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Medications for Pain

Medications

Your recommended medical therapy may include one or more medications (analgesics). Different medication are prescribed to treat different aspects of your pain. Your recommended treatment plan may also involve the use of investigational medications.

Medications used to treat pain fall into several major categories:

  • Opiate "pain killers" are often used to treat acute pain or cancer-related pain, and sometimes prescribed for chronic pain.
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs may be helpful in alleviating pain by reducing swelling and irritation.
  • Anti-depressants may be helpful in reducing certain types of pain. They may also be used to help patients sleep at night.
  • Membrane stabilizers are helpful for some patients in whom pain is caused by abnormal electrical discharges in damaged nerves.

Condition Spotlight

Stanford Pain Chief Leads National Pain Strategy Effort
Dr. Sean Mackey on Pain Management and Stanford's Approach to Treating Pain
Dr. Sean Mackey on Pain Management and Stanford's Approach to Treating Pain Play Video | 3:15
Taking Your Life Back from Pain's Control – with Mind, Body and New Medical Vision
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Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials Closed Trials