These are medications designed to reduce or eliminate pain in a person. They can act on the central nervous system or on peripheral nerves, blocking the transmission of pain signals. Pain medications can be used to relieve pain for a variety of conditions, including headaches, toothaches, muscle aches, arthritis, and after surgery.

There are several classes of pain medications, including analgesics, non-depolarizing muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and opioids. The choice of a specific drug depends on the type of pain, its intensity, and the cause. But it’s important to use painkillers as recommended by your doctor, as misuse or abuse of opioids, for example, can cause serious side effects and dependence.