Pain Relievers: Types, What They Treat, Risks & Complications

Acetaminophen: This drug (Tylenol®) dulls pain receptors in the brain. · Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs lower the ... ThinkyoumayhaveCOVID-19? Findoutwhereyoucangettested Needavaccineorbooster? Nowschedulingforages6monthsandup ComingtoaClevelandCliniclocation? Visitationandmaskrequirements Home / HealthLibrary / Treatments&Procedures PainRelievers Over-the-counter(OTC)andprescriptionpainrelieverstreatavarietyofproblems.OTCdrugseasepainfromarthritis,headachesandmusclestrains.Prescriptionpainkillersprovidestrongerreliefforchronicpainorseverepainaftertraumaorsurgery.Opioidsandsomeantidepressantsandanti-seizuremedicationsalsorelievepain. Appointments&Access ContactUs Overview Risks/Benefits WhentoCalltheDoctor PainRelievers Overview Risks/Benefits WhentoCalltheDoctor BackToTop Overview Whatarepainrelievers? Painrelieverseasediscomfortbroughtonbyillness,injury,surgicalproceduresandchronicconditions.Everyoneexperiencespaindifferently.Painmaycomeonsuddenly(acute).Chronicpaincanlastformonthsoryears. Painrelieversgobymanynames: Analgesics. Narcotics. Painkillers. Painmedicine. Whatarethetypesofpainrelievers? Therearemanydifferenttypesofpainrelievers.Thebestoneforyoudependsonmanyfactors,includingthecauseofpainanditsseverity. Typesofpainrelieversinclude: Over-the-counter(OTC):Thesemedicationsareavailableatstores.Anyadultcanbuythem. Prescription:Thesemedicationsareonlyavailablewithaprescriptionfromahealthcareprovider.Prescriptionpainkillersprovidestrongerpainrelief.Theytreatsevereorchronicpain. Whatarethetypesofover-the-counterpainrelievers? CommonOTCpainmedicationsinclude: Acetaminophen:Thisdrug(Tylenol®)dullspainreceptorsinthebrain.Asaresult,youfeellesspain. Nonsteroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs(NSAIDs):NSAIDslowertheproductionofprostaglandins.Thesehormone-likechemicalsirritatenerveendings,causinginflammationandpain.NSAIDsincludeaspirincompounds(Excedrin®),ibuprofen(Advil®andMotrin®)andnaproxensodium(Aleve®). Combination:Somepainrelieverscontainbothacetaminophenandaspirin(anNSAID).CertainOTCheadachemedicinesalsohavecaffeine. Topical:Youapplythispainmedicationdirectlytoyourskin.Itcomesasacream,gel,sprayorpatch.Topicalmedicinesblockpainreceptorsinthebrain.Theymaycontainaspirin,lidocaine,capsaicinpepperorothermedication.Sometopicaltreatmentsmaketheskinfeelwarmerorcooler.CommonbrandsareAspercreme®andBen-Gay®. Whatdoover-the-counterpainrelieverstreat? OTCpainmedicationslowerfeversandeasepainfromavarietyofproblems,including: Arthritis,bursitisandtendonitis. Backstrainsandsprains. Brokenbones. Burns,includingsunburns. Colds,fluandearinfections. Headachesandmigraines. Menstrualcramps(dysmenorrhea). Musclepain,includingneckpain. Surgeriesandminorprocedures. Toothaches. Whatarethetypesofprescriptionpainrelievers? PrescriptionpainmedicationsprovidestrongerpainreliefthanOTCdrugs.Typesofprescriptionpainrelieversinclude: Antidepressants:Antidepressantsworkonchemicalscalledneurotransmittersinthebrain.Thesedrugsworkbestforchronicpain,includingmigraines.Thelargestpainreliefcomesfromtricyclics(Elavil®)andserotonin-norepinephrinereuptakeinhibitors(SNRIs),suchasEffexor®andCymbalta®.Studiesshowthatselectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs)likeProzac®don’tworkaswellforpain.SSRIsmaymakeotherpainmedicineslesseffective. Anti-seizuremedications:Medicationsforepilepsyinterruptpainmessagestothebrain.Typesincludegabapentin(Gabarone®)andpregabalin(Lyrica®).Thesemedicinescaneasenervepainandfibromyalgia. Musclerelaxers:Thesemedicationsreducepainbyrelaxingtightmuscles.Theyalsorelievemusclespasms. Opioids:Opioidsarelab-madenarcoticpainmedicines.Theychangehowyourbrainperceivespainmessages.Becausetheycanbeaddictive,healthcareprovidersrarelyprescribeopioidsforchronicpain.Youmaytakeopioidsforashorttimeafterasurgeryortraumaticinjury.Codeine,fentanyl,hydrocodoneandmorphineareallopioids. Steroids:Corticosteroidsarestronganti-inflammatorydrugs.LikeNSAIDs,theystopyourbodyfrommakingchemicalsthatcauseirritationandinflammation.SteroidssuchasPrednisone®treatmigrainesandseverearthritisandbackpain. Topical:Yourprovidercanchooseamongprescription-strengthskincreams,gels,spraysandpatches.Theycaneasemusclepain,arthritisandfibromyalgia.Typesincludelidocaine(Lidoderm®)skinpatches. Whatdoprescriptionpainrelieverstreat? Prescriptionpainrelieverscanalleviatepainbroughtonby: