Lower Back Pain Relief (Cont.)

Medications Used for Lower Back Pain Relief

Medications are often used for lower back pain relief. Effective relief may involve a combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies. Patients should always check with their doctor before taking drugs for lower back pain relief. Certain medicines, even those sold over-the-counter, may:
 
  • Be unsafe during pregnancy
  • Conflict with other medications
  • Cause side effects, including drowsiness
  • Lead to liver damage.
 
Medications that are used for lower back pain relief include:
 
 
Pain Medicines
Over-the-counter or prescription pain medicines can be taken to reduce stiffness, swelling, and/or inflammation and to ease mild to moderate lower back pain. There are many example of these types of medicines. The most commonly used medicines for pain relief include acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as:
 
 
Counterirritants
Counterirritants that are applied topically to the skin as a cream or spray stimulate the nerve endings to provide feelings of warmth or cold and to dull the sensation of pain. Topical analgesics can also reduce inflammation and stimulate blood flow. Many of these compounds contain salicylates, which is the same ingredient found in oral pain medications containing aspirin.
(Lower Back Pain Relief Continued: Page 4)

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD