Types of painkillers
You might take non opioid painkillers for mild to moderate pain. You can also take them alongside stronger painkillers for more severe pain. There are different types.
Non opioid drugs include:
paracetamol
anti inflammatory drugs, these are also called non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Paracetamol is a painkiller for mild to moderate pain.
It has a number of different brand names, for example Panadol, Anadin and Calpol. Paracetamol can also be in other medicines such as Anadin Extra and cold remedies like Beechams and Benylin. In America, it is also known as acetaminophen or Tylenol. Paracetamol seems to work by blocking chemical messages in the brain that tell us we have pain.
You can take paracetamol as:
tablets
capsules
caplets
soluble tablets
a syrup that you drink
an injection into a vein (this is only used in hospitals)
You can get paracetamol on prescription. Or you can buy it from a pharmacy or other shops such as your local supermarket. There is a limit on the amount you can buy. For example, a supermarket can only sell packets of 16 tablets. And a pharmacy will only allow you to buy 32 tablets at one time.
Anti inflammatory drugs are very good for relieving bone and muscle pain. They can help improve pain relief when you take them with stronger painkillers.
There are many different non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. They include:
aspirin
ibuprofen
diclofenac (Voltarol)
You can have some of these drugs in different ways. These include as:
a liquid, tablet, capsule or caplet
slow release tablets that you take every 12 hours
granules that you dissolve in water
an injection
suppositories inserted into your back passage
Some also come as a gel or spray you put on your skin.
Some of these drugs are available without a prescription. But always ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice on when and if to take them.
NSAIDs can irritate your stomach lining. You shouldn't take them if you have any history of stomach ulcers or stomach bleeding.
Some non opioid drugs can also slow the time it takes for your blood to clot. So, you shouldn’t take them with other drugs that slow your blood clotting, such as warfarin.
Some of the drugs can have an effect on how your kidneys work.
Last reviewed: 19 Jan 2024
Next review due: 19 Jan 2027
Cancer pain can be treated by using morphine type drugs called opioids, non opioids and other drugs such as steroids or anti depressants.
You might take other drugs alongside painkillers to help relieve cancer pain. These might be steroids, anti depressants or anti epileptic drugs.
Opioid painkillers are a common treatment for cancer pain. You might take it for mild, moderate and severe pain. Find out about the different types.
Coping with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available. Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them.
Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.
There are different causes and types of cancer pain, and many different ways of managing and treating it.
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