Medications for Neck Pain

Neck pain can be acute or chronic and can lead to depression and sleepless nights. There are many different medications for neck pain including over-the-counter, home remedies and prescription drugs. See a doctor if neck pain becomes severe to get help with pain management. Along with medications to treat neck pain, rest and physical therapy will also help.

Acetaminophen

• Acetaminophen, or also known as Tylenol, may be one of the most effective over-the-counter medications for neck pain and other ailments. It may also have the fewest side effects. Unlike aspirin, it is not an anti-inflammatory but works by switching off the perception of pain in the brain.

Narcotics

• For chronic neck pain, narcotics may be more helpful than over-the-counter medications or home remedies. Be careful though, because narcotics can become addictive. Popular chronic narcotic medications include Tylenol 3 with codeine, Darvocet, Vicodin, Percocet and Oxycontin. These medications work by managing the pain. They don't actually get rid of the pain altogether but ease it.

Muscle Relaxants

• Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that have a sedative-like effect on the body. They help relax the body and ease neck pain. Soma, Flexeril and Valium are just some of the known muscle relaxants to help relax the body and ease neck pain.

Oral Steroids

• Oral steroids are a non-narcotic prescription drug. They are a very powerful anti-inflammatory medication that can sometimes help ease neck pain. They are intended for short-term use.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

• NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, work much like aspirin by reducing the inflammation that may come with neck pain but have fewer side effects than aspirin. The most common types of NSAIDs are ibuprofen, naproxen and Celebrex.