If you're fighting with sciatica, then you've various treatments to select from- home remedies, alternative therapies, and surgical treatment and so on. But, it is medications that make for the most common choice of treatment. There're countless medications that can help ease different symptoms of sciatica and subside pain.
When you are seeking for the perfect kind of medicines for sciatica, you've the alternative of choosing between over-the-counter pain relief medications and prescription drugs. What you get over the counter are generally the NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs), these are useful in easing out the sciatic pain. The NSAIDs are well-known to be very effective in releasing the pain instantly. However, these medicines have massive negative effects that mustn't be ignored. These side effects incorporate stomach ulcers, diarrhea and nausea to be the commonly known ones.
There is also a category of OTC drugs that not just treats pain but also the inflammation associated with the problem. It's the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which is the real cause of pain. As the inflammation subsides, the symptoms also ease out.
Mostly, the OTC medicines provide great relief but for the more severe ones prescription drugs are a much better option. The doctors usually prescribe anti inflammatory drugs with some muscle relaxant. The anti inflammatory drugs lessen the swelling of the sciatic nerve and on the contrary the muscle relaxant eases the tension of the muscles around.
Even narcotic drugs are prescribed to a few patients. Although, these medicines are in regular use, their use isn't acknowledged by many. The cause being the amount of side effects these medicines bring along. Another kind of prescription drugs that are in use are the anticonvulsant drugs and the tricylic anti depressants. This group of medicines works by obstructing the pain signals from going to the brain. They also facilitate the increased production of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are called the feel good hormones. They also act as natural pain killers.
Medicines do prove to be an effective way to neutralize sciatic pain but a complete dependence on them should be avoided. These medicines have damaging effect in the long run which mustn't be ignored. So, should you be taking prescribed medicines you ought to be sure of following all the instructions given with the prescription. Be alert enough not to overdose, because that would prove to be a threat to your life. Or, if you miss a dose, consult your doctor for guidance.
With the type of medications mentioned above you could also go for numerous other therapies like the alternative therapies, home treatments etc to cope with your problem of sciatica. This will cut down your reliance on the medicines alone.