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Pain Medications

© Karyn Moran Holton

Pain management is a major component of dealing with a connective tissue illness like lupus. Pain is a pervasive, chronic, sometimes overwhelming aspect of our lives. It's every day, sometimes every minute, and we cannot ever take the absence of pain for granted.

While alternative and complementary therapies like hypnotherapy, acupuncture and reiki may be helpful and provide some measure of relief, Western medicine (and therefore, the average Western physician) relies on various medications to provide relief from pain. Here are some of the more common ones used in dealing with chronic pain:

• Ibuprofen

  Ibuprofen, also known as Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Nurofen or Rafen, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). It reduces inflammation, a major component of lupus. Besides being a mild analgesic, it's also very effective as a fever reducer, another common symptom of lupus. Ibuprofen is frequently used in lupus patients with arthritic symptoms and is often the first drug suggested by rheumatologists.

  Some of the common side effects of ibuprofen are headache, dizziness, edema, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), stomach distress, nausea or a rash. Some serious side effects are less common, but more dangerous: acute renal failure, prolonged bleeding time, anemia, peptic ulcers or rectal bleeding. You should not drink alcohol while taking ibuprofen, because of the danger of liver damage.

• Acetaminophen

  Commonly known as Tylenol, Panadol, Actimol, and Atasol, this pain reliever is not specific for treating lupus, but I thought it should be mentioned as most people take it without a second thought for simple injuries, fevers and minor pains.

  When you are regularly taking other prescriptions drugs, acetaminophen should only be taken by direction of your physician. Severe liver damage or other severe side effects can occur if it is taken with barbiturates, certain anti-convulsants, anti-tubercular drugs, or Coumadin (a blood thinner). It's generally a good idea to avoid all over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements unless they've been cleared by your doctor.

• Fentanyl Transdermal

  Otherwise known as the Duragesic patch, this narcotic analgesic is often used for postoperative pain, as well as chronic pain. The patches, which come in varying strengths from 25 to 100 mcg of fentanyl per hour, are applied to the upper torso and can be worn for up to 72 hours.

  The advantage to this type of pain medication is that there are no pills to swallow or injections to take. The disadvantage is that when you have the patch on, you can't usually take any other pain medication, so if it isn't working, you have to wait to try something else. There are also other side effects, including confusion, dizziness, nausea, and depression. Some of the more dangerous side effects are seizures, arrythmias, chest pain, or respiratory depression.

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