Which Pain Medications Are Stronger?

Pain medications are sold both over the counter (OTC) and by a doctor’s prescription, depending on what it is and its strength. A medication’s strength depends upon the amount of milligrams of the active pain-relieving ingredient. The higher the amount, the stronger the medication. How strong a medication is at alleviating pain is highly dependent on the individual. What may be too strong for some people may be too weak for others. The Food and Drug Administration classifies narcotic prescription medications according to their strength, along with other factors.

OTC Pain Medications

• OTC pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are used for light to moderate pain. Ibuprofen is also available in prescription strength, which is the same medication as the OTC version. It just contains more milligrams of the pain reliever.

  The OTC medication and how strong it is can depend on what kind of pain you are having and the cause. Pain from swollen joints or a muscle strain might be best alleviated with the anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen. Or you may get the most headache relief from acetaminophen.

Nonnarcotic Prescription Pain Medications

• Nonnarcotic prescription pain medications are used for different types of pain. Their strengths can only be judged by the person using them. The more common types for light to moderate pain are the following:

  Ultram, also known as tramadol, is similar to a narcotic pain medication in the way it acts in reducing pain.

  Steroids such as prednisone are used to reduce inflammation, which in turn will help reduce pain from swelling.

  Muscle relaxants, such as Flexural, Soma and Valium, are used to reduce pain from muscle strain.

  Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are prescribed often for pain. Ibuprofen was one of the first of these types of drugs to be used, and today there are many more.

Narcotic Prescription Medications

• Narcotic pain medications that are prescribed for pain vary in their strength. What one person considers a weak medication another will feel is very strong. Each medication comes in different milligram dosages. Following are some of the more commonly prescribed narcotic medications in the order of weakest to strongest, according to how the FDA classifies the medication. (The lower the class, the stronger the narcotic.)

  Codeine is often prescribed in combination with Tylenol (acetaminophen) for light to moderate pain. Class II.

  Propoxyphene (Darvocet) is prescribed for light to moderate pain. Class II.

  Hydrocodone (Vicodin) is prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Class II.

  Oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin) is prescribed for moderate to severe pain. The time-released type of this medication, known by the brand name Oxycontin, is mostly prescribed for moderate to severe pain that is chronic. Class I.

  Demerol is given for moderate to severe pain. Class I.

  Fentanyl is widely used in a duragesic patch that slowly releases the pain medication through the skin. It is generally used for a chronic moderate to severe pain. Class I.

  Morphine is given for chronic moderate to severe pain. Class I.