NSAID is an abbreviation of Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug. NSAID pain relief medication will not only relieve pain, but also reduce fever and inflammation. The term Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug is used to distinguish these drugs from the steroid based medications which are also anti-inflammatory, but which usually cause more severe side effects than the NSAIDs. NSAID pain relief medication can consist of different active ingredients. They are usually classified into seven groups based on their chemical structure; salicylates, arylalkanoic acids, 2-arylpropionic acids (profens), N-arylanthranilic acids (fenamic acids), oxicams, coxibs and sulphonanilides. For example, the well known pain relief medication called Aspirin belongs to the salicylates group, Ibuprofen is a 2-arylpropionic acid and Diclofenac, which is often prescribed to treat lower back pain, is one of the arylalkanoic NSAIDs.

Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen. Both words are derived from the chemical names used for the compound: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol and para-acetyl-amino-phenol. Paracetamol is the active ingredient in pain relief medication from a number of different manufacturers and common brand names in the U.S. include Tylenol, Panadol, Feverall and Valorin. Unlike NSAID pain relief medication, Paracetamol is unable to reduce inflammations; Paracetamol will only reduce fever and pain. Many users experience fewer problems from the stomach when using Paracetamol instead of NSAID pain relief medication. Unlike NSAIDs such as aspirin, Paracetamol will not affect the blood coagulation. Paracetamol has no mood altering effects and is therefore considered safer than opioid pain relief medication, and paracetamol will not cause dependence, tolerance, addiction or withdrawal problems.

One of the most frequently used pain relief medication in the narcotic group is morphine. Morphine is the major active substance in opium and a very potent pain relief medication. Morphine will act directly on the central nervous system and is commonly used as a pain relief medication for acute and severe pain caused by surgery or major trauma. Morphine as also used as a pain relief medication for moderate and severe chronic pain, such as pain caused by cancer. General or epidural anaesthesia is sometimes combined with morphine to relive pain, and morphine is also frequently used as a pain relief medication in palliative care when doctors are unable to treat the underlying illness. Morphine should be used with extreme caution since it is highly addictive and capable of producing severe physical and psychological side effects. 

Prescription Drug Addiction

A common synthetic drug with narcotic properties used as a pain relief medication is Tramadol. Tramadol is considered an opioid, but it is a synthetic agent and unrelated to the other opioids. Tramadol was developed by a pharmaceutical company named Grünenthal GmbH and is marketed as a pain relief medication under the brand name Tramal. Today, Grünenthal has cross licensed Tramadol to many other companies and you can therefore find Tramadol in various pain relief medication including Adolonta, Contramal, Nobligan, Tradolan and Zydol. Tramadol is used as a pain relief medication for moderate to severe pain.