People seeking relief from pain led to the creation of medicine. Before morphine was named by Friedrich Serturner, a German pharmacist, in 1803, the only means of killing pain was typically with alcohol. Morphine came to prominence during the...
Although there are many drugs on the market, available by prescription or as over-the-counter (OTC) medications, all drugs are classified into one of a variety of categories. Millions of OTC and prescription medicines are sold each year around the...
Dental pain ranges from mild sensitivity to a throbbing toothache. Some pain can wait until a convenient time for treatment while severe pain may result in an emergency visit. Several types of dental pain relievers play a major role in treatment...
The painkiller levorphanol is prescribed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. The medication, marketed in the United States as Levo-Dromoran, is a narcotic analgesic. Because of its opioid categorization, Levo-Dromoran can cause physical...
Physicians primarily prescribe the generically named drug tramadol to manage pain if it exists in moderate or severe form. The medication, marketed in Australia as Tramahexal SR, classifies as a narcotic analgesic, derived from the same opium...
Painkillers (analgesics) are available over-the-counter and by prescription, and are used to treat the pain and discomfort associated with injury, surgery or various medical conditions. There are two types of painkillers: narcotics (opioid...
Demerol is the brand name in the United States of the generic meperidine hydrochloride. It is a narcotic analgesic used most often in the treatment of severe pain. Because it is a narcotic, it has the potential to be addictive. In most cases,...
Since humans were humans and they began to get hurt, other humans have sought some means to relieve their pain. In ancient cultures, this meant turning to medicinal herbs. In fact, one of the earliest forms of pain relief still available in a...
A tooth can begin hurting quickly without any apparent reason. Tooth pain can also develop gradually after a period of mild sensitivity. The severity may reach a point where relief becomes necessary to carry out normal everyday tasks. Treatment...
Most medications designed to be marketed--whether as prescriptions medicines or over-the-counter drugs--have two names. They start with the generic names, which often include a variation on the type of medicine along with its usage. Once the drug...
Most painkillers classify as one of three types: narcotic analgesics, non-narcotic analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Doctors may prescribe other types of medicine to fight pain that are drugs primarily used for other conditions....
Injuries, surgery and chronic diseases can cause pain that may be severe enough to require medication. To manage pain, it is important to break the pain cycle. Living with pain can cause stress, fatigue and depression, which in turn may exacerbate...
An infected tooth can cause pain and swelling of varying degrees. Management of most cases is relatively simple, while others are severe enough to require hospitalization and the administration of intravenous drugs. Fortunately, the majority of...
Pain killers do exactly what the name implies: kill pain. While there were many early pain killers--from herbal remedies to alcoholic beverages--the first medical attempt to come up with a drug for serious pain occurred in the early 19th century...
According to the online medical encyclopedia MedlinePlus, Demerol is the brand name for the generic drug meperidine. The Mayo Clinic reports that Demerol belongs to a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics and are used to treat pain. The Mayo...
Acetaminophen is a common over-the-counter drug, while codeine requires a prescription from a doctor. Caffeine is found daily in products like coffee and tea and is often paired with medication to increase benefits. Together these medications can...
Methadone, also known as dolophine, is a medication used to decrease withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction. According to Medline Plus, Methadone belongs to a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics.
Hydroxyzine hydrochloride (hydroxyzine HCL) is an antihistamine that is prescribed to relieve symptoms of anxiety and tension or to treat anxiety caused by physical illness. Drugs.com explains that the medication is effective in relieving itching...
Nerve pain can interfere with everyday life functions. Some common descriptions of nerve pain include, burning, shooting, and tingling. Nerve pain can be caused by injury or by a health condition, such as cancer, diabetes, shingles, HIV,...
Opiates, also called opioids or narcotic analgesics, are prescription medications used to treat moderate to severe pain, according to the American Cancer Society. Opioids, considered the standard of care when treating pain associated with advanced...
Fentanyl is the generic name of a narcotic analgesic, or pain killer medication, that may be prescribed as a pill, lozenge or patch on your skin. As a patch, it may be used in the treatment of chronic or long-term pain. This and any long-time use...
Lortab is a brand name in the United States of a combination of the generic drugs hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Both of these medications are used to help relieve pain. Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic, while acetaminophen is another type of...
A throbbing toothache can begin at any time and without any prior warning. It usually requires immediate attention to relieve the pain since it can interfere with normal daily activities. An abscess can form within the tooth or in the surrounding...
According to Medline Plus, medical researchers have found no cause for restless legs syndrome in most people. However, diseases such as anemia--a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood--as well as pregnancy can cause RLS for some people. RLS makes...
The Mayo Clinic explains that the medication Darvocet is a prescription narcotic analgesic, or pain reliever, combination of the drug propoxyphene and acetaminophen, used to relieve mild to moderate pain. The acetaminophen mixed with propoxyphene...
Physicians prescribe methadone 10 mg in most cases to help people fight the addiction of heroin. Drugs.com states that the medication, an opium derivative like heroin, can fight pain as a narcotic analgesic as well. Primarily used for narcotic...
Hydrocodone is one medication with two uses. The National Library of Medicine lists it as a narcotic analgesic, a pain reliever that changes the way the brain perceives messages of pain, and as a antitussive, a medication that blocks the cough...
Shilajit is a mineral resin characterized by its pale to blackish-brown color, varying consistency, and ability to exude from rock formations in several geographic regions. It is used extensively in Ayuryedic medicine because of its therapeutic...
Pain alarms the body to the presence of injury, inflammation and infection. However, pain can prove physically and psychologically distressing and can significantly interfere with the activities of daily living. Analgesic medications relieve pain...