BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuMedicines for back painAcute back pain often goes away on its own over several weeks. In some people, back pain persists. It may not go away completely or it may get more painful at times.Medicines can help with your back pain.OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEVERSOver-the-counter means you can buy them without a prescription.Most health care providers recommend acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) first because it has fewer side effects than other medicines. Do not take more than 3 grams (3,000 mg) on any one day, or over 24 hours. Overdosing on acetaminophen can cause severe damage to your liver. If you already have liver disease, ask your provider if acetaminophen is OK for you to take.If your pain continues, your provider may suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You can buy some NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, without a prescription. NSAIDs help reduce the swelling around the swollen disk or arthritis in the back.ArthritisArthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of...Read Article Now Book Mark Article NSAIDs and acetaminophen, when taken in high doses or for a long time, can cause serious side effects. Side effects include stomach pain, ulcers or bleeding, and kidney or liver damage. If side effects occur, stop taking the medicine right away and tell your provider.UlcersA peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or intestine. There are two types of peptic ulcers:Gastric ulcer -- occurs in...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you are taking pain relievers for more than a week, tell your provider. You may need to be watched for side effects.NARCOTIC PAIN RELIEVERS Narcotics, also called opioid pain relievers, are used only for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. They work well for short-term relief. Do not use them for more than 3 to 4 weeks unless instructed by your provider to do so.NarcoticsNarcotics are also called opioid pain relievers. They are only used for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. When u...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Narcotics work by binding to receptors in the brain, which blocks the feeling of pain. These medicines can be abused and are habit-forming. They have been associated with accidental overdose and death. When used carefully and under a provider's direct care, they can be effective in reducing pain.AbusedWhen a medicine is not taken in the way it is meant to be used and a person is addicted to it, the problem is called prescription drug use disorder. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Accidental overdose Opioid-based drugs include morphine, oxycodone, and synthetic (man-made) opioid narcotics, such as fentanyl. They are prescribed to treat pain afte...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Examples of narcotics include:Codeine Fentanyl -- available as a patch Hydrocodone Hydromorphone Morphine Oxycodone (Oxycontin) Tramadol Possible side effects of these medicines include:Drowsiness Impaired judgment Nausea or vomiting Constipation Itching Slowed breathing Addiction and withdrawal symptomsWhen taking narcotics, do not drink alcohol, drive, or operate heavy machinery.MUSCLE RELAXANTS Your provider may prescribe a medicine called a muscle relaxant. Despite its name, it does not work directly on muscles. Instead, it works through your brain and spinal cord.This medicine is often given along with over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve the symptoms of back pain or muscle spasm.Back painLow back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficult...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Examples of muscle relaxants include:Carisoprodol Cyclobenzaprine Diazepam Methocarbamol Side effects of muscle relaxants are common and include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting.These medicines can be habit-forming. Talk to your provider before using these medicines. They may interact with other medicines or make certain medical conditions worse.Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking muscle relaxants. Do not drink alcohol while taking these medicines.ANTIDEPRESSANTS Antidepressants are normally used to treat people with depression. But, low doses of these medicines can help with chronic low back pain, even if the person does not feel sad or depressed.DepressionDepression is feeling sad, blue, unhappy, or down in the dumps. Most people feel this way once in a while. Major depression is a mood disorder. It...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic low back painLow back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficult...Read Article Now Book Mark Article These medicines work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. This changes the way your brain notices pain. Antidepressants most commonly used for chronic low back pain also help you sleep.Antidepressants most often used for back pain are:Amitriptyline Desipramine Duloxetine Imipramine Nortriptyline Common side effects include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, weight gain, sleepiness, problems urinating, and sexual problems. Less commonly, some of these medicines can also cause heart and lung problems.Do not take these medicines unless you are under the care of a provider. Do not stop taking these medicines suddenly or change the dose without also talking with your provider.ANTI-SEIZURE OR ANTICONVULSANT MEDICINES Anticonvulsant medicines are used to treat people with seizures or epilepsy. They work by causing changes in the electric signals in the brain. They work best for pain that is caused by nerve damage.EpilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. Seizures are episodes of uncontrolled and abnormal electrical activi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article These medicines may help some people whose long-term back pain has made it hard for them to work or pain that interferes with their daily activities. They can also help relieve radiating pain that is common with back problems.Anticonvulsants most often used to treat chronic pain are:Carbamazepine Gabapentin Lamotrigine Pregabalin Valproic acid Common side effects include weight gain or weight loss, upset stomach, loss of appetite, skin rashes, drowsiness or feeling confused, depression, and headaches.Do not take these medicines unless you are under a provider's care. Do not stop taking these medicines suddenly or change the dose without also talking with your provider.Open ReferencesReferencesCorwell BN, Davis NL. Back pain. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 31.Dixit R. Low back pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 50.Malik K, Nelson A. Overview of low back pain disorders. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 24.