OTC Pain Medications

Question 1

What is pain?

Answer 1

• Unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.
• Subjective

Question 2

What percent of the US population is impacted by chronic pain?

Answer 2

• 20.9% (2021)

Question 3

What does PQRST(U) stand for?

Answer 3

Palliative or Precipitating factors

Quality of pain

Region of pain location

Subjective description of pain Severity

Time-related nature of pain

Additional questions to “PQRST” (PQRSTU)
* Understanding, or impact on you (U)
* Besides pain, what other symptoms present?
* How has the pain affected your life (U)?
* What have U tried to control the pain (pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic)?

Question 4

What are common behavioral and physiological changes from pain?

Answer 4

Behavioral:
1. Agitation
2. Crying
3. Irritability
4.Groaning
5.Grimacing
6.Guarding/Fetal Position
7.Fatigue
8.Lack of normal range of motion

Physiological:
* Sweating
* Dilated pupils
* Pallor
* Tachycardia
* Tachypnea
* Signs of inflammation (bruising, redness, warmth, range of motion adbnormalities).

Question 5

What factors do we consider as pharmacists for pain management?

Answer 5

• Age
• Cognitive/Mental Status
• Communication
• Cultural and Religious Beliefs
• Patient Preference
• PMH
• Socioeconomic status
• Medications

Question 6

After collecting information…

Answer 6

• Determine potential cause of pain
• Assess severity
• Decide if self-care or referral is appropriate

Question 7

What would indicate self-care?

Answer 7

• Known cause of pain (can be acute or chronic)
• No severe impact on muscloskeletal function

Question 8

What would make referral neccesary?

Answer 8

• Obvious anatomical abnormality
• Unexplained or unusual pain
• Persistant pain, despite optimal self-care
• Changes in existing pain (frequency or severity)
• Any red flag symptoms

Question 9

What are goals of therapy?

Answer 9

Collect
* Collect underlying cause of pain, if possible

Minimize
* Minimize pain and symptoms from pain/injury
* May not be possible to be free of pain

Improve
* Improve quality of life and activities of daily living

Limit
* Limit pharmacotherapy side effects

Question 10

What does RICE stand for?

Answer 10

R–> rest the injured area for 48 hours

I–> Ice the injured area for 20 mins at a time, 4 to 8 times per day

C–> compress to help reduce swelling.

E–> Elecate the injured limb 6 to 10 inches above the heart