Painkillers: classification, names, list of the best pills
It is not difficult to defeat pain today: painkillers are available in pharmacies in a wide range, and most of them are dispensed without a prescription. But in order to choose the “right” analgesic, you need to pay attention not only to its popular name, but also to possible side effects and contraindications. Many drugs can be dangerous to health and useless in the fight against this or that type of pain.
Content
Classification of analgesics
When a person goes to the pharmacy for painkillers, he does not think about what kind of remedy he needs - just to help relieve the pain. And only when the pharmacist begins to ask a bunch of questions, it becomes clear: choosing the right medicine is not so simple.
All pain medications known in pharmacology are divided into the following main groups:
- NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets.
- Combined and myotropic antispasmodics.
- Narcotic and specific analgesics.
- Combined analgesics.
- Pyrazolones, their combinations.
- Anti-migraine agents.
- Inhibitors of COX-2.
What is the most pain reliever for different types of pain?
Medicines of each type are effective in various pain manifestations. For example, NSAIDs can help with headaches, toothaches, anti-migraines only with migraines, and antispasmodics with menstrual cramps.
What painkillers are effective for pain manifestations of a different nature:
| Nature of pain | Preparations |
|---|---|
| In oncology | Therapy begins with non-narcotic analgesics. Then, weak or strong opiates are prescribed, the choice of one or another depends on the severity of pain, which is due to the growth of the tumor. Anti-inflammatory drugs are shown - Paracetamol, steroids - Prednisolone, opiates - Hydromorphone, type 2 inhibitors - Rofecoxib. |
| For pain in the joints, back, jaw | Unpleasant sensations that appear on the background of diseases and closed injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including jaw fractures, are suppressed using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COX-2 inhibitors or non-narcotic analgesics. Narcotic drugs are prescribed less often, for example, Fentatin, a crystalline powder intended for subcutaneous injection. |
| For menstrual pain, cystitis, pancreatitis, spasmodic toothache | A good anesthetic effect is possessed by painkillers with antispasmodic properties: Drotaverin, Papaverine. |
| In inflammatory diseases, including dental ones - periodontitis, periodontal disease, gingivitis | It is recommended to use NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors - safe NSAIDs that have been isolated in a separate group due to the strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect without negative effects on the gastric mucosa. |
| With a very severe pain syndrome, for example, after surgery for osteomyelitis | Powerful narcotic painkillers are indicated. |
| With mild toothache or headache caused by nervous tension, colds, overwork | It is enough to take the cheapest analgesics: Analgin, Tempalgin, Baralgin, Citramon. |
| With migraine | It is difficult to stop such pain, therefore, instead of simple analgesics, anti-migraine ones are used, which have an antispasmodic and vasodilating effect. |
| With a aching tooth, with joint, muscle pain | NSAIDs may be used. They relieve fever, stop the inflammatory process and an unpleasant symptom. |
| With serious cardiovascular pathologies and other serious conditions | Often prescribed narcotic analgesics, the active components of which affect the central nervous system, inhibiting its activity. As a result, the pain stops, the patient experiences euphoria. Such funds can be used only as directed by a doctor. |
Pyrazolones: a list of the best
Pyrazolones are the simplest painkillers. The well-known Analgin, which is banned in many countries of the world because of low efficiency and serious side effects, leads them all: metamizole sodium can cause anaphylactic shock, lead to the development of agranulocytosis - a pathological condition in which the level of leukocytes in the blood decreases, the body's susceptibility to infections increases.
Analgin has not only an analgesic effect, it has a slight antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Despite the fact that in Russia metamizole sodium is dispensed without a prescription and belongs to the group of the cheapest drugs, it should be used extremely carefully and as rarely as possible. The best option is a one-time relief of sharp pain.
Other combinations of pyrazolones:
| Title | Characteristic |
|---|---|
|
Quinine analgin
|
Green tablets are produced by the Bulgarian concern Sopharma, contain 2 components: quinine and metamizole sodium. The first active substance reduces body temperature, the second anesthetizes and stops the inflammatory process. Analgin-quinine is used for fever and joint spasms of colds. |
|
Tempalgin
|
Famous tablets of green color, which are actively used to relieve toothache, headache and any other pain. Contain 2 active ingredients: metamizole sodium, triacetonamine-4-toluenesulfonate. The last component has an anxiolytic effect: it reduces anxiety, anxiety, tension. In addition, it enhances the effect of analgin. |
|
Spazmalgon
|
It consists of 3 compounds: metamizole sodium, phenpivirinium bromide and pitofen. Additional active substances have an antispasmodic effect on muscles, relax smooth muscles. Thanks to a good combination of active substances, the anesthetic is used for spasms of blood vessels, the ureter, various colic, headache, toothache, fever, high blood pressure, and uterine hypertonicity. Unlike Drotaverinum, Spazmalgon does not have a detrimental effect on the cervix and is safe for the fetus and mother in any trimester of pregnancy, except for the first - all medications are prohibited during this period. |
Combined Analgesics
The main component of most combined painkillers is paracetamol. The active substance helps to relieve pain, reduce body temperature, and relieve the inflammatory process.
