Start with simple medication and build up from there.
Children
Step 1: Take regular Panadol and Neurofen
- Panadol may be taken every 6 hours
- Neurofen may be taken every 8 hrs
- Alternate these every few hours
- Do not exceed the maximum dose of each in any 24 hours
- This will be sufficient for the majority of cases.
Step 2: Oxycodone every four hours for severe pain
- If you give your child regular simple pain medications, they will need much less of the oxycodone
Adults
Step 1: Take regular Panadol and an anti-inflammatory
- Panadol should be taken regularly in addition to an anti-inflammatory until you do not need any more of the strong medications.
- These pain medications, when taken together, are as effective as a weak morphine equivalent.
- These medications have minimal side effects and will significantly reduce the amount of the stronger medications you need.
Step 2: If prescribed, take regular slow-release medication twice daily, morning and night.
- Tapentadol/ Palexia SR or Targin may be prescribed if you are having major surgery.
- Taking these morning and night will help keep you comfortable throughout the day and help avoid peaks and troughs in pain
- They will reduce the amount of 'breakthrough' or 'quick release' pain meds you need.
- If you are getting very sleepy and don't have much pain, simply stop taking them or omit either morning or night
- Take in addition to step 1 +/- step 3
Step 3: Fast/ Immediate release strong pain medicine
- Tapentadol IR or Oxycodone IR or Buprenoprphine IR will be prescribed if you are expected to have moderate-to-severe pain
- These may be taken 4 hourly in addition to steps 1 and 2 as required
- If you do not need many of these tablets, omit step 2
Step 1: Take regular Panadol and Neurofen
- Panadol may be taken every 6 hours
- Neurofen may be taken every 8 hrs
- Alternate these every few hours
- Do not exceed the maximum dose of each in any 24 hours
- This will be sufficient for the majority of cases.
Step 2: Oxycodone every four hours for severe pain
- If you give your child regular simple pain medications, they will need much less of the oxycodone
Adults
Step 1: Take regular Panadol and an anti-inflammatory
- Panadol should be taken regularly in addition to an anti-inflammatory until you do not need any more of the strong medications.
- These pain medications, when taken together, are as effective as a weak morphine equivalent.
- These medications have minimal side effects and will significantly reduce the amount of the stronger medications you need.
Step 2: If prescribed, take regular slow-release medication twice daily, morning and night.
- Tapentadol/ Palexia SR or Targin may be prescribed if you are having major surgery.
- Taking these morning and night will help keep you comfortable throughout the day and help avoid peaks and troughs in pain
- They will reduce the amount of 'breakthrough' or 'quick release' pain meds you need.
- If you are getting very sleepy and don't have much pain, simply stop taking them or omit either morning or night
- Take in addition to step 1 +/- step 3
Step 3: Fast/ Immediate release strong pain medicine
- Tapentadol IR or Oxycodone IR or Buprenoprphine IR will be prescribed if you are expected to have moderate-to-severe pain
- These may be taken 4 hourly in addition to steps 1 and 2 as required
- If you do not need many of these tablets, omit step 2