Pain and painkillers: avoiding self-medication mistakes

What are we talking about?

Pain is a signal. A painkiller can help relieve it temporarily, but it does not replace identifying a cause when pain is intense, unusual or persistent.

Responsible self-medication means knowing its limits: age, pregnancy, associated conditions, other medicines and duration of use.

What you may observe

Specify the site, intensity, character (sudden or progressive), triggering factors and associated signs (fever, vomiting, stiffness, neurological deficit).

Pain that wakes you at night, worsens rapidly or is accompanied by impaired general condition deserves particular attention.

Good practices

First identify whether professional advice is needed before buying a medicine. If a painkiller is considered, read the leaflet and respect contraindications.

Note doses already taken to avoid duplicates of active substances present in several products.

What to avoid

Avoid exceeding the maximum doses indicated on the leaflet or combining several painkillers containing the same substance.

Avoid prolonged self-medication without reassessment, and taking medicines unsuitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding without advice.

Medicines: what you need to know

Painkillers and anti-inflammatories do not all have the same safety profile. Some are contraindicated depending on age, kidneys, stomach, heart or pregnancy.

No personalised dosage is proposed here: ask for advice on the choice and duration suited to your situation (medicine safety — WHO; pregnancy precautions — ANSM).

When to ask the pharmacist?

The pharmacist can help choose a suitable product, check interactions and indicate situations where pain should be medically assessed.

Mention pregnancy, breastfeeding, ulcer, renal or hepatic impairment, and ongoing treatments.

When to seek medical care?

Seek care promptly for chest pain, intense abdominal pain, sudden unusual headache, neurological deficit, pain after major trauma, or any pain that worsens despite reasonable measures.