Common Prescription and Over the Counter Medications
by Robert Wilson, M.D.
Anti-inflammatories
Common names of this type of medication (brand/generic):
Motrin / Ibuprofen
Advil / Ibuprofen
Aleve / Naproxen
Use for this type of medication:
- Treatment of pain
- Reduction of inflammation
Some positive effects from using this type of medication:
- This type of medication is helpful to reduce painful inflammation caused by
- Injury or Illness
- Arthritis
- Menstrual Cramps
- Gout
- Chronic inflammatory conditions
- This medication can help lower fever
Some negative effects from using this type of medication:
- Taking this type of medication can lead to increase risk of heart attack or stroke
- Taking this type of medication can be harmful to the kidneys:
- If you take too much
- If you have other medical problems
- If you take other medicines that interact with this type of medicine
- Taking this type of medicine too often can cause rebound pain when the medicine is not taken
- This type of medicine can cause swelling
- This type of medicine can make it hard to keep blood pressure under control
- You may experience stomach problems when you take this type of medicine
Muscle Relaxants
Common names of this type of medication (brand/generic):
Flexeril / Cyclobenzaprine
Soma / Carisoprodol
Robaxin / Methocarbamol
Use for this type of medication:
- Relieves pain in the muscular system by blocking pain messages to the brain
- Helps relieve pain from muscles that are tight or in spasm
Some positive effects from using this type of medication:
- Sometimes they offer quick relief from pain caused by tightness in the muscles
- They can shorten the amount of time a person has pain after an injury
- They provide some sedation that is helpful when pain makes it difficult to sleep
- In combination with rest and physical therapy can help treat pain
Some negative effects from using this type of medication:
- They can be very sedating and make it difficult to stay awake for several hours
- They can interact with other medicines to create too much sedation
- It is not advisable to take these medicine when driving, drinking alcohol or operating equipment
- These medicines can be habit forming
Pain medicine
Common names of this type of medication:
Tylenol / Acetaminophen
Motrin / Ibuprofen
Vicodin / Hydrocodone with acetaminophen
Percocet / Oxycodone with acetaminophen
Use for this type of medication:
- Relieves pain by blocking pain messages to the brain
- Over the counter medicines that do not require prescription
- Tylenol and Motrin
- Prescription medications
- Vicodin and Percocet
Some positive effects from using this type of medication:
- Pain relief from many different conditions
Relief from pain is important in the healing and recovery process - When used properly, they can improve quality of life for people with chronic pain
Some negative effects from using this type of medication:
- They can be very sedating and make it difficult to stay awake for several hours
- They can interact with other medicines to create too much sedation
- It is not wise to take these medicines when driving, drinking alcohol or operating equipment
- These medicines can be habit forming
- These medications are commonly abuse
Sleep Aids
Common names of this type of medication (brand/generic):
Desyrel / Trazodone
Amitriptyline
Ambien / Zolpidem
Lunesta / Eszopiclone
Use for this type of medication:
- Assistance with getting to sleep and staying asleep
Some positive effects from using this type of medication:
- Sleep is an important part of healing and feeling well
- When used safely and as directed, they can allow you to get several hours of sleep
Some negative effects from using this type of medication:
- Any medicine that is used on regular basis for this reason can be habit forming
- With some medicines in this class, there can be a "hangover" feeling the next morning
- Some of the medicines have been linked to dangerous sleep behaviors like "sleep driving"
- You need to allow approximately 8 hours of dedicated sleep time for the medicine to wear off
