Pain Relief With Medications

Opioid Analgesics

Opioid analgesics, also known as narcotics or simply “opioids”, work by affecting certain systems in your body that not only control pain but also your body’s perception of pleasure, which can lead to addiction. Opioid receptors are more abundant in the brain and spinal cord but are also located elsewhere in the body such as the stomach and the lungs.

Examples: oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl, methadone, codeine, dihydrocodeine, tramadol

Commonly used to treat: acute pain, chronic pain, cancer pain, breakthrough pain, neuropathic pain etc.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, usually abbreviated as NSAIDs, are a group of medications that lower fever, reduce inflammation (swelling), and provide pain relief. There are nearly two dozen different NSAIDs available, but they all work in the same way.

Examples: ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, meloxicam, diflunisal, etodolac

Commonly used to treat: acute and chronic inflammatory-associated pain, migraine, tension headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, sprains/strains, toothache, etc.

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to reduce muscle tension and treat pain due to musculoskeletal conditions such as lower back pain. There are two categories of skeletal muscle relaxants: antispasmodics and antispasticity agents – depending on the condition, your doctor may choose one category over another.

EXAMPLES:
Antispasmodics: carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, orphenadrine, methocarbamol,
Antispasticity agents: baclofen, dantrolene

COMMONLY USED TO TREAT:
Antispasmodics: lower back pain, tension headaches, muscle spasms, muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendon injuries (e.g., tendonitis), stress fractures, etc.
Antispasticity agents: post-stroke syndrome, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, etc.

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a medicine that provides mild-to-moderate pain relief and reduces fevers. While the exact mechanism is unknown, it is believed to inhibit an important process involved in pain modulation. It is found in many products, including combination cold products, OTC pain relievers, and prescription drugs.

Commonly used to treat: arthritis, backaches, headaches, menstrual cramps, fever, inflammatory pain, acute pain, chronic pain, etc.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a broad category of medications used to reduce inflammation and as well as affect the immune system. Corticosteroids can be classified into two categories – glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which play various roles in the body.

Examples: dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone

Commonly used to treat: arthritis, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, pain, infection, rheumatic diseases, asthma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, etc.

Biologics

Biologics refer to a broad classification of drugs that are synthesized or derived from living organisms such as animals or microorganisms. Compared to most conventional medications, biologics are large, complex molecules that are typically administered by injection. Common examples of biologics include insulin, botox and monoclonal antibody therapies.

BIOLOGICS FOR INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS
Examples: rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, etanercept, adalimumab, secukinumab, certolizumab pegol, ustekinumab
Commonly used to treat: cancer, inflammatory autoimmune diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis), organ transplant, etc.

Biologics for migraine
Examples: erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, vedolizumab, tocilizumab, rilonacept
Commonly used to treat: migraine headache and cluster headache