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Medications for Back Pain

Other names: Backache; Degenerative Disc Disease; Pain, back; Slipped Disc

About Back Pain

Back pain is a variably unpleasant sensation in the lumbar, lumbosacral, or cervical regions of the back. Causes include stress or injury involving the back muscles, disease or injury involving the back vertebrae or the spinal nerves and kidney infection.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs used to treat Back Pain

The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rating Reviews Activity Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
tramadol 6.3 213 reviews
Rx C 4 X

Generic name: tramadol systemic

Brand names:  Ultram, ConZip, Qdolo

Drug class: narcotic analgesics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Norco 7.6 99 reviews
Rx C 2 X

Generic name: acetaminophen / hydrocodone systemic

Drug class: narcotic analgesic combinations

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

ibuprofen 6.5 17 reviews
Rx/OTC C N X

Generic name: ibuprofen systemic

Brand names:  Advil, Motrin, Advil Liqui-Gels, Motrin IB, A-G Profen, Actiprofen, Addaprin, Genpril, IBU-200, Midol IB, Nuprin, Proprinal …show all

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

acetaminophen / hydrocodone 6.3 340 reviews
Rx C 2 X

Generic name: acetaminophen / hydrocodone systemic

Brand names:  Norco, Lortab, Hycet, Xodol, Anexsia, Co-Gesic, Lorcet Plus, Theracodophen Low 90 …show all

Drug class: narcotic analgesic combinations

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, Prescribing Information

naproxen 6.1 99 reviews
Rx/OTC C N X

Generic name: naproxen systemic

Brand names:  Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan, Aflaxen, All Day Pain Relief, All Day Relief, Anaprox-DS, EC-Naprosyn, Flanax Pain Reliever, Midol Extended Relief …show all

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

diclofenac 7.8 82 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: diclofenac systemic

Brand names:  Voltaren, Cataflam, Zipsor

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Ultram 8.2 21 reviews
Rx C 4 X

Generic name: tramadol systemic

Drug class: narcotic analgesics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Cymbalta 5.7 46 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: duloxetine systemic

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Lortab 7.7 44 reviews
Rx C 2 X

Generic name: acetaminophen / hydrocodone systemic

Drug class: narcotic analgesic combinations

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Aleve 6.5 34 reviews
Rx/OTC C N X

Generic name: naproxen systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Voltaren 8.4 21 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: diclofenac systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

duloxetine 5.3 59 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: duloxetine systemic

Brand names:  Cymbalta, Irenka

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Advil 4.0 4 reviews
Rx/OTC C N X

Generic name: ibuprofen systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

aspirin 8.4 8 reviews
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Brand names:  Bayer Aspirin, Ecotrin, Arthritis Pain, Ascriptin, Aspergum, Aspiritab, Aspirtab, Bayer Aspirin Extra Strength Plus, Bufferin, Easprin, Ecpirin, Entercote, Genacote, Halfprin, Norwich Aspirin …show all

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Naprosyn 8.2 6 reviews
Rx/OTC C N X

Generic name: naproxen systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Cataflam 9.0 7 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: diclofenac systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Bayer Aspirin 6.3 3 reviews
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Motrin 7.7 3 reviews
Rx/OTC C N X

Generic name: ibuprofen systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Ecotrin Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

nabumetone Off-label 5.4 30 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: nabumetone systemic

Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Off-label: Yes

Arthritis Pain Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Ascriptin Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Aspergum Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Aspiritab Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Aspirtab Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X

Generic name: aspirin systemic

Drug class: salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).

Topics under Back Pain

Learn more about Back Pain

IBM Watson Micromedex

Symptoms and treatments

Drugs.com Health Center

Mayo Clinic Reference

Legend

Rx Prescription Only
OTC Over the Counter
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over the Counter
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

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