|
Drug Name |
Available Over The Counter |
Uses |
Mechanism of Action |
Side Effects - Serious |
Side Effects - Common |
Side Effects - Less Common |
Concerns |
| Acetaminophen With Codeine Phosphate (Tylenol #3) |
Yes |
mild to severe pain |
acetaminophen interferes with the action of prostaglandins which cause
inflammation. Relieves fever, but does not reduce inflammation. Codeine
acts on areas in the spinal cord and brain to reduce pain. |
|
dizziness, light headedness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, constipation,
fatigue |
gastric pain, allergic reaction, blurred vision, drymouth, headache,
nervousness, insomnia loss of appetite |
physical dependence; decrease dose gradually under medical supervision |
| Amitriptyline Hydrochloride (Elavil) |
No |
relieve major depression and chronic pain |
affects levels of chemicals (serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine)
which are linked to mood, emotion and mental state
|
confusion, heartbeat irregularities, hallucinations, seizures, fatigue
or drowsiness, blurred vision, restlessness, trembling, shaking,
weakness |
drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, dry mouth, sensitivity
to light, weight gain, nausea |
heartburn, insomnia, diarrhea, increased sweating, vomiting |
when stopping the medication, taper over 5-7 days |
| Butorphenol Tartrate (Stadol) |
|
headache, post-operative pain when narcotic is required |
blocks impulses at level of spinal cord and brain |
|
headache, sedation, dizziness, insomnia, nasal irritation, confusion,
dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, unpleasant
taste in mouth |
nervousness, unusual dreams, euphoria, floating sensation, trembling |
may be habit forming; get up from sitting or lying position slowly, to
avoid dizziness |
| Codeine |
No |
mild to moderate pain |
acts at brain and spinal cord level |
|
dizziness, light headedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, itching |
headache, sweating, euphoria |
may cause physical dependence, with withdrawl symptoms when the medication is discontinued |
|
Drug Name |
Available Over The Counter |
Uses |
Mechanism of Action |
Side Effects - Serious |
Side Effects - Common |
Side Effects - Less Common |
Concerns |
| Diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren) |
No |
mild to moderate pain and inflammation caused by tendinits, arthritis, gout, soft tissue injury |
interferes with formation of prostaglandins ( cause inflammation and make nerves more sensitive) |
|
nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, headache |
ulcers or sores in mouth, rashes or blistering of skin, ringing sound in ears, tingling of hands or feet, seizures, blurred
vision |
inhibits blood coagulation, and may increase bleeding at surgery; stop meds well before surgery |
| Diflunisal (Dolobid) |
No |
mild to moderate pain and inflammation caused by tendinitis, arthritis, soft tissue injuries |
interferes with formation of prostaglandins ( cause inflammation and make nerves more sensitive) |
|
nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, headache | ulcers or sores in mouth, rashes or blistering of skin, ringing sound in ears, tingling of hands or feet, seizures,
blurred vision |
inhibits blood coagulation, and may increase bleeding at surgery; stop meds well before surgery |
| Fentanyl Transdermal (Duragesic) |
No |
severe chronic pain |
a narcotic which acts on spinal cord and brain |
|
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness |
sweating, skin reaction at patch site, fainting, jerking body movements |
not recommended for postoperative pain; discontinuing abruptly may cause withdrawl symptoms |
| hydrocodone bitartrate / acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin) |
No |
short term relief of acute pain |
hydrocodone blocks pain at the level of spinal cord and brain; acetaminophen interferes with prostaglandins, which cause
inflammation |
|
headache, dizziness, light headedness, nausea, drowsiness, constipation |
abdominal pain, false sense of well being, depression, loss of appetitite, headache, nervousness, insomnia |
do not increase doses, even if medication is not working, without consulting your physician |
|
Drug Name |
Available Over The Counter |
Uses |
Mechanism of Action |
Side Effects - Serious |
Side Effects - Common |
Side Effects - Less Common |
Concerns |
| Hydrocodone bitartrate / ibuprofen (Vicoprofen) |
No |
short term relief of acute pain |
hydrocodone blocks pain at spinal cord and brain; ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medication which interferes
with the formation of prostaglandins (cause inflammation and pain) |
|
headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, upset stomach, drowsiness, constipation |
abdominal pain, weakenss, insomnia, nervousness, diarrhea, flatulence, dry mouth. |
discontinue well in advance of surgery, as the medication will prolong bleeding times |
| Hydromorphone Hydrochloride (Dilaudid) |
No |
Severe Pain |
acts on spinal cord and brain |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation |
dry mouth, mood swings, euphoria, nightmares |
habit forming |
| Ketorolac Tromethamine Systemic (Toradol) |
No |
moderate to severe pain and inflammation, usually post surgery |
interferes with the action of prostaglandins, which cause inflammation |
|
