Which are the strongest OTC painkillers

[Chickpea]

I am kicking myself. I've had sinusitis for about a week now that I can't seem to shift and I think I should have admitted defeat this morning and gone to the doc for an antibiotic. The pain was responding to nurofen this morn, but I took a dose earlier on and it hasn't touched it, the pain is now so bad it's making me feel sick/dizzy. Strangely I have no cold, just awful faceache/toothache/headache.

So what is the strongest stuff I can buy and can I double anything up ie paracetamol and ibuprofen, or is that dangerous?

Please help, the pain is driving me rather mad!!

[Cat]

You poor thing. :higgies:

In think co-codermol is the strongest (mix of codeine and paracetamol).

Have you tried one of the tablets especially for sinus problems, sudafed or the other one I cant remember? When I have sinus problems, straight painkillers usually dont touch it.

Hope you feel better soon

ETA Think Sudafed has paracetamol in it so be careful you dont double dose with what ever you've already taken

Have you also tried putting some olbas oil in boiling water and puttting your head over it with a towel to help unbung you?

[Elvisola]

I have the same at the moment - Sudafed Mucous is doing the job for me combined with ibuprofen. And you can alternate paracetemol and ibuprofen.

Wish you better x

[RealGoneKid]

Co-codamol can be mixed with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs (voltarol/diclofenac) if you have any :higgies:

[DillyDally]

:higgies: you have my sympathies.

The strongest that I have taken has been Solpadeine (paracetamol and codeine) which works well for me. But for sinus problems, something like Sudafed is often better - and like bluesgirl says, inhaling Olbas Oil or Karvol drops or even just plain steam if you haven't got either of those, really helps - do it three times a day :nod: I think NICE guidelines mean they don't give you antibiotics for sinusitis anymore :puzzled:

[DillyDally]

A saline nose spray helps sometimes, too :nod:

[Athers]

:higgies:you have my sympathy too - I had this 2 weeks ago and it was horrendous. Found sudafed and ibuprofen worked best for the pain / dizziness. Had 7 days of antibotics and it did go away eventually. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[redhed]

stack co-codamol and ibuprofen. But it's an antibiotics job, imo.

[emsie]

can't u get sinutab OTC? It's the best for sinus probs

[Anne]

I fould sudafed wasnt strong enough to shift congestion and Sinutab was much more effective. Co-codamol is nice and strong and I'd try that now. Why not ring the out of hours doctors and ask their advice? if its that painful, you may need those Antibiotics now. Hope you feel better soon eitherway.

[DillyDally]

It must be a case of picking which decongestant works best for you whether Sinutab or Sudafed works. Sinutab makes me feel sick :lol: but Sudafed works. I have chronic allergic rhinitis, so seem to have constant sinus problems - I must have tried everything!

[stacey86]

Recently I popped some olbas oil + water in an oil burner, which did help a little actually plus also took Sudafed. I was advised to stop taking anti histamines whilst taking sudafed as they both do the opposite and won't have much of an effect taken together.
I really feel for you because it is bloody horrible isn't it. Are you seeing an ENT specialist? Might be worth a referral if your sinises are all blocked. I can't remember if you have had FFS or not?
:higgies:

[Chickpea]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have had to drive out to a late night chemist, but now have cocodamol, which I'm waiting on to kick in.

Am wondering about getting a referral hactually, as I am so so sick of struggling with my sinuses.

What is FFS? (I just thought it was for fecks sake, which is what I say A LOT when I feel like this!!)

[Chickpea]

Well I knocked myself out with night nurse liquid last night (berluddy love that stuff!) and whilst I'm still feeling pretty ropey this morn, more painkillers and a few sessions with the neti pot are def helping.

Thanks again for the advice and help x x

[stacey86]

I am glad you feel a little better now CP. FFS is nasal surgery I basically had a polypectomy, my sinuses scraped & had my deviated septum filed to open up my nasal airway so I can breath more easily. My sinuses were found to be completely blocked after having a scan. I have always had provlems with my sinuses & this is largely due to my allergies which causes the problems in the first place. I actually had no idea they were blocked & it wasn't until the scan was dine did I find out then I was put forward for FFS etc.

Definitely get a referral :nod: Its no fun living with Sinusitis :higgies:

[DillyDally]

Glad you're feeling better, Chickpea. I think I should probably get a referral too - my problems are due to allergies, too, and I have problems all the time, they never seem to go away completely :no:

[Chickpea]

I cannot believe it, the ruddy sinusitis is BACK!!! I feel like someone has stamped on my face during the night!

Right, enough, I'm going to the docs for an antibiotic.

[Chickpea]

Well, credit where credit is due, my (normally crap) doctors surgery has just come up trumps! I've just phoned them asking if there was a free appt this afternoon and surprise surprise there wasn't. But I told the receptionist about how I'd been battling this for a while now and how it wasn't going away and she has put a request through to the doc for an antibiotic that I can pick up WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO HAVE AN APPT!

It's just possible that the end of this ruddy continuous illness may be in sight!

[S-J]

Sinutab or sudafed and i get sinus pain a lot. Also those forehead strips for migraines help.

Hope it goes soon - :higgies: sure it will now you have antibs

[Chickpea]

Thanks S-J, I have been living on a near constant diet of sudafed and nurofen with cocodamol for overnight. But none of them have touched it.

The pain/sickness/dizziness is really kicking in again now, so I cannot WAIT to get going with the antibiotics.

[DillyDally]

Hope you're better soon :higgies: