Pain and possibilities of its self-treatment - what can be recommended in a pharmacy?

Abstract

Pain and possibilities of its self-treatment - what can be recommended in a pharmacy? Pain is one of the most common health problems for which patients seek help in the pharmacy. Pharmacists and pharmaceutical assistants are the most easily approachable healthcare professionals with deep pharmacotherapeutic knowledge and therefore are able to recommend appropriate pain self-medication including non-pharmacological therapy based on evaluation of patient´s problems and other factors. This article summarizes mainly pharmacological pain treatment options with currently available over-the-counter medicines, also some non-pharmacological recommendations and tries to emphasize rational approach in terms of safety of pharmacotherapy (adverse reactions, dosing). The aim of this article is to provide an evidence-based medicine overview of therapeutic options and a guideline for approach to treatment of all types of pain appropriate for self-medication in the pharmacy.