Narcotic analgesics, such as morphine, have no upper limit to the doses that you can safely take, as long as the dosage is increased gradually and you are following your doctor's orders. My doctor wants me to take my pain medicines regularly. For some patients, pain comes and goes. These people may manage their pain by taking medicines only when the pain returns. For others, with more constant pain, medicines should be taken on a regular schedule, usually every three to four hours.
Pain medicines work best when there is a constant level in the body.
By keeping a constant level of pain reliever in your system, and by taking medicine before the pain returns, you will take less medicine and have fewer side effects than if you take medicine only at the sign of pain. It takes more medicine to relieve severe pain than to keep your body in a constant pain-free state. Aspirin and ibuprofen can produce stomach irritation, so be sure to take these drugs with fluids or food. Also, high doses of aspirin can cause a ringing in the ears. Always discuss these and other side effects with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.