OTC pain management guidelines

Abstract

Globally there is an ever increasing demand from patients for access to effective non-prescription medicine. As a result, the range of over-the-counter (OTC) products, including analgesics, is expanding. A wide variety of OTC analgesics are available to patients enabling them to effectively self manage many painful conditions. However, the inappropriate use of analgesics
can pose a significant health risk. We need to educate our patients regarding the appropriate selection and use of these products. Pain management guidelines are a useful resource to assist us with analgesic selection. This article provides an overview of current pain management guidelines, reviews the safety and efficacy of OTC analgesics and some recommendations for patient counselling on the use of analgesics.