There are numerous diseases around the world that require treatment through medication. And very often, varying strengths of medication are recommended to different types of patients. A patient receiving chemotherapy may experience a different intensity of pain compared to a patient who is recovering from knee-replacement surgery. And this is exactly why drugs of varying strength are prescribed.
Intensity of Pain
Pain is subjective. How you experience pain may differ completely from how the other person with the exact same problem experiences it. And since it cannot be seen, the only effective way to evaluate and gauge pain is to assess it on a scale of 0-10 with 0 referring to no pain at all whereas 10 refers to the worst pain imaginable.
Moreover, different types of imaging techniques can help medical practitioners assess the intensity of pain a patient is experiencing. However, again this is a subjective assessment and the actual intensity may vary from patient to patient.
Keeping the intensity of pain in mind, your medical practitioner may prescribe medications of varying strength. Therefore, it is important to understand what the strength of medication means.
Strength of Medications
The strength of a medication refers to the amount of active ingredient present in the drug and is typically quantified as grams (g), microgram (mcg), and milligrams (mg). So the size of the medicine tells you little about its strength instead, is the content of active ingredients that determines how potent a medication is.
Weaker Medications vs. Stronger Medications
Now it is clear that how you experience pain may vary from how another person in the same situation experiences it. And due to this difference in intensity, doctors prescribe medications of varying strength.
As a general rule, almost all medical practitioners begin by prescribing weaker/low-strength medications. Initially, these medications may not be very effective in managing pain; however, these medications are safer as they reduce the risk of overdose. As the body gets used to a certain dosage, your doctor may increase the strength or frequency depending upon your individual condition.
However, in most severe cases such as accidents, major surgeries or patients receiving treatment for cancer, require the use of stronger pain medications. These are some of the examples of medical conditions in which the patient experiences excruciating pain which is difficult to manage through weaker medications. Again, only your medical practitioner can determine the strength of medication that is most suitable for you.
While it is only natural to assume that a stronger medication is required in case of more intense pain, that is not always the case. In case of a severe accident or major surgery, you may need stronger medications, however, in cases where you experience recurring or chronic pain due to an injury or trauma, a medication of weaker strength with a more frequent dose may be more suitable. However, only your registered medical practitioner can decide on the strength and dosage of medication that you need.
If you are struggling with a health concern that needs customized medications, get in touch with Kingswood Compounding Company today!