Back Pain Medication

Back pain is one of the most common conditions affecting 80% of the population. It is second only to headaches as the most frequently occurring painful conditions that affect a person 30 years old and above. The condition is so common, in fact, that four out of five people may or are already experiencing back pain.

But the good news is that there are several treatment options available for those suffering the rigors of back pain, including physical therapy, exercise, and of course, back pain medication.

Many back pain medications can be bought over the counter without need of prescription. These drugs are helpful in relieving pain and addressing several of the symptoms related to an episode of back pain. In addition to nonprescription drugs, back pain medications may also be procured through a doctor’s prescription.

Among the common prescription medications for back pain given by physicians are muscle relaxants, antidepressants, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs) and COX –2 inhibitors.

Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxants act on the brain, not on the muscle. They help relieve pain so that patients are able to exercise and have other physical treatments that would otherwise be too painful.

Muscle relaxants are sedatives, so doctors may prescribe them to be taken at night to avoid daytime drowsiness. They should not be taken when driving or operating heavy machinery.

Muscle relaxants have been shown to be effective alone or in conjunction with anti-inflammatory medications within a week of the onset of severe muscle spasm in the lower back. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, addiction after one week of use, dry mouth and urinary retention.

Some common muscle relaxants are carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), diazepam (Valium), metaxalone (Skelaxin), methocarbamol (Robaxin).

Antidepressants

Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants have been used to relieve chronic back pain. They work by increasing the level of certain chemicals in the brain that change the way the brain perceives pain.

They are not used for sudden and acute pain, and usually take two to three weeks to go into effect. Side effects include constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, fatigue, low blood pressure, weight gain, increased appetite, sweating, and urinary retention.

Since side effects vary from medication to medication, it is worth trying another antidepressant if one does not work well. Some common antidepressants used to treat back pain are amitriptyline (Amitril, Elavil, Endep), doxepin hydrochloride (Sinequan), imipramine hydrochloride (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and desipramine (Norpramin).

NSAIDS And COX-2 Inhibitors

NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitors are effective in relieving pain and reducing inflammation. They are generally the first line of treatment in acute low back pain. NSAIDS are usually taken for one to three weeks but can be taken for four weeks or longer.

People under the age of twenty should not take NSAIDS because they can cause Reye’s syndrome, a central nervous system disorder. Other people who should not take NSAIDS include those taking blood thinners, corticosteroids, lithium, and oral antidiabetic medication.

Before taking NSAIDS you should let your doctor know if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a peptic ulcer, history of gastrointestinal bleeding, nasal polyps, kidney or liver disease, allergic reactions to aspirin or related drugs, anemia, or a blood-clotting defect.

Short-term side effects can include stomach irritation, which can be minimized by taking them with food and a full glass of water. Taking NSAIDS long term can cause ulcers. In rare cases, naproxen, ibuprofin and rofecoxib have caused meningitis.

A common nonprescription NSAID is aspirin (Anacin, Bayer, Bufferin). A common prescription NSAID is naproxin (Naprosyn). Some common COX-2 inhibitors are celecoxib (Celebrex), rofecoxib (Vioxx), and valdecoxib (Bextra).

COX-2 inhibitors are less likely to cause stomach problems, but they may increase the risk of heart attack. If you have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor to see if COX-2 inhibitors are best to treat your back pain.

Acetaminophen

One of the two types of over the counter back pain medication, acetaminophen is a pain reliever drug that acts by switching off the brain’s pain perception. In this regard, it is unlike any other back pain medications, which are mostly anti-inflammatory in addition to being pain killers.

The common dosage of this back pain medication may be up to 1000 mg taken every four hours, provided that no more than 4000 mg is taken within 24 hours. The fast acting pain relieving effect of this back pain medication makes this drug perhaps the single most effective drug to treat the condition and associated pain.

Additionally, this back pain medication is recommended mainly because:

• It has few side effects.
• There is no chance of addiction.
• Tolerance level of patients (when the drug loses its pain relieving effect) is slow to develop, even with extended use.
• Very few patients are allergic to it.

Narcotic Pain Medications

These types of back pain medications are for severe back pain, particularly those affecting the lower back. Narcotics are only available with a doctor’s prescription, for obvious reasons – they are strong and potentially addictive forms of medication.

The effect of these back pain medications is dissociative in nature, which means that they do not actually deaden the pain, but works to dissociate the patient from the painful feeling. Back pain medications under this category include codeine, propoxyphene, hydrocodone, and oxycodone.