Painkillers - Medications for Pain Relief

Painkillers, also known as analgesics, are medications used to relieve pain. They work by blocking the transmission of pain signals in the brain and spinal cord.

Painkillers FAQ

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What are painkillers used for?

Painkillers are medicines that are used to treat pain. There are a large number of painkillers available and they all come in various different brand names. They can be taken: By mouth as liquids, tablets, or capsules. By injection. Via the back passage (rectum) as suppositories.

How do painkillers work?

Different painkillers work in different ways. Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin stop your body making chemicals called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are partly responsible for causing pain and inflammation in your body. So, reduced prostaglandins can reduce pain and inflammation.

Where can I buy painkillers?

You may be able to buy them from a pharmacy or a shop. OTC painkillers include paracetamol, ibuprofen, low-dose codeine, dihydrocodeine and aspirin. You can use over-the-counter painkillers for short-term relief of minor pain. They can also help to reduce a fever. Examples of when you might want to use them include:

What are the different types of painkillers?

There are a large number of painkillers available and they all come in various different brand names. They can be taken: By mouth as liquids, tablets, or capsules. By injection. Via the back passage (rectum) as suppositories. Some painkillers are also available as creams, ointments, gels or patches.

What are anti-inflammatory painkillers used for?

Anti-inflammatory painkillers have two main uses: Anti-inflammatories are used to relieve pain in various conditions, including: Joint pain. Muscle and ligament pain (strains and sprains). Period pain. Pain after operations. Headache, migraine. Some other types of pain. After a single dose, they work at least as well as paracetamol to ease pain.

Can prescription painkillers help with long-term pain?

As more people live with long-term pain, Senior Cardiac Nurse Christopher Allen looks at how it can be managed, including prescription painkillers. Different medications are needed to treat different types of pain.