Drugs For Nerve-Related Back Pain
When the nervous system is involved in back pain, over-the-counter meds and painkillers are unlikely to work. They sometimes reduce the severity of pain, but it does not entirely go away. In such cases, we also need to use drugs that change the nervous system chemistry at various levels.
A common prescription in patients with chronic back pain associated with the nervous system is tricyclic antidepressants. This is not necessarily because the patient is experiencing mood problems. Antidepressants reduce nerve firing potential in the nervous system. This is beneficial in nerve-related back pain because the nerves won’t be sending the pain signal so frequently, and the symptoms slowly improve. We should also be aware of the side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, and constipation.
Another type of drug that works in these cases is antiepileptic’s. One of the most commonly used is gabapentin, which is very useful in cases of radiculopathy. They work similarly to antidepressants in the aspect of lowering the constant firing of nerves that create the pain impulse. Their side effects are also very similar.
When considering pharmacologic treatment for nerve-related back pain, doctors may include a combination of these drugs and common painkillers. That’s because there is usually inflammation also triggering the pain response.