gastric distress |
drowsiness, diarrhea, cunfusion, ringing in ears, sensitivity to sunlight, headache |
do not take with aspirin or other non steroidal antiinflammatory medications |
| Meperidine Hydrochloride (Demerol) |
No |
moderate to severe pain |
acts on spinal cord and brain |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, itching |
euphoria, flushing of face |
prolonged use can cause dependence and nerve damage; do not stop abruptly; consult your doctor |
|
Drug Name |
Available Over The Counter |
Uses |
Mechanism of Action |
Side Effects - Serious |
Side Effects - Common |
Side Effects - Less Common |
Concerns |
| Methadone Hydrochloride (Dolophine, Methadose) |
No |
severe pain; prevent or ease withdrawl symptoms during detoxification |
long acting opioid which binds with natural opioid receptors throughout central nervous system, altering perception of and
emotional response to pain |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, itching |
sweating, swelling of feet and ankles, flushing of face |
notify your doctor or dentist before any surgery |
| Morphine (Duramorph, Ms Contin, Roxanol) |
No |
severe pain |
acts on spinal cord and brain |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, itching |
mood swings, euphoria, urinary retention, jerking body movements, hallucinations, sweating |
notify your doctor or dentist before any surgery |
| Nalbuphine Hydrochloride (Nubain) |
No |
moderate to severe pain | acts on brain and spinal cord |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, itching |
euphoria, hallucinations |
mental or physical dependence |
| Nortriptyline Hydrochlorice (Pamelor) |
No |
major depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, chronic pain |
affects levels of norepinephrine, a chemical within the brain which may be linked to mood, emotions and mental state |
|
drowsiness, dizziness, headache, unpleasant taste, fatigue, weight gain, nausea, increased appetite |
heartburn, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea, profuse sweating, vomiting |
should not be within reach of suicidal patients |
|
Drug Name |
Available Over The Counter |
Uses |
Mechanism of Action |
Side Effects - Serious |
Side Effects - Common |
Side Effects - Less Common |
Concerns |
| Oxycodone Hydrochloride (Oxycontin) |
No |
moderate to severe pain |
acts on brain and spinal cord |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, constipation, itching |
foot swelling, sweating, euphoria, urinary retention |
tell your doctor or dentist before undergoing surgery |
| Oxycodone / Acetaminophen (Endocet, Percocet, Roxicet, Tylox) |
No |
moderate to severe pain, may produce pain relief better than either oxycodone or acetaminophen used alone |
oxycodone acts on the brain and spinal cord; acetaminophen interferes with prostaglandins, which cause inflammation and increase
sensitivity of nerves |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness |
allergic reaction, euphoria, depression, loss of appetite, blurred vision, headache, sweating |
if medication is not relieving pain, do not increase dose; consult your doctor |
| Oxycodone / Aspirin (Percodan) |
No |
moderate to severe pain; may provide superior relief to either oxycodone (narcotic) or aspirin alone |
oxycodone is a narcotic and affects the brain and spinal cord; aspirin inhibits prostaglandins, which play a role in inflammation |
|
lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting |
euphoria, depression, constipation, itching |
prolonged use may lead to abuse through psychological and physical dependence |
| Pentazocine (Talwin) |
No |
moderate to severe pain | acts on brain |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation |
euphoria, hallucinations, nightmares |
notify doctor or dentist before surgical procedure |
|
Drug Name |
Available Over The Counter |
Uses |
Mechanism of Action |
Side Effects - Serious |
Side Effects - Common |
Side Effects - Less Common |
Concerns |
| Propoxyphene (Darvon) |
No |
moderate to severe pain | as do other opioids, acts on brain and spinal cord |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, itching |
euphoria, hallucinations |
notify doctor or dentist before surgery |
| Propoxyphene / Acetaminophen (Darvocet, Wygesic) |
No |
moderate to severe pain | propoxyphene acts, as do other opioids, on spinal cord and brain; acetaminophen interferes with prostaglandins, which
cause inflammation and make nerves more sensitive |
|
dizziness, lightheadedness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, fatigue |
gastric pain, euphoria, depression, loss of appetite, blurred vision, nightmares, nervousness, insomnia | do not increase your dose if medication not taking effect |
| Tramadol Hydrochloride (Ultram) |
No |
moderate to somewhat severe pain |
although not a narcotic, works similar to narcotic analgesics, and blocks transmission of pain signals to central
nervous system; may be habit forming, with physical and mental dependence |
|
dizziness, vertigo, headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, constipation |
weakness, lack of energy, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, visual changes, dry mouth, diarrhea, abdominal pain, menopausal
symptoms, sweating, muscle spasm, rash |
notify doctor or dentist before surgery |
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