to make informed choices. Furthermore, Glovida-Rx offers convenient doorstep delivery which ensures efficient receipt of your medications without the need for you to travel down to a clinic.

Safe Online Shopping for Painkillers at Glovida-Rx

Glovida-Rx is an HSA-approved online pharmacy that prioritises the authenticity and safety of all medications we carry. We are committed to providing reliable care and ensuring high standards of quality and safety of all our products. Hence, we source directly from trusted and licensed suppliers in Singapore.

If you wish to purchase prescription painkillers such as Arcoxia or Tramadol, you are required to send us a valid prescription from your doctor. Alternatively, we can connect you to one of our partner doctors who can assess your condition, determine a diagnosis, and prescribe the necessary medications.

Upon verification of your prescription, our pharmacist will contact you for confirmation, provide you with professional medication counseling and ensure that you are well-informed on your healthcare needs. You will then receive a secure payment link and upon successful payment, your parcel will be shipped directly to your doorstep conveniently.

Home Care and Pain Management Strategies

While medications can provide pain relief, it is also crucial to adopt some lifestyle and home remedies to support medication-based pain relief. These include:

Exercise

Low-impact aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming and dancing can improve pain. Increased activities lessen pain by stretching tensed muscles, ligaments and joints.

While it may seem counterintuitive to exercise while you are in pain, it is likely that as you exercise more and become active gradually, you will be less prone to injuries in the future.

R.I.C.E method

The R.I.C.E method stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This method helps speed up recovery and return to normal daily activities. 

In acute injury, it is crucial to rest and ice the injured area to reduce inflammation. However, practice caution when icing the area by using a cloth to wrap the ice and prevent icing for more than 15 minutes to prevent superficial burns. Compression and elevation help to control inflammation by limiting blood flow to the injured area.

Relaxation

Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation can help to control persistent pain when practiced regularly in the long run.

Pain can be extremely debilitating and may hinder one’s daily activities significantly. Here are some signs that you should seek further medical advice for pain:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent pain that does not resolve with medication or rest
• Shortness of breath or cold sweats
• Fever or night sweats
• Change in urinary or bowel movements
• Worsening headache, numbness, weakness or tingling sensation
• Sudden loss of function such as unsteady walking or difficulty balancing

Conclusion

With a better understanding of pain management and the wide variety of medications available at Glovida-Rx, managing pain at home is no longer difficult. Pain reliever medications such as Arcoxia, Tramadol, Panadeine and Ibuprofen (or Nurofen) offer the analgesia that you need and can be effortlessly obtained via remote online consultation and delivery from Glovida-Rx.

At Glovida-Rx, your trusted online pharmacy in Singapore, we prioritise our customer’s health and needs and are committed to offering comprehensive personalized care. Do not hesitate to contact our pharmacists via Whatsapp at +65 8101 5555 if you have any queries.

At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to manage pain responsibly and the importance of adopting lifestyle and home remedies in addition to pain reliever medications cannot be overstated. Additionally, consultations with healthcare professionals are paramount in optimal pain management.

Visit our website www.glovida-rx.com.sg for more information and feel free to contact us at +65 8101 5555 for a complimentary consultation with our pharmacists.

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