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Back pain and sciatica - InDepth(In-Depth)Talking to your MD Questions to ask your surgeon about spinal surgerySelf Care Back pain - returning to workManaging your chronic back painPiriformis syndromeHow and when to get rid of unused medicinesNeck pain or spasms - self careSacroiliac joint pain - aftercarePain and your emotionsManaging pain during laborShin splints - self-careAngina - when you have chest pain Tests for Medicines for back pain Lumbosacral spine CTLumbar MRI scanRelated Information Review Date: 4/24/2023 Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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Medicines for back painAcute back pain often goes away on its own over several weeks. In some people, back pain persists. It may not go away completely or it may get more painful at times.Medicines can help with your back pain.OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEVERSOver-the-counter means you can buy them without a prescription.Most health care providers recommend acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) first because it has fewer side effects than other medicines. Do not take more than 3 grams (3,000 mg) on any one day, or over 24 hours. Overdosing on acetaminophen can cause severe damage to your liver. If you already have liver disease, ask your provider if acetaminophen is OK for you to take.If your pain continues, your provider may suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You can buy some NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, without a prescription. NSAIDs help reduce the swelling around the swollen disk or arthritis in the back.ArthritisArthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of...Read Article Now Book Mark Article NSAIDs and acetaminophen, when taken in high doses or for a long time, can cause serious side effects. Side effects include stomach pain, ulcers or bleeding, and kidney or liver damage. If side effects occur, stop taking the medicine right away and tell your provider.UlcersA peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or intestine. There are two types of peptic ulcers:Gastric ulcer -- occurs in...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you are taking pain relievers for more than a week, tell your provider. You may need to be watched for side effects.NARCOTIC PAIN RELIEVERS Narcotics, also called opioid pain relievers, are used only for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. They work well for short-term relief. Do not use them for more than 3 to 4 weeks unless instructed by your provider to do so.NarcoticsNarcotics are also called opioid pain relievers. They are only used for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. When u...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Narcotics work by binding to receptors in the brain, which blocks the feeling of pain. These medicines can be abused and are habit-forming. They have been associated with accidental overdose and death. When used carefully and under a provider's direct care, they can be effective in reducing pain.AbusedWhen a medicine is not taken in the way it is meant to be used and a person is addicted to it, the problem is called prescription drug use disorder. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Accidental overdose Opioid-based drugs include morphine, oxycodone, and synthetic (man-made) opioid narcotics, such as fentanyl. They are prescribed to treat pain afte...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Examples of narcotics include:Codeine Fentanyl -- available as a patch Hydrocodone Hydromorphone Morphine Oxycodone (Oxycontin) Tramadol Possible side effects of these medicines include:Drowsiness Impaired judgment Nausea or vomiting Constipation Itching Slowed breathing Addiction and withdrawal symptomsWhen taking narcotics, do not drink alcohol, drive, or operate heavy machinery.MUSCLE RELAXANTS Your provider may prescribe a medicine called a muscle relaxant. Despite its name, it does not work directly on muscles. Instead, it works through your brain and spinal cord.This medicine is often given along with over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve the symptoms of back pain or muscle spasm.Back painLow back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficult...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Examples of muscle relaxants include:Carisoprodol Cyclobenzaprine Diazepam Methocarbamol Side effects of muscle relaxants are common and include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting.These medicines can be habit-forming. Talk to your provider before using these medicines. They may interact with other medicines or make certain medical conditions worse.Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking muscle relaxants. Do not drink alcohol while taking these medicines.ANTIDEPRESSANTS Antidepressants are normally used to treat people with depression. But, low doses of these medicines can help with chronic low back pain, even if the person does not feel sad or depressed.DepressionDepression is feeling sad, blue, unhappy, or down in the dumps. Most people feel this way once in a while. Major depression is a mood disorder. It...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic low back painLow back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficult...Read Article Now Book Mark Article These medicines work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. This changes the way your brain notices pain. Antidepressants most commonly used for chronic low back pain also help you sleep.Antidepressants most often used for back pain are:Amitriptyline Desipramine Duloxetine Imipramine Nortriptyline Common side effects include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, weight gain, sleepiness, problems urinating, and sexual problems. Less commonly, some of these medicines can also cause heart and lung problems.Do not take these medicines unless you are under the care of a provider. Do not stop taking these medicines suddenly or change the dose without also talking with your provider.ANTI-SEIZURE OR ANTICONVULSANT MEDICINES Anticonvulsant medicines are used to treat people with seizures or epilepsy. They work by causing changes in the electric signals in the brain. They work best for pain that is caused by nerve damage.EpilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. Seizures are episodes of uncontrolled and abnormal electrical activi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article These medicines may help some people whose long-term back pain has made it hard for them to work or pain that interferes with their daily activities. They can also help relieve radiating pain that is common with back problems.Anticonvulsants most often used to treat chronic pain are:Carbamazepine Gabapentin Lamotrigine Pregabalin Valproic acid Common side effects include weight gain or weight loss, upset stomach, loss of appetite, skin rashes, drowsiness or feeling confused, depression, and headaches.Do not take these medicines unless you are under a provider's care. Do not stop taking these medicines suddenly or change the dose without also talking with your provider.Open ReferencesReferencesCorwell BN, Davis NL. Back pain. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 31.Dixit R. Low back pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 50.Malik K, Nelson A. Overview of low back pain disorders. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 24.