Drugs for Pain
Drugs for pain relief are sold over the counter and by a doctor's prescription. Some of the most commonly used drugs have a combination of a couple of medications that work well together in the effort to relieve pain. There are some drugs that have a high incidence of abuse and addiction, while others pose no harm at all. The medications here are some of the more commonly used for pain relief today.
-
Aspirin
-
Aspirin is one of the oldest of pain relievers. It is a very safe over-the-counter (OTC) drug that is used for a low to moderate pain level. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It had the corner on the market for decades by being one of the few OTC pain relievers until the introduction of acetaminophen in the 1950s. It is very popular today but more for its anti-clotting values than its pain relief.
Acetaminophen
-
Acetaminophen is the ingredient in the drug Tylenol, which is one of the most popular OTC pain relievers. This analgesic is safe when taken in the correct dosage and offers very few side effects, which are mostly minor. It comes in a few different strengths, allowing this drug to effectively address pain levels from low to moderate. Acetaminophen is a drug that is often added to narcotic pain relievers to ensure optimal pain relief. When in this form, it moves into another drug category with different considerations and regulations.
-
Ibuprofen
-
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is sold in lower strengths over the counter and in a higher strength by prescription. This drug is a choice for many pain problems and is usually a top choice when being used for pain associated with swelling. It is used to treat low to moderate pain. This is another drug used in combination with stronger controlled medications. The class, considerations and regulations change in this combined form.
Hydrocodone
-
Hydrocodone is a short-acting opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is obtained by prescription only and comes in different strengths. It is commonly coupled with acetaminophen, as in the drug Vicodin. It has a high incidence of abuse and addiction.
Oxycodone
-
Oxycodone is a short-acting opioid drug that is sold by prescription only. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain conditions. It is prescribed in different strengths and is often combined with acetaminophen, as in the drug Percocet. There is a time-release version of this drug that is found in Oxycontin. It is usually used to treat chronic pain with different strengths that are slowly released over eight to 12 hours. Oxycodone in either form is a highly abused and addictive drug.
Fentanyl
-
Fentanyl is an opioid pain reliever. It comes in many forms, including a transdermal patch that contains medication usually used to treat chronic severe pain. This medication in patch form allows the drug to be slowly released through the skin, providing around-the-clock pain relief. This administering method is applied in less frequency than pain relief administered in pill form. Fentanyl is a highly abused and addictive medication.
-
