Fortunately for most patients, the present medicines, option treatments and therapies available work well. But just as each person has individual sets of symptoms and conditions, not all treatment options may be appropriate. Now if you are a back pain patient, it is best to seek medical help to customize a treatment plan that would work best for your case.
Discussed in the following section of this article are the available back pain treatment medications. Though it must be understood that they apply differently and may have varying effects.
Drug therapies
Today’s patients have a wide spectrum of medication choices to treat their persisting back pains. Some drugs are especially designed to treat certain conditions only but many are rather so versatile that their use may apply even for releasing muscle tension, inflammation and treat spasm. Yet, as unfortunate as any treatments may be, there are medications that may have extreme side effects. It is wise that you first discuss with your doctors the medications you will take and the plans to conquer or even minimize the side effects.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
This type of medications often consist of aspirin, Naproxen, ibuprofen, Ketoprofen and a lot more others. These anti-inflammatory drugs often induce healing from back pain and reduce inflammation and swelling. When used on minimal doses, NSAIDs may act as mild analgesics but larger doses may bring the effects of genuine anti-inflammatory drugs. The most common side effects of conventional Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are gastrointestinal conditions. However with the newer released items for NSAIDs (e.g. COX-2 Inhibitors), patients may be allowed to take higher doses without the accompanying risks of side effects.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen such as Anacin-3, Valadol, Phenaphen, and Tylenol, are commonly known to have the effects of ordinary analgesics- the typical alternatives to NSAIDs. Analgesics medications are employed for acute pain treatment. However, on some special instances these may also be used as treatments for chronic pains.
Opiods
Because of their addictive nature, Opiods are rarely used as treatment for back pain but if so, only for the most severe cases that needs immediate, quick pain relief. These medications are generally not prescribed and many physicians refute that they may do more harm than good. Opiods include codeine and morphine, meperidine (Demerol), Oxycontin.
Muscle Relaxants
Muscle Relaxants are known to induce the efficiency created in most Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and are often prescribed only for severe back pains. These include medications such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), carisoprodol (Soma), and diazepam (Valium).
In order for these medications to work at their optimum, guidelines for using them must be followed and the doctor’s advises are the only things that may help you best aside from other medical assistance.