Cancer. Fibromyalgia. Migraines. Nerve(neuropathic)pain,includingdiabetes-relatedneuropathy. Postoperativepain. Severearthritispain. Severemusclepain,includingbackpain. Traumaticinjuries,includingbrokenbonesandburns. Risks/Benefits Whatarethepotentialrisksorcomplicationsofover-the-counterpainrelievers? OTCpainrelieversarerelativelysafewhenyoufollowthedirectionsonthelabel.AcetaminophenandNSAIDscanbehardontheliverandkidneys.Youshouldn’ttakethemifyouhavekidneydiseaseorliverdisease. Acetaminophenrisks: Theriskofliverdamagefromacetaminophenishigherifyoutakemorethan3,000milligramsinaday.Youmayalsodevelopliverproblemsifyoucombinethedrugwithalcohol. Aspirinrisks: Childrenunder18shouldnottakeaspirin.Itcancausealife-threateningillnesscalledReye’sSyndrome.GiveotherNSAIDsinstead. NSAIDrisks: Exceptforaspirin(whichthinstheblood),prolongeduseofNSAIDscanincreaseyourriskofheartattacksandstrokes.Peoplewithexistingheartproblemsorhighbloodpressurearemostatrisk.IfyouneedNSAIDsformorethan10days,seeyourhealthcareprovider. NSAIDscanalsoincreaseyourriskof: Bruisingandbleeding. Stomachupset,includingbleedinginthestomachandpeptic(stomach)ulcers. Skinreactions,suchasrashesorblisters. Whatarethepotentialrisksorcomplicationsofprescriptionpainrelievers? Prescriptionpainkillersarepowerfuldrugs.TheycarryahigherriskofproblemsthanOTCmedications. Opioidscanbeaddictiveandleadtosubstanceabuse.Tolowerthisrisk,healthcareprovidersonlyprescribeopioidsforshort-termuse.Forexample,youmaytakeopioidsforafewdaysaftersurgery. Prescriptionmedicationsforpainmaycausesideeffects,suchas: Blurredvision. Constipation. Drymouth. Fatigue. Headaches. Insomnia. Moodchanges. Nausea. Urinationproblems. Weightgain. Arepainrelieverssafeduringpregnancy? Studiessuggestthatacetaminophenissafertotakeduringpregnancy.TakingNSAIDsoropioidsduringearlypregnancymayincreasetheriskofbirthdefects. Ifyouhadacesareansection(C-section)birthoradifficultlaboranddelivery,youmayneedpainrelief.Letyourproviderknowifyouplantobreastfeed.Certainopioidsaresaferfornursingbabies.OTCpainrelieversaresafetousewhilenursing. WhentoCalltheDoctor WhenshouldIcallthedoctor? Youshouldcallyourhealthcareproviderifyouaretakingpainmedicineandexperience: Visionproblems,includingblurredvisionordroopingeyelids. Signsofurinarytractinfection(UTI),suchasbloodinurine(hematuria). Shortnessofbreath(dyspnea). Troubleswallowing. Slurredspeech. Numbnessorparalysisinanuntreatedarea. Severestomachupset. AnotefromClevelandClinic Painrelieverscanbringawelcomebreakfromachesanddiscomforts.Youcanfindacetaminophenandanti-inflammatorydrugsinalotofOTCproducts.Theseincludemedicinesforallergies,coldsandflu.It’simportanttoreadthelabelstomakesureyoudon’tgettoomuchofapainmedication.Manynonaddictivepainmedicinesareavailableforchronicpain.Yourhealthcareprovidercanworkwithyoutofindtherightmedicinetohelpyouenjoybetter,pain-freedays. Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Getuseful,helpfulandrelevanthealth+wellnessinformation enews ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. Policy RelatedInstitutes&Services Anesthesiology&PainManagement ClevelandClinic'sAnesthesiologyInstituteunitesallspecialistsinpainmanagementandanesthesiawithinonefullyintegratedmodelofcaretoimprovediagnosis,medicalmanagementandqualityoflifeforourpatients. NeurologicalInstitute TheNeurologicalInstituteisaleaderintreatingandresearchingthemostcomplexneurologicaldisordersandadvancinginnovationsinneurology. CommunityCare ClevelandClinicCommunityCareputspatientsfirstbyofferingcomprehensive,coordinated,personalizedhealthcare. ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. Policy Morehealthnews+info ShowMore Appointments&Access ContactUs Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Snapchat