How do Pain medications work?

Pain is a sign in your central nervous system that something may be wrong. It is an unpleasant feeling, such as a prick, irritation, sting, burn, or ache. Pain may be acute or dull. It may reach and go, or it may be persistent.

What are Pain medications?

Pain medications ease discomfort brought on by illness, injury, surgical procedures, and chronic conditions. Everyone experiences pain differently. Pain may come on unexpectedly (acutely). Chronic pain can stay for months or years.

Pain medications ease discomfort associated with disease, injury, or surgery. Because the pain process is complex, many types and drug classifications of pain drugs provide relief by acting through various physiological mechanisms. Thus, effective medication for nerve pain will likely have a different mechanism of action than arthritis pain medicine.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work on substances in the body that can cause inflammation, pain, and fever.
Corticosteroids are often administered as an injection at the site of musculoskeletal damage. They exert potent anti-inflammatory effects. They can also be taken orally to ease pain from, for example, arthritis.
Acetaminophen improves the body’s pain threshold but has little impact on inflammation.
Opioids, also known as narcotic painkillers, modify pain messages in the brain.
Muscle relaxants relieve pain from tense muscle groups, most likely through sedative activity in the central nervous system.
Anti-anxiety drugs work on pain in three ways: they reduce anxiety, relax muscles, and help patients cope with discomfort.
Some antidepressants, especially tricyclics, may reduce pain transmission through the spinal cord.
Some anticonvulsant drugs also reduce the pain of neuropathies, possibly by stabilizing nerve cells.

Types of Pain

There are many different kinds of pain relievers. The finest one for you depends on many aspects, including the cause of the pain and its severity.

Types of pain medications include:

Over-the-counter (OTC): These medicines are available at stores. Any adult can purchase them.
Prescription: These medicines are only available with a prescription from a healthcare provider. Prescription painkillers provide more powerful pain relief. They treat severe or chronic pain.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers include:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, diclofenac gel, and naproxen.

Prescription Pain Relievers

Prescription medicines to treat pain include:

Corticosteroids
Opioids
Antidepressants
Anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medications)
NSAIDs
Lidocaine patches