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What Are Pain Medications?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on March 23, 2026
6 min read

Pain medicines (analgesics) help you manage chronic pain or pain that comes on suddenly (acute pain). You may have acute pain from a headache, toothache, or muscle strain. That kind of pain comes on quickly and doesn't last long. Chronic pain, on the other hand, lasts six weeks or longer. It's usually associated with a chronic condition, such as arthritis, or an injury that causes long-term damage.

Whether for acute or chronic pain, pain medicines are powerful drugs, so it's important to use them with care. It's best to start with the safest drugs at the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time and work up from there as needed. Let's take a look at the types of pain-relieving medications.

You can buy some pain medicine yourself without a prescription. These are called over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Picture the aisles of medicine in a grocery store or pharmacy. You might see pills or tablets such as Advil, Aleve, aspirin, Motrin, and Tylenol. Or you might see patches, gels, creams, or ointments to help ease pain. Some examples of topical pain relievers used on the skin include Aspercreme, BenGay, capsaicin cream, diclofenac gel (Voltaren), and Icy Hot.

Prescription pain medicine cannot be purchased without a prescription from a doctor. These medicines are stronger than what you can buy yourself in a store.

There are three types of pain medicines:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Opioids

Whichever type of pain medicine your doctor recommends, be aware of possible side effects and interactions with other drugs and supplements you take. And always follow the directions on the label or your doctor's prescription.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers include:

Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs reduce fever and relieve pain caused by muscle aches and stiffness. NSAIDs also reduce inflammation (swelling, heat, redness related to an injury, and irritation). 

Acetaminophen and NSAIDs work differently. Acetaminophen works on the parts of the brain that receive the "pain messages." NSAIDs ease pain by lowering the production of prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances that cause pain and inflammation.

Using NSAIDs regularly, especially at high doses, raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. They may also cause stomach ulcers and bleeding, as well as kidney problems. Taking acetaminophen regularly at high doses can cause a liver problem. Taking a large amount at once, intentionally or by mistake, can result in a medical emergency.

Prescription medicines used to treat pain include:

Prescription corticosteroids include methylprednisolone, prednisolone, and prednisone. They are known for easing swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. Corticosteroids can be used to treat allergies, asthma, and arthritis. When used to control pain, they are generally given in the form of pills or injections that target a certain joint.

Prescription corticosteroids are strong medicines and may have serious side effects, including:

  • Weight gain and salt retention
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Mood changes
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Weakened immune system
  • Thinning of the bones and skin
  • High sugar levels

To minimize these potential side effects, corticosteroids are prescribed in the lowest dose possible for as short a duration as needed to relieve the pain. Another way to lessen these side effects is to give the steroid by injection to target the particular problem area.

Opioids are narcotic pain medications that contain natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic opiates. Opioids are often used for acute pain, such as short-term pain after surgery. Some examples of opioids include:

Opioids are effective for severe pain and do not cause bleeding in the stomach or other parts of the body. However, they can be extremely addictive, so doctors often try to find alternatives to them. It's rare for people to become addicted to opioids if the drugs are used to treat pain for a short period. But if used to treat chronic pain, the risk of addiction is real and potentially dangerous.

Side effects of opioids may include:

Antidepressants are drugs that can treat pain and emotional conditions by adjusting levels of neurotransmitters (natural chemicals) in the brain. These medications can boost the body's signals for well-being and relaxation, which may help with chronic pain conditions when usual treatments don't work. Research suggests certain antidepressants (tricyclics) work best for neuropathic or nerve pain.

Low-dose antidepressants are used to treat some chronic pain conditions, including some types of headaches (such as migraine) and menstrual pain. Some antidepressant medications include:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
  • Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor)

These drugs require a steady dose of the medicine to build up in the body over a certain period to work. The doses needed to treat pain are often lower than those needed to treat depression.

Generally, SSRIs and SNRIs have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants. The most common side effects of antidepressants include:

Anticonvulsants are drugs typically used to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy. Some of these medications work well to treat pain, such as from neuropathy or fibromyalgia.

Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), and topiramate (Topamax). The exact way these medicines control pain is unclear, but it is thought that they minimize the effects of nerves that sense pain. 

In general, anticonvulsants are well tolerated. The most common side effects include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea

Another means of topical pain relief comes in the form of a lidocaine (Lidoderm) patch, which is a prescription medication.

Muscle relaxers work by depressing the central nervous system, helping relieve muscle tension and spasms and often causing drowsiness. They can be effective for short-term use for acute flare-ups of back pain and nerve pain. They can also help treat nighttime muscle pain from fibromyalgia.

If the usual treatments don't help ease your pain, your doctor may refer you to a pain management specialist. Doctors who specialize in pain management may try other treatments, such as certain types of physical therapy or other kinds of medicine. They may also recommend a procedure called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). It uses patches placed on the skin to send signals that may help stop pain.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) involves surgery to fully or partially implant a small device, somewhat like a pacemaker, in the epidural space adjacent to the area of the spine that is believed to be the source of the pain. It sends mild electric pulses through leads to help mask and interrupt the pain signals to your brain.

There are three types of pain medication: acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and opioids. You can buy acetaminophen and NSAIDs without a prescription. Stronger NSAIDs and narcotic opioid pain relievers can be prescribed by a doctor. Pain medication comes in pills, tablets, and capsules, as well as creams, gels, ointments, and patches applied to the skin. Some prescription pain medication is given by injection. No matter what kind of pain medication you use or are prescribed, you should always follow the instructions for taking it. Pain medicine can cause side effects. Opioids, in particular, can be addictive if used for a long period.

Which is the best medicine for pain?

This depends on the type of pain you have. If you have acute pain (which comes on suddenly and is not severe or long-lasting), an OTC pain reliever may be enough to help you. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). If you have muscle or joint pain, you may find relief by using a topical product such as a gel, ointment, or patch that you apply to your skin.

What is the most common pain medicine prescribed?

Opioid medications are often prescribed for short-term moderate-to-severe pain.

What is the safest painkiller?

The safest painkiller for you depends on your medical history. If you have a liver problem, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) may be safer for you than acetaminophen. But if you have stomach ulcers or problems with your heart or kidneys, acetaminophen may be a better choice for you than an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve).