Medications are vital in treating chronic pain but be aware of the side effects. Thomas Smith, MD is a medicine oncologist and palliative care physician at John Hopkins. He says, " We use all the medications with some caution." Here's a little info about your options. Acetaminophen: Tylenol, Anacin AF, Tactina and store brands. Warnings: Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver. Overuse can cause liver failure. Do you rely on Acetaminophen to help with pain?

Oral Steroids: Prednisone, hydrocortisone or dexamethasone can be used to decrease inflammation and pain for rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and COPD. Side effects include swelling, high blood pressure, mood changes and upset stomach. They're typically used only short term. Are you familiar with any of the oral steroids listed?

Muscle relaxants: Prescription antispastics for short term muscle pain. UC San Diego pain specialist Dr. Timothy Furnish says, "They were never studied to be long term but many patients have taken them daily for years." Side effects include risk of falls, confusion, mood swings and thoughts of suicide. Do you think the prescription is worth the side effects?

Opioids: Prescription opioids include hydrocodone, oxymorphone, morphine, codeine and fentanyl. Dr. Smith says extended-release capsules/tablets may be used to provide a baseline of pain relief, alongside a short-acting opioid as needed. Warnings: highly addictive (usually causing misuse and overdose), difficult to come off and constipation is common. Did you know that according to the National Library of Medicine, opioid related deaths are highest among individuals between 40-50 years old?

ABC News recently reported that for the first time in twenty years, the FDA approved a nonopioid drug, Journavx, to treat moderate to severe pain. Journavx is a sodium channel blocker that relieves pain by blocking pain-sensing nerves around the body from transmitting pain messages to the spinal cord and brain. It is also nonaddictive. The FDA approval was received January 30, 2025. The approval was based on positive results from Phase 3 clinical trials which showed it effectively reduced acute pain for 48 hours after surgery. Side effects include muscle spasms, rash, itching and nausea. It may also decrease the chance of females becoming pregnant while taking this medicine. If you suffer from acute pain, would you be willing to try Journavx?