Paracetamol earned the title of a strong analgesic even in those days when it was realized only in its purest form. But after combining with additional components, the properties of the substance intensified and combined analgesics were added to the ranks of the most effective painkillers.
Among the best combination drugs are:
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
|
Vicks Active Sympto Max
|
Composition: paracetamol, phenylephrine. An additional component has a vasoconstrictor effect, so the medicine is taken for joint, muscle pain, which is typical for colds. |
|
Ibuklin, Brustan
|
Inexpensive Ibuklin tablets have a noticeable orange color.Composition: paracetamol and ibuprofen, which is listed on the list of the most powerful painkillers non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Thanks to an effective combination and a decent concentration of active substances: 325 mg of paracetamol, 400 mg of ibuprofen - drugs have a pronounced antipyretic and anesthetic effect. |
|
Gevadal
|
The Austrian drug containing paracetamol, caffeine and propiphenazone is a painkiller from the group of pyrazolones with a moderate analgesic, antipyretic effect. Caffeine promotes vasodilatation and enhances the analgesic effect. Such painkillers are used for headache, muscle, toothache. |
Anti-migraine agents
Ordinary analgesic drugs can not cope with migraines, therefore, they use special anti-migraine analgesics, which expand the vessels and prevent their spasm. Among the best painkillers in this group are:
- Sumatriptan. This is the name of both the drug and the active substance. Migraine retreats 30 minutes after taking 50 mg of sumatriptan. If the anesthetic effect has not occurred, you can drink 2 tablets per day. Analogs of means: Amigrenin, Migrepam, Imigran, Trimigren.
- Eletriptan. Anesthetic medicine, the highest efficiency of which is observed when used in the initial stages of a migraine attack. At the end of 2017, only one elitriptan-based drug was registered in the Russian Federation - Relpax, manufactured by the American super giant Pfizer.
List of the best NSAIDs
A special place among all pills for pain is taken by NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Of these, the most pronounced anesthetic effect is:
| Title | Characteristic |
|---|---|
|
Aspirin
|
It has analgesic properties, but is rarely used to eliminate pain, since high doses of acetylsalicylic acid aggressively affect the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. At the same time, the German pharmaceutical company Bayer produces an effervescent form of Aspirin, which is designed specifically for pain relief and heat reduction. |
|
Ibuprofen
|
Cheap, powerful and safest NSAIDs. The main functions of the drug are pain relief and a decrease in body temperature. It is allowed to apply even to newborns and infants, which confirms safety. In pharmacies, the drug is sold in the form of tablets, suppositories, syrup, gel. The most popular drugs based on ibuprofen are called as follows: Ibuprom, Nurofen, Dolgit, Ipren. |
|
Ketorolac
|
It is included in the group of the most effective painkillers. According to its anesthetic properties, Ketorolac is comparable to some of the strongest opioid analgesics, which is why it is used, like narcotic drugs, only in extreme situations: after surgery, in fractures, oncological diseases. Ketorolac-based drugs are called so: Ketanov, Ketorol, Torolak, Dolak, Ketalgin, Dolomin. |
COX-2 Inhibitors: Examples
COX-2 inhibitors are anti-inflammatory drugs that distinguish themselves from other NSAIDs by a special mechanism of action: they do not block COX-1, which protects the gastrointestinal mucosa. Such drugs are indicated for the occurrence of pain in people suffering from gastric ulcer and other gastrointestinal pathologies.
The most powerful painkillers from the group of COX-2 inhibitors:
| Title | Characteristic |
|---|---|
|
Celecoxib
|
The first anesthetic drug among coxibs, registered in the Russian Federation. Celecoxib is able to stop and anesthetize the inflammatory process, it is used for exacerbation of rheumatic diseases. Analogs: Dilax, Celebrex, Coxib. |
|
Rofecoxib
|
It is prescribed to reduce inflammation and pain in rheumatic and dental diseases. In pharmacies in Moscow, the drug can be found under the name Viox in the form of tablets and suspensions. |
|
Parecoxib
|
Available in the form of injections, it has a slightly lower anti-inflammatory activity, but it is the most powerful analgesic available over the counter. In Russia, Parecoxib is sold under the name Dynastat. |
Narcotic analgesics
Narcotic analgesic is the most powerful pain medication. The active substances of such tablets act on nerve receptors, inhibiting them and blocking the transmission of pain impulses. In addition, they reduce the emotional perception of pain and facilitate the reaction to it, cause a euphoric state.
