Tag Archives: painkillers

Building Up a Tolerance to Pain Medication

Posted on by

Welcome to blistering headache, day two. My whopper of a headache hung around for most of the day, and came back for a second visit this morning. Nothing says “great start to a day” like a headache. I did get some relief last night when I switched from ibuprofen to aspirin, and I think it was the change in medications that made the difference. I do tend to switch pain relievers every so often. Maybe the ibuprofen wasn’t helping because my body was too used to it? With some pain relievers, your body can build up a tolerance — meaning … Continue reading →

Moose’s New Supplement

You might have noticed that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about… worrying about… and researching things that could help my Moose deal with the discomfort of hip dysplasia. Ideally, I was looking for a supplement that included glucosamine and chondroitin and other good stuff like omega-3 fatty acids, natural pain relievers, and vitamins and minerals that promote joint health. I haven’t found a supplement that does it all yet, but I have found one that I’m very pleased with. How I found Moose’s new supplement: I was browsing PetSmart.com, looking at the different products they had that included … Continue reading →

Natural Painkillers for Dogs

Yesterday, I was looking at the different painkillers that are available for dogs. I feel bad because my dog Moose is obviously experiencing discomfort from his hip dysplasia — and all the other things I’ve done don’t seem to be helping enough. Then I got to wondering: if natural painkillers work in humans, do they work in dogs, too? Maybe there are some non-medical things I can do to ease Moose’s discomfort. Because the prescription painkillers for dogs seem to all run the risk of liver issues when used for a long time. I’d rather not trade one problem (Moose’s … Continue reading →

Painkillers for Dogs

I was hoping that the warmer weather would bring some relief for my poor Moose’s hips. We had a cold snap a month or so ago, with temperatures down below freezing for about a week. I was happy because it froze all the mud. Moose wasn’t so happy because it aggravated his hip dysplasia. Now that things are warming up, I can see that Moose is still having trouble. I’m doing all the things the vet suggested: Keeping him off the floor and on soft surfaces to sleep. Making sure he’s warm at night. Helping him lose weight. Making sure … Continue reading →

Painkiller Basics

Not all over the counter pain medicines work exactly the same way. Here are some tips to make sure you take the right medicine for your body aches, headaches, and other pains. For sore muscles, sunburn, and arthritis pain, your best bet is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (also known as an NSAID). Ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are all NSAIDs. These types of painkiller block the body’s production of chemicals that cause swelling — and swelling is really the culprit for your sore muscles, sunburn, and arthritis pain. Fighting a headache? Look for pain pills that contain caffeine. Many people find … Continue reading →

New Labels For Familiar Painkillers

By the end of 2007, you can expect to see new labels and stricter safety warnings on your over the counter pain relievers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed the new warnings in December, which would affect hundreds of prescription and nonprescription products. What will the warnings address? Acetaminophen (the pain reliever in Tylenol) will come with a warning about the potential for “severe liver damage” if they take more than the maximum daily dose, combine the pills with other drugs, or drink alcohol while taking the drug. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil’s ibuprofen, aspirin, and Aleve’s naproxen) … Continue reading →