responding to symptoms of pain Flashcards
what is the non drug treatment of soft tissue injuries?
Rest: enhanced healing due to reduced blood flow
Ice: if injury feels warm (repeat hourly)
Compression: crepe bandage/tubigrip
Elevation: help fluid drain away from injury
what should you avoid within 48hrs of an injury?
NSAIDs
what is primary dysmenorrhea?
menstural pain without organic pathology
what is secondary dysmenorrhea?
a pathologic condition
what is ADL
activities of daily living eg. getting in and out of bed, showering etc
what causes dysmenorrhea?
overproduction of uterine prostaglandins
why are NSAIDS good for dysmenorrhea?
they block prostaglandins
what is a treatment for dysmenorrhea?
Naproxen 250mg
Buscopan - abdominal cramps
what are examples of OTC medication for oral/dental pain?
local anaesthetics mainly lidocaine/benzocaine
what are the most common headaches seen in community pharmacy?
tension
cluster
migraine
what is a tension headache causes by?
headache caused by stress and muscle tension
what are common features of tension headache?
- slow onset
- bilateral (usually hurts both sides)
- pain is dull or feels like a tight band across the head
- can be accompanied with tenderness on scalp, neck and shoulder muscles
- mild to moderate pain
- won’t cause nausea, vomiting, photophobia
what are features of cluster headache?
- severe pain on one side of the head, usually behind one eye
- the affected eye may be red and watery
- swelling of the eyelid
- runny nose or congestion
- swelling of the forehead
what may be an underlying reason for a secondary headache?
- trauma/injury to neck or whiplash
- infection
- psychiatric disorders
- cerebral vascular disorders
- adverse drug reactions
-dehydration
what are migraines usually caused by?
certain ‘triggers’ including:
- stress and other emotions
- environmental conditions
- fatigue
- weather changes
- certain foods and drinks
what is an aura?
sensory disturbance that includes flashes of light, blind spots, and other vision changes or tingling in your hand or face
where is a migraine headache usually?
frontotemporal
what are characteristics of migraines?
- unilateral location
- pulsating quality
- moderate or severe pain
- nausea and or vomiting
- photophobia and phonophobia
what is the mechanism of action of paracetamol?
acts in inhibition of prostaglandin production in pain pathway, also activation of descending serotonergic pathways
what is the mechanism of ibuprofen?
act on COX-1 and COX-2 receptors to inhibit production of prostaglandins in pain pathway
what are examples of anti-emetic drugs for migraines?
buclizine (bucostem)
prochloperazine
what are triptans?
selective 5-HT receptor agonist (causes cranial vasoconstriction)
what age is restricted from aspirin and why?
<16 causes reyes syndrome (encephalopathy)
why is there caution with elderly patients and NSAIDS?
risk of bleeding
