Key Facts
- Pain can be treated in several ways, both short-term and long-term.
- Some pain relief medicines are “over-the-counter”, while others need a prescription.
- Long-term or chronic pain can be managed best by combining pain medications with non-medicine alternatives, like exercise and meditation.
- If your medications aren’t helping you to manage your pain or you experience side effects, you should speak with your doctor.
This page
- What are pain relief medicines?
- What are the types of pain relief medicine?
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Prescription medicines
- Opioids
- Antiepileptic drugs
- Antidepressants
- Topical Products
- Supplements
- Other Medicines
- Is taking long-term pain-relief medication dangerous?
- Can pain relievers cause side effects?
- Can I become addicted after taking pain relievers?
- Tips on how to use pain relievers safely
- When is the best time to see a doctor?
- Resources
- Information on Australian Websites
What is pain relief medicine?
Pain-relieving medicines manage short-term (chronic) or long-term (acute) pain. They reduce pain by reducing its cause or feelings of pain.
You can buy some pain relievers over the counter (OTC), so you don’t need a prescription.
Speak to your doctor if your pain persists or is not controlled adequately. If you need help with what to do, speak to him. They may suggest different strategies to manage long-term pain (chronic), including prescription medications and strategies which do not involve medicines.
What are the types of pain relief medicines?
Each person has a different experience of pain and therefore requires different methods to manage it. Different options for pain relief are also appropriate in certain circumstances.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines include:
- paracetamol
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), such as aspirin , diclofenac or ibuprofen .
- Topical medicines are gels or creams that contain medicines such as capsaicin and NSAIDs.
You may be prescribed a prescription medication, such as
- antiepileptic drugs such as gabapentin , pregabalin or carbamazepine
- antidepressants such as amitriptyline and duloxetine
- opioids include codeine, morphine, and tramadol.
- Other types of medication that treat your pain’s cause, such as corticosteroids or muscle relaxants.
You can also reduce pain without using medicines. Examples include stress reduction, meditation, or physical exercise. Ask your GP for alternative treatments that may work best for you.
LOOKING TO FIND A MEDICINE — Search specific generic and brand-name medications to learn how to take your medicines safely.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
You can purchase pain relief medicine from your pharmacy without a prescription if you are experiencing mild to moderate pain.
OTC medications are easier to access, but they do carry some risks. These medications can cause unwanted effects and may affect the effectiveness of other medicines.
You can ask your pharmacist if you can safely take OTC pain relievers with other medications.
OTC pain medications are available in two main types:
- Paracetamol is often the first medicine recommended to treat short-term pain.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). A group of medications that reduce swelling and inflammation and relieve pain. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac are all examples.
Prescription medicines
A doctor’s prescription is required to obtain certain medicines at a pharmacy. Some dentists and authorized nurses are also able to prescribe these medications.
Prescription NSAIDs
Some NSAIDs are available on prescription in stronger doses. These include naproxen and diclofenac. Some NSAIDs, such as Meloxicam and COX-2 Inhibitors (such as Celecoxib), are only available with a prescription.
The medicines are unsuitable for those with stomach or liver problems, hypertension (high blood pressure), or asthma.
Opioids
Opioids, such as Oxycodone and morphine, can be used for moderate to severe (acute) short-term pain, including following surgery or injury, or chronic pain among people with Cancer. They should only be prescribed when other treatments have failed to relieve your pain or if you cannot tolerate them.
There are not proven effective in treating chronic pain that is not cancerous.
There are addictive and can cause severe side effects, including life-threatening breathing issues. Nausea may occur, as well as vomiting: constipation or drowsiness.
The longer someone takes opioids, the more likely they will suffer from unwanted side effects. The shortest possible time is best for taking opioids.
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT OPIOID USAGE?
The Drug Risk Indicator will help you determine if there is a potential problem.
Antiepileptic drugs
People with nerve pain (neuralgia) or Fibromyalgia are often prescribed the antiepileptic drugs gabapentin.
Carbamazepine can also treat a severe facial pain condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants change the way that you perceive .It can be prescribed to manage chronic pain. For example, to treat pain from Fibromyalgia and nerve pain.
Topical Products
It pain relief medicines can be applied to the skin at the source of the pain. Topical pain relievers can provide short-term relief of pain (for instance, for osteoarthritis).
It pain medications often contain NSAIDs like ibuprofen or piroxicam. These medicines work by reducing inflammation and swelling.
Capsaicin, an extract of chili peppers, is sometimes used as a topical pain reliever.
It is important to use only the correct amount of topical products. Before using any topical product, always carefully read the instructions. If you need more clarification, you can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Supplements
Some evidence is that supplements may help manage chronic pain in certain conditions.
Some people who suffer from chronic osteoarthritis pain find relief by taking glucosamine or chondroitin.
A supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids may help with chronic pain, which can affect large areas of the body. This includes neck, shoulder (menstrual pain), and period pain.
Other medications
Some of the other medicines that can help with pain management include:
- Prednisolone and prednisone can manage pain due to inflammation or arthritis.
- Muscle relaxants such as orphenadrine can help relieve pain from sprains and strains.
- Caffeine can be added as a pain reliever to other medicines.
- Medicinal marijuana can effectively treat neuropathy pain if other medications have failed to help. This must be prescribed by an experienced doctor with experience in using cannabis for pain management.
Is taking long-term pain-relief medication dangerous?
Regularly using pain relief medicines can help manage certain health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
You can ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects of the medicines you are taking and how to minimize them.
Non-medical alternatives to managing pain for certain health conditions or types (such as chronic) may exist. Speak to your doctor about these options to determine if they could be helpful.
FIND HEALTH SERVICES — Use the Service Finder to find doctors, pharmacies and hospitals.
Are there side effects to pain relievers?
Some medicines can have unwanted side effects. Even if you follow your doctor’s instructions, you may still experience side effects.
After taking the medication for some time, you may notice that certain side effects have subsided. Do not stop taking your medicine or change the dosage without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Opioids, for example, can have serious side effects at any point during use. These include potentially life-threatening respiratory problems.
Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects.
Each medicine has a list of possible side effects. The Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet contains more information on side effects.
Am I likely to become addicted to pain relievers?
Opioids in pain-relief medications are addictive.
After taking opioids for a short time, you may become tolerant, meaning you must take higher doses over time to get the same pain relief.
The more opioids you consume, the higher the risk for unwanted and fatal side effects.
You can also become addicted to opioid medicines. This means you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking the drugs.
Addiction can occur in some people, which means they will feel compelled to take opioids even though it is causing negative effects. Addiction symptoms include an uncontrollable desire to use opioids and the inability of a person to stop using them even when it is affecting their finances or relationships.
If you are prescribed opioids by your doctor to treat your pain, then you do not abuse them.
Use pain relievers safely: Tips.
- Be sure to let your doctor know what medicines you take, including those you purchased over the counter at a drugstore.
- Be sure to understand how you should use your medications. Take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
- Speak to your doctor about side effects or if your medications aren’t helping you manage your pain.
- Do not share your medicine with others or take another person’s medication. Prescription medicines are given to people based on their situation and can be harmful if misused.
- Do not abruptly discontinue taking pain relievers prescribed by your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor how to reduce or stop your medication.
- Keep medications out of reach of children.
- Any unused pain relief medicines should be returned to a pharmacist to be safely disposed of.
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