RESEARCHERS from RMIT University's School of Health and Biomedical Sciences have found patients with low back pain had better outcomes using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) analgesics than paracetamol.
RMIT Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, Dr Vincent Chan, said pharmacists had a key role to play in advising them about the most appropriate medication to use to manage low back pain.
"Paracetamol may reduce the severity of symptoms but does not aid the inflammation in the surrounding muscle layers that worsen low back pain," he said.
"NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, reduce inflammation and minimise the risk of acute cases becoming chronic.
"As most patients presenting with low back pain are treated with over the counter analgesics, Australian pharmacists have an important role to play in influencing effective management of acute low back pain by following recommendations made in guidelines."
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