Pain Relievers - Managing Discomfort

Pain relievers are medications that help alleviate pain symptoms, ranging from mild to severe discomfort. They work by targeting pain receptors in the body to reduce the perception of pain.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Available over the counter and by prescription for different types of pain.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Pain Relievers FAQ


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What is a pain reliever?

Pain relievers are medicines that reduce or relieve headaches, sore muscles, arthritis, or other aches and pains. There are many different pain medicines, and each one has advantages and risks. Some types of pain respond better to certain medicines than others. Each person may also have a slightly different response to a pain reliever.

Are there any pain relievers?

Now there are many pain relievers to choose from (see "Pain relievers at a glance"). Willow bark was one of the earliest painkillers. Extracts or teas of willow bark have been used to treat fever and pain for more than 2,000 years. Unfortunately, the active ingredient, salicylic acid, is very hard on the stomach.

What are the different types of pain relievers?

Each person may also have a slightly different response to a pain reliever. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are good for many types of pain. There are two main types of OTC pain medicines: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are examples of OTC NSAIDs.

What is the best pain reliever?

The top pain medicine was a drug combination of acetaminophen with hydrocodone, which is an opioid. Other top pain relievers that doctors prescribe in the U.S. include the NSAIDs ibuprofen and meloxicam and the opioid oxycodone. Which one is the strongest? When a person uses them appropriately, opioids can provide the strongest pain relief.

Pain Relievers References

If you want to know more about Pain Relievers, consider exploring links below:

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