When there is PAIN most of us reach for a bottle of the nearest over-the-counter pain reliever. We have become accustomed to them and we reach for them with confidence - knowing that they can help relieve our pain, but rarely questioning their overall safety.

Read the label on the bottle or box and you may be surprised at just how dangerous those common medicines can be. Use too much aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-infective (like Advil) and you run the risk of having trouble with your stomach. Use the acetaminophen and you may find that you have damaged your liver.

Usually the dangerous consequences are associated with using them in improperly high doses for too long a period of time. Please be aware, too, using these products can also cause harm when mixed with prescription medicines, food, or alcohol. Be cautious, read the labels, and reach for these pain relievers only when you really need them. If you find yourself taking an over-the-counter pain reliever more than a couple times a month you should check with your doctor - there may be something that needs professional medical attention. In the end all we have is our health. To ignore it or abuse it is truly unwise

Having just  said all that, I want to turn our attention to ways of achieving relief from aches and pains that are a little different. Consider massage or exercise.  These are non-invasive, drug-free approaches to muscle tension - a major contributor to all kinds of pain. Our skin is our largest organ and it is more than just a bag that holds all of our parts inside. Many beneficial things are made in the cells of our skin and when we gently massage it we stimulate the release of these vital chemicals. One important product made in our skin is growth hormone - used to make us grow to the height we are to become and also necessary for healing. Dr. Deepok Chopra recommends a 5 minute massage daily just prior to showering.  We started doing this daily - using a blend of sesame oil and essential oils.  We rub in approximately one tablespoonful of the oil and then wash it off in the shower.  It is invigorating - especially when the massage oil is enhanced with the essential oils - we like peppermint, orange, jasmine, and allspice.

Sometimes we ache or hurt.  Maybe it was all the work we did in the yard or maybe the results of something we did “the night before”.  We may be suffering from the effects of the FLU or maybe feeling the discomfort sometimes associated with the menstrual cycle. Whatever it is, we want this kind of pain to be gone - right now!  Yes, we know the bottle of aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen is an easy fix - but how long does it take for those medicines to move from our stomach into our blood stream and begin working on the pain? 

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to get the important medicine to work almost immediately? 

Well, there is a way to use those pain relievers and receive the benefits very rapidly. I am referring to sublingual use - placing a dose under the tongue.  In addition to working promptly, the sublingual dose is usually less than the oral dose - and the risk of side effects (particularly the stomach upset) is reduced to almost zero.  To top it off, you don’t have to swallow a pill - actually, you are advised to NOT swallow these dosage form,; it dramatically lessens their effectiveness. There aren’t sublingual doses available at the local drugstore.  You need to contact your compounding pharmacist for help in this area.

For example, we have found that a sublingual dose of ketoprofen (Orudis) gets to the problem in a matter of just a few minutes. It works wonderfully and there aren’t any side effects to speak of.  In addition, this is accomplished by using a dose that is one half to one fourth that needed for an oral dose. We find that a single 12.5mg sublingual dose of ketoprofen acts quicker and has far fewer side effects that 25 to 50mg of the commercially available product.  This is also possible when other pain relievers are made into the sublingual dosage forms.

Try  a sublingual pain reliever!

Ask your compounding pharmacist to prepare some for you.  You won’t need many because they work fast. They’re often safer than the oral dosage types.  In particular I recommend ketoprofen, 12.5mg - placed under the tongue or between the cheek and gum. You won’t need to use them often because once they knock down the pain, its down for a good while.  If you have questions about this amazing method of relieving pain don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Call 630-859-0333 - or send us an email