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Drugs for Back Pain

When a person experiences back pain, the pain can heal on its own, or a drug can be taken to provide relief and take prescribed and non-prescribed drugs to provide pain relief as well. The severity of the back injury and pain determines the type of medication that may be taken. For simple back pain, an acetaminophen may be taken. A more serious case can require narcotic pain medication or oral steroids.

  1. Acetaminophen

    • Acetaminophen is a drug used to help with back pain. Acetaminophen is a non-prescription drug, such as Tylenol or Aspirin. Someone taking an acetaminophen does not run the risk of forming an addiction to the drug. Extended usage of the acetaminophen can be taken, without the risk of the body building a tolerance to the drug. Very few patients who take an acetaminophen are allergic to the drug, and it helps to provide relief to back pain.

    Narcotic Pain Medication

    • For a person experiencing extreme back pain, a narcotic pain medication may be needed. Some types of narcotics are codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and proproxyphene, in plain terms are Tylenol # 3, Percocet, Vicodin and Darvocet. These types of pain relief drugs are very addictive and should only be taken under the administration of a physician. These drugs relieve the back pain for a short time, less than 2 weeks, and then the body rapidly builds a tolerance to the drugs. If prescribed at a low dosage, physicians believe narcotic pain medication can be used long term.

    Oral Steriods

    • Oral steroids are non-narcotic drugs that can be prescribed to help treat back pain. Oral steroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications. Oral steroids may come in different sizes but are intended for short term usage, usually less than 2 weeks. Oral steroids increase the blood level and are not recommended for diabetics. When taking steroid packs, a person starts with a higher dosage in the beginning of treatment, but then takes less as the pain decreases.

    Naproxen

    • Naproxen is a drug that can be taken as a non-prescription or prescribed strength. When treating back pain, naproxen reduces the proteins that cause inflammation and pain in the body and back. Naproxen is known to thin the blood, so it is not recommended for people taking oral blood thinners. This type of drug is considered a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

    Muscle Relaxants

    • Muscle relaxants may not be considered drugs but rather a group of different drugs that have an overall sedative effect on the body. Muscle relaxants act centrally in the brain and are considered more of a total body relaxant. These drugs are prescribed early on in a course of back pain, and used short term to relieve lower back pain. There are many types of muscle relaxant drugs, such as Diazepam, Cyclobenzaprine and Carisoprodol.

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