All about painkillers

Most of us have experienced pain – a headache, a pulled muscle or injury from a trip, slip or fall – that could be managed by over-the-counter painkillers. However, an increasing number of people are living with long-term pain as a result of conditions such as arthritis. In these cases, painkillers only available by prescription are always more effective.

Read more about over-the-counter painkillers.
Read more about prescription-only painkillers.

Pain is a broad and complex area of healthcare. It covers short-term (acute) pain, such as headaches, pulled muscles and minor injuries, and long-term (chronic) pain, which can include inflammation of the joints.

Here we explain about varieties of painkiller and their uses and side effects.

Over-the-counter painkillers

Paracetamol

Uses	Alternative uses	Interactions with other medication	Possible side effects
Mild pain (acute or chronic)	To reduce temperature	Anticoagulants (eg warfarin)	Rarely, a rash or swelling

Aspirin

Uses	Alternative uses	Interactions with other medication	Possible side effects
Mild pain associated with inflammation (acute or chronic)	To prevent blood clots forming	Ibuprofen Some diuretics (water tablets) Antidepressants	Indigestion Vomiting Bleeding in the stomach

Ibuprofen

Uses	Alternative uses	Interactions with other medication	Possible side effects
Mild pain (acute or chronic)	To reduce raised temperature To reduce inflammation	Aspirin Anticoagulants (both warfarin and NOACs)	Indigestion Heartburn Stomach ulcers/ gastrointestinal tract bleeding

Prescription-only painkillers

Co-codamol, co-dydramol, co-codaprin

Uses	Alternative uses	Interactions with other medication	Possible side effects
Mild to moderate pain (acute or chronic) (Milder forms are available over-the-counter)	None	Antidepressants	Constipation Nausea Diarrhoea

COXIBs (eg celecoxib, etoricoxib)

Uses	Alternative uses	Interactions with other medication	Possible side effects
Head/tooth/back ache, sprains Arthritis, gout Kidney/gallstones Pain following major surgery Neuralgia	Pain associated with cancer	Aspirin Anticoagulants	High blood pressure Reduced kidney function Stomach or duodenal ulcers

Opiates (eg codeine, tramadol, oxycodone, morphine)

Uses	Alternative uses	Interactions with other medication	Possible side effects
Moderate to severe pain (acute or chronic), commonly used in end-of-life care	To relieve breathlessness in heart failure	Antidepressants Antihistamines Some blood pressure medications	Nausea Vomiting Itching Constipation Drowsiness Dry mouth

Read our frequently asked questions on painkillers.

Can I get help with paying my prescription?

Medical prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They are also free for people in England who meet certain criteria, including people who are:

under 16 or over 60
receiving Income Support, JSA, ESA or Universal Credit
pregnant
16-18 and in full-time education
and/or have certain health conditions, including a continuing disability or diabetes that can't be controlled with diet.

If you aren’t entitled to free prescriptions for your medicines you might be able to save money by buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC).

getting help with prescription costs