Treatments
What You Need to Know About the Different Classes of Pain Medications

There are a variety of pain medications whether they are found over-the-counter or prescribed, they all treat pain. Pain can occur due to an injury, condition, disease, or surgery. Everyone will react differently to each medicine due to its’ physiological mechanism. You might not respond to the drug treatment similarly to another person with the same pain. We have described and provided a few examples of the commonly used pain medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
NSAIDS are the commonly used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever by inhibiting prostaglandins. NSAIDS act on the central nervous system, where pain is perceived.
Examples:
- Diclofenac (Voltaren)
- Diflunisal (Dolobid)
- Etodolac (Lodine)
- Fenoprofen (Nalfon)
- Flurbiprofen (Ansaid)
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Motrin IB)
- Indomethacin (Indocin, Indo-Lemmon)
- Ketorolac (Toradol)
- Mefenamic acid (Ponstel)
- Meloxicam (Mobic)
- Nabumetone (Relafen)
- Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox)
- Oxaprozin (Daypro)
- Piroxicam (Feldene)
- Sulindac (Clinoril)
- Tolmetin (Tolectin)
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are quick, effective anti-inflammatory drugs that are often injected at the affected musculoskeletal area or taken orally for pain relief.
Examples:
- Cortisone
- Prednisone
- Prednisolone
- Dexamethasone
- Methylprednisolone (Medrol, A-Methapred, Depo Medrol, Solu Medrol)
- Triamcinolone
Acetaminophen
This drug helps reduces fever, minor aches, and pains.
Example:
- Tylenol
Opioids
Opioids act on the nervous system to alter the pain message in how it is perceived. These drugs are powerful pain relievers but can be addicting for many people.
Examples:
- Acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol #2, #3, #4)
- Buprenorphine (Butrans)
- Fentanyl transdermal patches (Duragesic)
- Hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Lortab Elixir, Vicodin)
- Hydrocodone with ibuprofen (Vicoprofen)
- Hydrocodone (Zohydro)
- Hydromorphone (Exalgo)
- Meperidine (Demerol, Merpergan)
- Methadone (Dolophine)
- Morphine and morphine sustained release (MS-Contin, Avinza, Kadian)
- Oxycodone sustained release (OxyContin)
- Oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet)
- Oxycodone with aspirin (Percodan)
- Oxycodone with ibuprofen (Combunox)
- Oxymorphone (Opana, Opana ER)
- Pentazocine (Talwin,)
- Propoxyphene with aspirin, propoxyphene with acetaminophen
- Tapentadol (Nucynta, Nucynta ER)
- Tramadol, tramadol with acetaminophen (Ultram, Ultracet)
Muscle relaxants
These drugs reduce the pain and muscle spasms by acting on the central nervous system as an antidepressant.
Examples:
- Baclofen (Lioresal)
- Carisoprodol (Soma)
- Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte, DSC)
- Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
Anti-anxiety drugs
Antidepressant drugs
The common form, tricyclics, alleviates pain possibly by increasing neurotransmitters to reduce the pain signals from reaching the brain.
Examples:
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- Desipramine (Norpramin)
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)