Types of medications
Common categories of pharmacological pain treatments
Over the following pages, you will find more information about some of the most common pain medications. These are grouped into the broad categories of:
Over-the-counter pain medications
These are medications that you can buy at the store without a prescription. Examples include:
acetaminophen
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, or ‘anti-inflammatories’ for short)
topical analgesics.
Prescription pain medications
These are medications that need to be prescribed to you by your healthcare provider. Examples include:
tricyclic antidepressants
serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
anticonvulsants
corticosteroids
muscle relaxants
cannabinoids
opioids, such as tramadol and morphine
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Interventional procedures
These are invasive procedures (they involve delivering treatment under the skin) and are performed by a healthcare provider. Common examples include:
botulinum toxin
trigger point injections
intra-articular joint injections
epidural steroid injections
pain pumps.