How do different types of painkillers affect our body?

July 18, 2025 | Pain Relief | No Comments

The most effective medicines for treatment:

Paracetamol-based analgesics

The most popular analgesics include drugs with paracetamol, such as Panadol, Efferalgan, and others. They help with mild pain, but their effectiveness is limited. However, if well tolerated, they are considered relatively safe. However, paracetamol is contraindicated in cases of liver and kidney dysfunction.

After oral administration, the analgesic effect occurs in about 40-60 minutes and lasts about four hours. Paracetamol is often included in combination drugs, where it is combined with other active substances – such combinations act faster and longer, but have more restrictions on use.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
How they work:
NSAIDs relieve pain and inflammation, and are often used for headaches, toothaches, and menstrual pain. Different substances in this group differ in absorption rate and duration of action.

Preparations with acetylsalicylic acid

Among them are Aspirin and Sanovask. These are some of the most studied drugs, but they also have risks: irritation of the gastric mucosa, ulcers, internal bleeding, possible asthma attacks and stress on the kidneys. The maximum concentration in the blood is reached after two hours, and then the level of the substance gradually decreases.

Preparations with naproxen

This group includes NOVEMA and Nalgesin. Naproxen is effective for postoperative, headache and back pain. It is less likely to cause side effects from the stomach and heart. The analgesic effect lasts up to 12-15 hours after one dose, so it can be used less often. The effect is felt after about 30 minutes.

Preparations with ibuprofen

Such as Ibupirin and Deblok. Ibuprofen is a stronger pain reliever than paracetamol or aspirin. The onset of action is 30-60 minutes, the peak is 1.5-2 hours, and the overall effect lasts for about five hours. The drug requires multiple doses throughout the day, which increases the risk of side effects, including allergies and kidney dysfunction.

Nimesulide-containing drugs

These include Nimulide and Nimelok. They are less aggressive for the stomach, but require caution in liver diseases. Skin reactions are common side effects. The maximum effect occurs 1-3 hours after administration, and then gradually decreases over 2-5 hours.

Anspasmodics

Drugs like No-shpa or Drotaverine relieve pain by relaxing smooth muscles, especially with abdominal cramps. The effect occurs in 45-60 minutes and lasts up to 8-10 hours. However, they are ineffective for serious causes of pain. However, antispasmodics do not mask the symptoms of the disease, which can be useful for diagnostics.

What to choose?

Modern NSAIDs are often more effective than conventional analgesics, but they also have a higher risk of side effects. The choice of drug depends on the nature of the pain, health condition and doctor’s recommendations.

By Doc