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Pain Relievers
Also called: Analgesics, Pain medicines, Painkillers
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Pain relievers are medicines that reduce or relieve headaches, sore muscles, arthritis or any number of other aches and pains. There are many different pain medicines, and each one has advantages and risks. Some types of pain respond better to certain medicines than others. Each person may also have a slightly different response to a pain reliever.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are good for many types of pain. There are two main types of OTC pain medications: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are examples of OTC NSAIDs. If OTC medicines don't relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe something stronger. Many NSAIDs are available at prescription doses. The most powerful pain relievers are narcotics. These drugs can have serious side effects. You must use them only under a doctor's supervision.
There are many things you can do to help ease pain. Pain relievers are just one part of a pain treatment plan.
What types of OTC pain relievers are available?
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are medicines that you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. Two main types of OTC pain relievers are available. One type is acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol). The second type is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs). NSAIDs include the following:
• Aspirin (two brand names: Bayer, St. Joseph)
• Ibuprofen (two brand names: Advil, Motrin )
• Ketoprofen (one brand name: Orudis KT)
• Naproxen (one brand name: Aleve)
Some products contain both acetaminophen and aspirin (brand names: Excedrin Extra Strength, Excedrin Migraine, Vanquish).
How do pain relievers work?
Acetaminophen seems to relieve pain and reduce fever by working on the parts of the brain that receive pain messages and control the body’s temperature.
NSAIDs relieve pain and fever by reducing the level of hormone-like substances (called prostaglandins) that your body makes. These substances cause the feeling of pain by irritating your nerve endings. They also are part of the system that helps your body control its temperature.
What types of problems can OTC pain relievers help?
Acetaminophen and NSAIDs relieve pain caused by muscle aches and stiffness, and reduce fever. NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation (redness and swelling).
OTC pain relievers can be helpful in treating many types of pain, such as pain from arthritis, earaches, back pain, and pain after surgery. They can also treat pain from the flu (influenza) or a cold, sinusitis, strep throat or a sore throat. Children who may have the flu or chickenpox should not take aspirin because they are at higher risk to develop a condition called Reye’s Syndrome.
Acetaminophen can be a good choice for relieving headaches and other common aches and pains. It can be used safely by most people on a long-term basis for arthritis and other chronic painful conditions if pain is improved. Make sure you tell your doctor about any OTC medications you take regularly.
Ibuprofen is helpful for menstrual cramps and pain from inflammation (such as muscle sprains). If ibuprofen doesn’t work for you, naproxen and ketoprofen may be options.
Will an OTC pain reliever work as well as a prescription one?
For most people, OTC drugs are all they need to relieve pain or reduce fever. If an OTC drug doesn’t help your pain or fever, or if you’ve been taking an OTC drug for more than 10 days for pain or 3 days for fever, call your doctor. These may be signs that you have a more serious problem or need a prescription medicine.
How are they used?
Medically, they are prescribed as analgesics, to treat pain. When abused, they are swallowed or injected.
What are their short-term effects?
Relief from pain. In some people, prescription pain relievers also cause euphoria or feelings of well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure. This is why they are abused. Other effects include drowsiness, constipation and slowed breathing. Taking a large single dose of prescription pain relievers can cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death. Use of prescription pain relievers with other substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.
What are their long-term effects?
Taken exactly as prescribed, pain relievers can manage pain effectively. But chronic use or abuse of opioids can result in physical dependence and addiction. Dependence means that the body adapts to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or stopped. Symptoms of withdrawal include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"). Tolerance to the drugs' effects also occurs with long-term use, so users must take higher doses to achieve the same or similar effects as experienced initially. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use.
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