Opiate drugs are another class of pain-relieving prescription drugs. Most of these drugs are derived from opium, the juice of the poppy flower. Opiate drugs work by altering the transmission of pain messages in the brain and spinal cord, blocking pain messages or altering their character. The pain-blocking action of the opiates can be enhanced by taking aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen at the same time as the opiate. Unfortunately, the effect of opiates on the brain isn't limited to pain control.
Opiates can cause drowsiness, nausea, constipation and unpleasant mood changes in some people.
Sometimes simply trying a different opiate may be all that's needed to reduce these side effects. Opiate drugs are usually avoided in chronic pain management because of the potential for tolerance. Pain from nerve damage caused by diabetes or shingles Lower back pain that continues long after the initial injury has healed Arthritis Migraine and other chronic headaches. There is some hope though. Tricyclic antidepressants, especially amitriptyline, have been found to relieve pain in patients with nerve damage.