There are a number of different types of pain. You may be experiencing more than one type of pain so you may require different agents to target each specific symptom. The type of medicine chosen may also depend on how severe your pain is. These medications are available in a variety of forms including oral tablets, capsules, liquid, lozenges, rectal suppositories, topical patches and topical gels.
Acute pain1 may be treated with nonopioids, such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)2, opioids3 (also known as narcotics) used alone, or in combination with a nonopioid, and/or steroids4. Acute pain may be treated with medication that you take everyday at regularly scheduled times and/or medication that you take only when you need it.
Chronic, or persistent, pain5 may be best managed with a medication that is taken everyday at regularly scheduled times. Nonopioids, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are used to treat mild to moderate chronic pain. Opioids (also known as narcotics), used alone or in combination with a nonopioid, manage moderate to severe chronic pain. A long-acting form6 of an opioid is often chosen to control this type of pain.
Breakthrough pain7 is best managed with a short-acting (rapid-onset) opioid8.
Nerve pain9 may be treated with antidepressants10, anticonvulsants11 and local anesthetics12.
Steroids13 may be used to treat pain caused by swelling.
1Acute pain is typically severe in nature and lasts a relatively short time. This type of pain usually indicates that body tissue has being injured and the pain generally disappears when the injury heals.
2Aspirin (Ascriptin®, Bayer®, Ecotrin®), celecoxib (Celebrex®), choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate®, Tricosal®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), nabumetone (Relafen®), naproxen (Aleve® Anaprox®, Naprelan®, Naprosyn®)
3Fentanyl (Actiq®, Duragesic®, FentoraÔ), hydrocodone (Lorcet®, Lortab®, Norco®, Vicodin®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®), morphine (Avinza®, Kadian®, MS Contin®, MSIR®, Oramorph®, Roxanol®), oxycodone (OxyContin®, OxyFast®, OxyIR®, Roxicodone®)
4Dexamethasone (Decadron®), methylprednisolone (Medrol®), prednisione (Deltasone®, Sterapred®)
5Chronic, or persistent, pain ranges from mild to severe in nature and is present for long periods of time
6Fentanyl transdermal patch (Duragesic®), morphine controlled-release or extended-release tablet (Avinza®, Kadian®, MS Contin®, Oramorph®), oxycodone extended-release tablet (OxyContin®)
7Some people with chronic pain that is controlled by medicine experience breakthrough pain. This type of pain “breaks through” or is felt for a short time. It may occur several times throughout the day, even when the proper dose of medicine is given for chronic pain.
8Fentanyl lozenge (Actiq®), fentanyl tablet (FentoraÔ), hydrocodone (Lorcet®, Lortab®, Norco®, Vicodin®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®), morphine immediate-release tablet (MSIR®), Morphine oral concentrate (Roxanol®), Morphine oral solution, oxycodone oral concentrate (OxyFast®), oxycodone immediate-release tablet (OxyIR®, Roxicodone®)
9Nerve pain may be described as a burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing or numb feeling
10Amitriptyline (Elavil®), nortriptyline (Pamelor®), desipramine (Norpramin®)
11Gabapentin (Neurontin®), carbamazepine (Carbatrol®,Tegretol®), valproic acid (Depakene®), divalproex sodium (Depakote®)
12Lidocaine (Lidoderm®, Xylocaine®)
13Dexamethasone (Decadron®), methylprednisolone (Medrol®), prednisolone (Orapred®, Pediapred®, Prelone®), prednisone (Deltasone®, Sterapred®)
| This website is not intended as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. In the case of an emergency, please dial 911. |
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