Prescription Pain Pills
Prescription pain pills are most commonly prescribed to relieve acute pain, or pain that is short-term and suffered as a result of surgery or injury. Usually, moderate to severe pain is treated with prescription pain pills since round-the-clock use is needed and over the counter anelgesics may not be sufficient relief.
Prescription pain pills are often narcotic drugs derived from opiates. Oxycodone is a commonly prescribed pain pill for severe injuries and an example of a narcotic drug. Other narcotic prescription pain pills commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain include morphine, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl, and Methadone. These particular prescription pain pills, when taken correctly, can effectively manage moderate to severe acute pain, but they can be highly addictive and are often abused.
Common side effects of narcotic analgesics include dry mouth, naseua, light-headedness, and constipation. When taken in too large of a dose, slowed respiratory function can occur, which in some cases can lead to death. It is important that narcotic analgesics be taken exactly as prescribed.
Another group of commonly used prescription pain pills is non-opioid Analgesic Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They work differently than narcotic pain medications in that they alter chemical reactions in the body rather than affecting receptors in the central nervous system. Celebrex and Vioxx are examples of these prescription pain pills. NSAIDs are also available over the counter in the form of Tylenol, Advil, and Naproxin.
Prescription pain pills can also be a combination of opioids and NSAIDs. Tylenol with codeine, Percocet, and Vicodin are all examples of a combination of the two former groups. They also work to relieve and manage pain and are commonly prescribed to treat moderate pain, such as following dental surgery or a sports injury, such as a sprain.
When discussing prescription pain pills as treatment for acute pain, discuss with your doctor what over the counter pain relievers you have tried, how severe your pain is and how it is affecting your day to day life. Also be sure to mention any prescription pain pills you have taken in the past that you may have had adverse reactions to.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article.
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