Pain Management
West of Scotland Chronic Pain Education Group
Medication Information
Normally two or three drugs in combination are required to manage complex pain. These should be taken regularly and in sufficient dosage to achieve pain control. This is especially true for medication used to treat neuropathic pain where the effects are often not seen until after 2-4 weeks of treatment.
The provision of pain management therapy and treatments may be affected by other medical conditions — for example pregnancy or anticoagulant therapy.
Simple Analgesia
Mild painkillers used to reduce pain, either alone or combined with other therapy
paracetamol
ibuprofen
diclofenac
mixtures (
cocodamol
codydramol )
Opioids (morphine-based painkillers)
Painkillers that act on opiate receptors in the nervous system to reduce the unpleasant sensation of pain.
Analgesia for Neuropathic Pain
Painkillers that are particularly suitable for neuropathic pain
Amitriptyline
Carbamazepine
Duloxetine
Gabapentin
Lamotrigine
Pregabalin