Home Symptoms Sprain

Sprain — what to take?

A sprain = ligament injury through stretching or tearing. Most common: ankle (80%), knee, wrist. Grade 1 (stretching), 2 (partial tear), 3 (complete tear).

6 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for sprain

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Immediate treatment — RICE protocol

Rest — avoid weight-bearing on the affected area for 24-48 hours. Ice — 15-20 min every 2-3 hours, maximum 48 hours. Compression — elastic bandage. Elevation — raise the limb above heart level.

OTC treatment

Oral NSAIDs — ibuprofen 400 mg, naproxen 500 mg for pain and inflammation. In the first 48 hours there is a theory that NSAIDs may slow healing — controversial; can be used with moderation.

Topical NSAIDs — diclofenac gel, ibuprofen gel 3-4 times/day.

Braces, elastic bandages — support for the joint.

Arnica, heparinoid creams — reduce hematoma and swelling.

Paracetamol — if NSAIDs contraindicated.

Recovery

  • Days 1-3: RICE + analgesic.
  • Days 3-7: passive mobilization, then light active movement.
  • Days 7-21: progressive strengthening exercises.
  • Return to sport: when at full strength and pain-free during specific maneuvers.

When to see a doctor/emergency

Inability to bear weight on the limb, obvious deformity, severe progressive pain, audible sound at the accident (snap), massive rapid swelling, distal numbness — all require an X-ray (to rule out fracture).

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical or pharmacist advice. For diagnosis and treatment consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for sprain

Sprain doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for sprain

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for sprain

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For sprain most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for sprain runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Complete inability to bear weight
  • Obvious joint deformity
  • Severe progressive pain
  • Audible sound at accident (snap, pop)
  • Massive swelling in the first hour
  • Distal numbness, absent pulse

Frequently asked

Common questions

How long do I rest a sprained foot?
Grade 1 — 1-2 weeks. Grade 2 — 3-6 weeks. Grade 3 — 6-12 weeks, possibly surgery. RICE in the first 48 hours.
Is an X-ray necessary?
Yes, for any inability to bear weight (Ottawa rules), deformity, pain on specific bones — rule out fracture.
When can I apply ice?
In the first 48 hours, 15-20 min every 2-3 hours. Not directly on skin — towel between. No more than 20 min at once (frostbite risk).
Physiotherapy — when?
Start with passive mobilization after 3-5 days, active exercises at 7-10 days, muscle strengthening at 2-3 weeks. Crucial for preventing recurrence.

See also

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