A flow chart to help pharmacists decide which painkiller to recommend has been launched by manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser.

The pain relief decision tree, designed in collaboration with specialist pharmacist Roger Knaggs, show recommended treatment options for mild, moderate and severe pain, including over-the-counter options and when to refer to a GP.

The tree aims to give pharmacists a "full range of treatment options", following a survey by Reckitt Benckiser which found that 75 per cent of pharmacists would recommend a codeine-containing product for mild to moderate pain if it was not managed by a single analgesic.

The pain relief decision tree is available to download here.