Drugs Given for Kidney Stones Pain

Kidney stones are an extremely painful condition in which certain minerals harden within the kidneys and form a "stone" like substance. This stone is of a much larger diameter than the kidneys can pass naturally. Thus, the pain inflicted can be quite severe. Kidney stone pain comes in various degrees from mild to severe. There are several different drugs used to treat the pain associated with kidney stones and these should only be determined by your physician.

Analgesics

• For mild kidney stone pain, over the counter pain relievers such as Advil, Tylenol and Aleve are often taken. For more severe pain, prescription medication is required.

Oral Opioids

• Urology.com states that for moderate to severe kidney stone pain, oral opioids such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet) and propoxyphene HCL (Darvon) and others are commonly prescribed (Reference 1).

Intravenous

• According to emedicinehealth.com, medications such as Ketorolac are given in conjunction with a narcotic intravenously to help alleviate the pain associated with kidney stones (Reference 2).

Epidurals

• According to thehealthguide.org, epidurals are another option to manage severe kidney stone pain. Epidurals are injections to the spine that consist of a combination of medicines that include a local anesthetic and a narcotic such as demerol, fentayl or morphine. This is similar to the kind of epidurals given to women in childbirth. (Reference 3)

Tips

• As kidney stones develop by a build-up of minerals, drinking 6-8 glasses is recommended. If you experience pain in the kidney area for an extended period of time, or if it is severe enough to interfere with your life, speak to a physician immediately.