We will now describe the 10 most common painkillers. There are two major groups of analgesics: anti-inflammatory analgesics and opiates.
Anti-inflammatory analgesics
Anti-inflammatory drugs work by reducing inflammation (swelling) at the site of the pain. Examples include:
1. Paracetamol
2. Aspirin
3. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen.
Opiates
Opiates (or opioids) work by changing the brain’s perception of pain. An opioid can be any drug, natural or manmade. Most are similar to morphine, but newer, unrelated opiates have been created in the laboratory, too. Examples include:
4. Codeine, and dihydrocodeine
5. Fentanyl
6. Buprenorphine
7. Morphine
8. Tramadol
9. Pethidine – used in labour, when it is injected into a woman’s thigh
10. Other opiates – e.g. Oxycodone, Methadone, Naloxone, Naltrexone.
Combination drugs
Co-codamol – is another frequently prescribed drug. It is a combination of paracetamol and codeine
Pain-modulating drugs
Gabapentin and Pregabalin – these are not painkillers as such, but reduce the overall level of pain. They need to be taken in the longer term
Other useful drugs
Duloxetine – this is an antidepressant with a useful ‘side-effect’, it reduces pain. They also need to be taken in the longer term. It is a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
Sumatriptan – this is used for migraine. It is a selective serotonin receptor agonist
Local anaesthetics
Lignocaine and Bupivacaine (sometimes in combination with an opiate, such as fentanyl) – local anaesthetics are also widely used to alleviate pain. The latter drug is often used in an epidural injection when a woman is in labour
Local steroids
Hydrocortisone, triamcinolone and methylprednisolone – these are used in spinal injections for example.
We have described what are the 10 most common painkillers. We hope you have found it helpful.
