Questions and answers about pain medicines
Q: When and how often should you take pain medicine?
A: Take pain medicine when your pain begins. If you know your pain gets worse with activity, take the medicine before you do the activity. Important: Do not wait for the pain to get worse before taking medicine. Pain tablets or pills may take up to 20 minutes to begin working.
Q: How can you take pain medicine?
A: There are many ways to give medicine for pain. Your doctor will help you decide which way might be best for you:
- tablets or pills
- suppository
- intravenous (into a vein)
- patches
- patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump
- injection (shot) through the skin
- shot or infusion into the spinal canal
Q: What are the side effects?
A: All medicines have possible side effects. When side effects occur, it is usually within a few hours after taking the medicine. Most side effects can be managed and go away in time.
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have:
- constipation
- sleepiness
- dizziness
- itching, rash or both
- nausea or vomiting
- slowed breathing
- confusion