Using Medicines To Treat Sciatica

If you are dealing with sciatica then you have several treatment options to choose from. However, it is medications that make for the most common treatment option. You can use both- over the counter medications as well as prescription drugs to treat the problem.

Over the counter pain relief medications
Pain relief medications can be broadly divided into two categories- one that treats both, pain as well as inflammation and other that treats only pain. Both these categories of medicines can work equally well to treat sciatica. Generally, Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat pain associated with sciatica. While these medicines are effective, there is a limit to the amount of pain they can control. Besides, these medicines can also lead to various side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and ulcers.

Prescription drugs
If you are suffering from extreme pain, then you may need to take the help of prescription drugs to battle the problem. Your doctor may prescribe anti inflammatory drugs along with a muscle relaxant. In some cases, narcotics may also be recommended. Narcotics work great for short term pain relief, but have various side effects. Some other prescription medications that may be used for sciatica include tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs. These medications treat pain by blocking pain signals from going to the brain. They also increase the level of endorphins in the body, which work as body's natural painkillers.

Commonly used medicines to treat sciatica
Though there are several medicines used to treat sciatica, there are some that are more commonly used. Here are some of them.

* Acemetacin
* Brufen
* Calprofen
* Dicloflex
* Diclomax
* Dromadol
* Flurbiprofen
* Froben
* Gabapentin
* Hedex Ibuprofen
* Ibuprofen
* Ketocid
* Ketoprofen
* Larapam
* Morphine
* Naproxen
* Orudis
* Oruvail
* Paracetamol
* Tiaprofenic Acid

These medicines are available under various trade names in the market.

Using medicines to treat sciatica
If you are using over the counter medications to treat sciatica, it is suggested that you do not rely too heavily on these medications. The reason for the same being the side effects these medicines are accompanied with. Ideally, it is recommended that you do not take more than two pills per day. Never consume these medicines on an empty stomach. Make sure you eat something before taking these medicines.

However, if you have been recommended some prescription drugs by the doctor, then you can stick to the dosage prescribed. Your doctor would ideally prescribe two to three doses per day. However, the number of doses may vary depending upon the severity of the condition.