Types Of Pain Medication - Introduction

There are many types of pain medication available on the market today for those people who suffer from various types of pain. As a group these drugs or painkillers are known as analgesics, a word derived from the Greek word an which means "without" and algos or "pain." The severity of a patients pain along with other factors will determine which of the many analgesic medications is recommended to that particular patient. While it is possible to just go out and buy many of these types of pain medications, it is highly recommended that some research is conducted prior to choosing which type is right for you.

Useful Information

Most types of pain medication varieties act in one way or another on the peripheral and central nervous systems, either blocking the pain signals that are going to the brain or by interfering with the brain's interpretation of the signals without producing loss of consciousness or anesthesia. The two basic types of pain medication are narcotics and non-narcotics. Of the non-narcotic variety, most common is acetaminophen, an over-the-counter popular pain-reliever that is effective in mild to moderate pain relief. Although this drug is relatively safe, it is very important that users follow the instructions on the packaging very carefully to avoid some serious side effects and fatal consequences. Ingesting more than 4000 mg/day or long time use can increase the risk of liver damage. Care should also be taken with ingesting alcohol along with using acetaminophen and it should be noted that acetaminophen is found in many products that are not necessarily considered to be types of pain medication.

There are two types of pain medication that fall under the category of narcotic analgesics and these are the opiates and the opioids. Opiates are alkaloids that are found in opium while opioids are medications that bind to the opioid receptors of the gastrointestinal tract of the central nervous system. Opioids are generally used for the relief of severe or chronic pain. There seems to be no upper limit for the dosage of opioids to achieve pain relief but dosage of an opioid must be increased gradually in order for tolerance to be developed. There are some common side effects that are apparent with the use of opioids and those include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry mouth, miosis, orthostatic hypotention, urinary retention and constipation. Some of the less common side-effects include confusion, hallucinations, delirium, hives, itch hypothermia, bradycardia, tachycardia, raised intracranial pressure, ureteric or biliary spasm, muscle rigidity and flushing. Some more severe side-effects that have occasionally been reported are respiratory depression and fatal overdose. There are also some synthetic types of pain medication available on the market today that include names such as Tramadol. Most of these opioid painkillers are by prescription only when purchased from an American retailer.

Where To Go

The options for purchasing any of these medications are numerous. Most of the acetaminophen pain medications are available over-the-counter at any local pharmacy. The other varieties of pain medication are also available at a local source although one would require a prescription from a licensed physician on order to make a purchase. One alternative to purchasing these drugs from a local source is to place an order with one of the many online foreign pharmacies. Many of these pharmacies, due to being located in another country are able to sell you medicine at a much reduced rate when compared to a local pharmacy. Another advantage to buying from one of these reliable online pharmacies such as medsindia.com, is that on many occasions they will not require you to provide them with a prescription before you place your order.

In Conclusion

A large number of Americans who suffer from pain, are increasingly turning to different types of pain medication to gain some relief from that pain. While there is a wide variety of medications available, it is important to conduct some research and determine which type is best suited to your symptoms.