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Prescription Pain MedicationsInformation, Articles, Resources
Types of medications for pain management Pain medications (analgesics) are a type of drugs used to relieve pain. Analgesics prevent the brain from processing pain signals by stopping pain signals from going to the brain or by altering the brain’s interpretation of those signals. There are different types of pain medicines, and each one has advantages and risks. Specific types of pain may respond better to one kind of medication than to another kind. In choosing analgesics, the type of pain, severity, and response to other medication determine the choice of specific agent. There are two basic types of pain relievers:
Pain medications are used to treat various acute and chronic pain conditions, including:
While pain relievers do not treat the cause of the pain, they can provide enough relief to improve physical, social and psychological measures of quality of life. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) Acetaminophen is a non-prescription mild analgesic. It is used to treat mild-to-moderate pain and reduce fever. Acetaminophen provides relief from pain by elevating the amount of pain you can tolerate before you experience the feeling of pain. Medications for back and neck pain Medications with good evidence of effectiveness for back pain are NSAIDs, skeletal muscle relaxants (for acute low back pain), and tricyclic antidepressants (for chronic low back pain). A challenge in choosing medication for low back pain is that each class of medication is associated with a unique balance of benefits and harms. NSAIDs are widely used for the treatment of back and neck pain. These medications help with pain and inflammation, but don't address the underlying problem. Most guidelines recommend NSAIDs as a treatment option after acetaminophen has been tried. The choice of initial NSAID agent remains in most cases empirical. Newer medications usually cost significantly more.
Although the selective COX-2 inhibitors have fewer side effectsthan traditional NSAIDs, recent research have shown that COX-2 inhibitors are associated with serious cardiovascular risks. NSAIDs and acetaminophen work differently, so sometimes it is recommended to take both medications at the same time. Tramadol (Ultram) is a powerful synthetic analgesic, which has opioid-like effects effective. It is effective pain reliever for both acute and chronic low back pain. Tramadol may be considered when non-opioid analgesics have proven ineffective. The abuse and dependence potential for tramadol is relatively low. It can cause nausea, but does not cause the severe gastrointestinal problems that NSAIDs can. A combination of tramadol plus acetaminophen (Ultracet) is also effective treatment for back pain. It provides more rapid pain relief than tramadol alone. Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), or metaxalone (Skelaxin) are sometimes used for acute low back pain. They are effective in the treatment of muscle spasm and can improve movement. Some experts warn that these drugs should be used with caution, since they act centrally in the brain, not work directly on the muscles. Opioids (also called narcotics) may be prescribed for short-term treatment of severe episodes of low back pain. These medications interfere with the transmission of pain messages and change the way a person experiences pain. Opioid agents have several major side effects and potential risks, such as impairment of mental function, drowsines, constipation, potential for abuse and dependence. Pain medications for fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread muscle pain, myalgia, and excessive tenderness in many areas of the body.
Because fibromyalgia does not cause inflammation, it is not surprising that NSAIDs do not relieve fibromyalgia symptoms. Opioid pain medications have not been studied for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Pain medications for osteoporosis Osteoporosis (porous bone) is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to weak bones prone to fractures. The most common cause of osteoporosis pain is a spinal compression fracture. Osteoporotic pain can last for long periods ranging from a few weeks to months. Medication often prescribed to relieve osteoporosis pain include:
Medications for menstrual cramps Most women often experience pain or cramps right before or during their menstrual periods. This is a very common and normal symptom called dysmenorrhea, which generally subsides as menstrual bleeding tapers off. Medications useful for the management of painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea):
Post-herpetic (shingles) pain management Post-herpetic neuralgia is a persistent or recurrent pain lasting more than a month after the onset of shingles (herpes zoster). Neuropathic pain due to herpes zoster is best treated with the antidepressants or antiepileptics:
Although these medications will not restore nerve function, they will reduce the burning pain and discomfort in most persons. Topical capsaicin and lidocaine patches applied to affected area are also used to treat post-herpetic neuralgia. Over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are generally unhelpful. Resources, References:
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