Narcotic analgesics are addictive, therefore, they are used only in extreme cases: to stop a very acute pain syndrome.
Powerful opioid preparations known in the Russian Federation are made on the basis of codeine, fentanyl, and morphine.
List of the most powerful opioid pain relievers:
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
|
Nurofen Plus
|
The drug is produced in Britain, contains ibuprofen and codeine. The tool effectively relieves pain in various pathological phenomena: migraine, dental diseases, back pain, joints, muscles, spine, neuralgia, flu, colds. Nurofen Plus is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age. |
|
Sedalgin Neo
|
The most powerful anesthetizing tablets in Bulgaria, consisting of five potent substances - codeine, paracetamol, sodium metamizole, caffeine, phenobarbital. The latter substance has not only anesthetic, but also a sedative effect, therefore, the drug is effective for neurological, rheumatic, dental, post-burn, postoperative, phantom pain. |
What are antispasmodics
Antispasmodics are of two types - myotropic and combined. The former are able to reduce the intake of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract into the cells of smooth muscle fibers, as a result of which the vessels and smooth muscles expand, and the pressure decreases. This action provides a powerful analgesic and antispasmodic effect.
Combined antispasmodics represent a small group of drugs. Such funds consist of several active substances that enhance each other's action and provide a pronounced antispasmodic and anesthetic effect.
What are the best combination pills for pain
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
|
No-rods
|
The drug is made by the French company Sanofi Aventis and consists of three potent substances: codeine, drotaverine and paracetamol. This combination provides a versatile effect on the body: paracetamol relieves pain and lowers temperature, codeine enhances the anesthetic effect, and drotaverine reduces spasm. The drug is used for vascular, headache, toothache. |
|
Nominated
|
The medicine is made in Bosnia and Herzegovina and consists of five complementary components: caffeine, propiphenazone, ergotamine tartrara, chlamydir camilofin and mecloxamine citrate. These substances have an analgesic effect and can be used for migraines and vascular pain. |
List of the best myotropic pain pills
| The name of the myotropic agent | Characteristic |
|---|---|
|
Drotaverinum
|
It has an antispasmodic effect and differs from other antispasmodic drugs in the lowest level of negative effects on the body. The most popular drotaverine analogues sold in the Russian Federation are Droverin, No-shpa, Vero-drotaverin. Such pain medications are used for any diseases accompanied by spasm of smooth muscle fibers: stomach ulcer, flatulence, cholecystitis, dyskinesia, colitis, gastroduodenitis. |
|
Dicetel
|
Made in France, it contains pinaveria bromide - an active substance that has the same property as drotaverine: relieving spasm of smooth muscle fibers. But unlike Drotaverin and its analogues, Dietetel is used to relieve pain in intestinal cramps, including biliary dyskinesia. |
Specific preparations
Specific drugs cannot be called analgesics, and people unrelated to medicine are unlikely to use them when a pain syndrome occurs. Such drugs are considered anticonvulsants, and even the instructions for use say that their main effect is antiepileptic and anticonvulsant.
but specific drugs effectively relieve severe postoperative pain. In addition, they reduce sensitivity in the presence of serious wounds, for example, after removal of the bone tissue of the jaw affected by osteomyelitis.
List of popular specific painkillers:
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
|
Gabapentin
|
Recommended for the relief of postoperative pain in order to more rarely use narcotic painkillers. In addition, the effectiveness of tablets has been proven to reduce the sensitivity of the spinal cord, even if it occurs after surgical and traumatic tissue damage. In Russian pharmacies, Gabapentin can be found under different names: Gapentek, Tebantin, Gabagamma, Egipentin, Catena, Neurontin. |
|
Pregabalin
|
Pregabalin is similar to Gabapentin, its main difference is a longer half-life. It is for this reason that it is better to use an agent for the treatment of acute pain manifestations: postoperative, neuropathic, fibromyalgic. Analogs: Prabegin, Pregabalin, Algerica. |
Which remedy is better
You can not drink painkillers based solely on their effectiveness and indications. Analgesics of different types relieve pain of a certain nature, but they have contraindications, side effects. Therefore, if any pain syndrome occurs, it is best to always consult a doctor and ask him to prescribe the most effective and least harmful medicine. And in order to get rid of the painful manifestation forever, it is necessary to treat the cause of its occurrence.
