What Are Some Of The Types Of Medications That Are Used To Relieve Pain?

— -- Question: What Are Some Of The Types Of Medications That Are Used To Relieve Pain?

Answer: We're all familiar with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Trade names for these are Tylenol and Motrin. These are used to treat mild pain and these are available in a pharmacy without a prescription.

For more severe pain, we commonly use opioids. These are drugs related to morphine and occasionally they're called narcotics. These are used to treat moderate, severe pain, often in combination with over-the-counter preparations like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

There are a variety of other drugs that are used to treat chronic pain syndromes. These include anticonvulsants, antidepressants and occasionally local anesthetics, either used topically or systemically. Your pain doctor will work with you to decide what drug is best for you and in what combination.

Next: What Is A Narcotic And When Might I Need One?

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