Non drowsy pain meds

Message

#1 Post by **jaswi** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:11 pm

Okay, so I've never been much of a person to take any kind of meds, but I know I'm going to have to take some pain meds when I get braces, I'm wondering what kind to take that wont make me sleepy, or less alert. Reason? I work on a fast paced assembly line and am often required to operate heavy machinery(fork lifts mainly) in close proximity to people, not to mention valuable parts.

#2 Post by **Flora2006** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:20 pm

I never take pain killers either...though I will take an Advil or Motrin if I really can't take pain any longer...they only take away the pain...no drowsiness or anything.

BUT...medication works differently on everyone....

Good luck.

#3 Post by **missingu** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:37 pm

prescription or over-the-counter?

#4 Post by **jaswi** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:07 pm

#5 Post by **missingu** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:21 pm

Pretty much any of the OTC pain relievers, intended for daytime use (not like tylenol PM) do not have ingredients that make a person drowsy.

Most orthos recommend the Motrin/Advil (aka NSAIDs - Non Steroidal Anit-Inflammatory Drug) and they have no ingredients to make a person drowsy. Tylenol and regular aspirin also work but the NSAIDs are preferable.

#6 Post by **missingu** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:32 am

In the US, paracetamol is known as acetominophen (generic for Tylenol). The concern with any pain meds with caffeine (in US, Excedrin is the big offender) is that caffeine is a vasodilator (relaxes blood vessels) and can impact blood pressure and be more conducive to "head rushes" because of the heightened blood flow to the head due to the widened blood vessels as well as be troublesome due to the heightened pressure of blood flow.

The NSAIDs are preferred because they have anti-inflammatory properties and generally pain can (but not always) be due to subtle inflammation from the pressure of the ortho work.

Lucy is right about avoiding aspirin if you have extractions; but if the concern is strictly being braced, most people recommend taking Advil/Motrin before you go to your appointment, so the analgesic effect will be kicking in when you are done.

Good luck.

#7 Post by **jaswi** » Sat May 06, 2006 6:58 pm

I'm thinkin the stuff with caffeine might be the way to go for me, Its not unusual for me to pop a no-doze at some point in any night.

#8 Post by **missingu** » Sat May 06, 2006 7:04 pm

If you are US, the likely med will be Excedrin. However, it is aspirin and tylenol, with none of the anti-inflammatory capabilties of the motrin/advil class. If you already take no doz, you should check with the ortho about what they recommend, and take the caffeine separately. I also think it would be a good idea to run the no doz idea past the ortho, just in case, but I have never known of an ortho recommending other than advil/motrin.