Once in a while everybody experiences pain: back pain, headaches, arthritis, nerve aches, different cramps, etc. These are unpleasant sensations that we have to deal with once they appear. Any painful condition should be treated as quickly as possible to minimize pain or make it go away.
There are different types of pills that can help us to control pain. Some of them are prescribed and expensive, others are over-the-counter and cheap.
Let’s take a quick view on some of them including acetaminophen, NSAIDs, antidepressants, corticosteroids, anesthetics and other pain medication groups.
Acetaminophen helps to reduce fever. It is also good for relieving muscle pain and stiffness. Most known medicines of this group are Tylenol and Aspirin. They reduce pain by working on the parts of our brain that get “pain messages”. These drugs are mostly available over-the-counter. Still, to be safe, they should be taken appropriately, so you should talk to your doctor to learn more about the cases when you can safely use acetaminophen pain relievers.
NSAIDs is an abbreviation for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications such as Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin and others. They can reduce fever and muscle aches. NSAIDs also help to reduce inflammation. This includes both swelling and irritation. This group of medications reduces the production of prostaglandins (they are substances that remind hormones) that cause pain. NSAIDs should be prescribed to you by your healthcare provider.
Corticosteroids can be bought with and without doctor’s prescription. This type of drugs (Medrol, Prednisone, Cortizone, Hydeltrasol, different lotions, sprays and creams, etc.) is great in fighting acute pain and flare-ups of a chronic inflammatory condition. You can use topical pain relievers to get rid of muscle pain and arthritis without prescription because they are not strong medicines.
Prescription corticosteroids are strong drugs that help to relieve itching, fight allergic reactions and swelling, treat asthma. They should be taken only according to your doctor’s instructions, because these pills may lead to such side effects as weight gain, weakened immune system and so on.
Opioids or Narcotics are prescription pain relievers that help to treat serious conditions (Cancer, for example) but can cause drug addiction. Narcotics can help to reduce acute pain, but they can cause serious side effects; that is why it is important to take them under your doctor’s control.
Anticonvulsants help to cure nerve pain. They influence the signals sent to our brain and alter the nerve’s function. Physicians mostly prescribe Neurontin and Lyrica for nerve pain and fibromyalgia.
Antidepressants affect central nervous system and help to control chronic pain, treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Drugs that belong to this group can be addictive, so they should be taken only according to the prescription.
Local Anesthetics can relieve pain in a certain area. This type of pain reliever is mostly used during the surgery.
There are many pain killers on the market today. In order to treat your condition and conquer the pain as soon as possible you should consult your doctor and find medication that suits your personal situation.
Stay healthy!
