Prescription Painkillers

Painkillers (ANALGESICS) are substances that give temporary relief from pain without causing a loss of consciousness. There are two major categories of painkillers: non-narcotic and narcotic.

Non-Narcotic

The most commonly used nonnarcotic painkillers are aspirin and other salicylates, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anit-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, which are available in both prescription and nonprescription forms. Nonnarcotic painkillers are by far the most commonly used of all medications. In addition to controlling pain, these analgesics also lower fever and counter inflamation.

Narcotic

Narcotic painkillers include opiates and opioids, which are natural or artificial forms of opium. Codeine, propoxyphene (e.g. Darvon and Wygesic), meperidine (Demerol), and morphine are common examples. These drugs are usually used on a short-term basis to control severe pain.

Combination of Narcotic and Non-Narcotic

Many prescription analgesics contain a combination of narcotic and nonnarcotic painkillers. Common combinations include acetaminophen and codeine (e.g. Tylenol with Codeine and Tylox), aspirin and codeine (e.g. Empirin with Codeine), propoxyphene and aspirin (e.g., Darvon Compund-65); and aspirin, caffeine, and butalbital (Florinal). These drugs are used as an alternative to preparations that contain only narcotic ingredients for painful conditions that are not adequately alleviated by nonnarcotic agents.

Pain medications that have the potential to become addictive are part of a class of drugs called opioids. These include

• morphine
• oxycodone (Oxycontin)
• propoxyphene (Darvon)
• hydrocodone (Vicodin, Percocet)
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• meperidine (Demerol)

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