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Pain ManagementPain Management

This category covers medicines for inflammatory and musculoskeletal pain, from everyday anti-inflammatories to treatments for arthritis and gout. They relieve symptoms rather than cure the underlying cause. Short courses, long-term treatment and flare control are handled differently, so the same pain does not always call for the same medicine.

Voltaren

Diclofenac

50 · 100mg

Diclofenac 50mg and 100mg tablets, used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and acute musculoskeletal pain. A phenylacetic acid NSAID.

From$0.36/ tabletView

Celebrex

Celecoxib

100 · 200mg

Celecoxib 100mg and 200mg hard capsules, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A selective COX-2 inhibitor.

From$0.57/ tabletView

Arcoxia

Etoricoxib

60 · 90 · 120mg

Etoricoxib 60mg, 90mg and 120mg film-coated tablets, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. A selective COX-2 inhibitor.

From$0.67/ tabletView

Naprosyn

Naproxen

250 · 500mg

Naproxen 250mg and 500mg, as plain and gastro-resistant tablets, used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

From$0.55/ tabletView

Zyloprim

Allopurinol

100 · 300mg

Allopurinol 100mg and 300mg tablets, used in the management of gout, hyperuricaemia and uric acid nephropathy. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor.

From$0.37/ tabletView

Colcrys

Colchicine

0.5mg

Colcrys is colchicine 0.5mg tablets for gout, a tubulin inhibitor. Microtubule function in white blood cells is where it does its work.

From$0.41/ tabletView

Uloric

Febuxostat

40 · 80mg

Febuxostat 40mg and 80mg tablets, used in the management of gout and hyperuricaemia. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor that lowers uric acid production.

From$0.85/ tabletView

Robaxin

Methocarbamol

500mg

Methocarbamol 500mg tablets, used for back pain and muscle spasm. A centrally acting muscle relaxant rather than one that works on the muscle.

From$0.85/ tabletView

Lioresal

Baclofen

10 · 25mg

Baclofen 10mg and 25mg, as tablets and oral solution, used for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and spinal cord spasm. A GABA-B agonist.

From$0.68/ tabletView

Indocin

Indometacin

25 · 50 · 75mg

Indometacin 25mg, 50mg and 75mg capsules and suppositories, used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and acute gout.

From$0.32/ tabletView

Mobic

Meloxicam

7.5 · 15mg

Meloxicam 7.5mg and 15mg tablets, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. An oxicam that leans towards COX-2.

From$0.33/ tabletView

Voveran

Diclofenac

50mg

Voveran is diclofenac 50mg in a gastro-resistant tablet, so it passes the stomach before dissolving. Listed for arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

From$0.39/ tabletView

Voveran SR

Diclofenac

100mg

Voveran SR is diclofenac 100mg in a prolonged-release tablet for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, releasing the NSAID gradually.

From$0.94/ tabletView

Voltaren SR

Diclofenac

100mg

Voltaren SR is diclofenac 100mg in a modified-release tablet for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

From$0.64/ tabletView

Decadron

Dexamethasone

0.5mg

Dexamethasone 0.5mg tablets, used for inflammatory conditions, allergic states, rheumatoid arthritis and cerebral oedema. A potent synthetic glucocorticoid.

From$0.38/ tabletView

Dexone

Dexamethasone

0.5mg

Dexone is dexamethasone 0.5mg tablets for inflammation, allergic states and cerebral oedema. A potent synthetic glucocorticoid taken by mouth.

From$0.43/ tabletView

Medrol

Methylprednisolone

4 · 8 · 16mg

Methylprednisolone 4mg, 8mg and 16mg tablets, used for rheumatoid arthritis, allergic states and dermatological disease. A synthetic glucocorticoid.

From$0.48/ tabletView

Toradol

Ketorolac

10mg

Ketorolac 10mg tablets, used for short-term management of moderate acute pain. An NSAID that blocks the cyclooxygenase enzymes.

From$0.53/ tabletView

Aceclofenac Tablets

Aceclofenac

100 · 200mg

Aceclofenac 100mg and 200mg tablets, an NSAID used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Cyclooxygenase is the target.

From$0.38/ tabletView

Xylocaine

Lidocaine

2%

Lidocaine 2% gel and solution, used for local anaesthesia. It blocks sodium influx across the nerve membrane, so the impulse does not pass.

From$6.52/ tubeView

Feldene

Piroxicam

10 · 20mg

Piroxicam 10mg and 20mg hard capsules, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. An oxicam NSAID taken by mouth.

From$0.52/ tabletView

Anaprox

Naproxen

500mg

Naproxen 500mg tablets, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and musculoskeletal pain. A propionic acid NSAID.

From$0.69/ tabletView

Ponstel

Mefenamic Acid

250 · 500mg

Ponstel is mefenamic acid 250mg and 500mg tablets for dysmenorrhoea and acute pain, a fenamate NSAID that blocks the cyclo-oxygenase enzymes.

From$0.36/ tabletView

Zanaflex

Tizanidine

2 · 4mg

Zanaflex is tizanidine 2mg and 4mg tablets for muscle spasticity, a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist rather than a direct muscle relaxant.

From$0.79/ tabletView

Benemid

Probenecid

500mg

Probenecid 500mg tablets, used in the management of gout and hyperuricaemia. A uricosuric that blocks urate reabsorption so more leaves in the urine.

From$0.76/ tabletView

Voltarol

Diclofenac

100mg

Diclofenac at the single 100mg tablet strength, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A cyclooxygenase inhibitor.

From$0.51/ tabletView

Naprelan

Naproxen

250 · 500mg

Naprelan is naproxen 250mg and 500mg in a prolonged-release tablet for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

From$0.66/ tabletView

Skelaxin

Metaxalone

400mg

Metaxalone 400mg tablets, used for muscle spasm and musculoskeletal pain. A skeletal muscle relaxant that acts as a central nervous system depressant.

From$1.70/ tabletView

Flexeril

Cyclobenzaprine

15mg

Cyclobenzaprine 15mg tablets, used in the management of muscle spasm. A skeletal muscle relaxant acting at the brainstem rather than on the muscle.

From$1.56/ tabletView

Orapred

Prednisolone

2.5 · 5 · 10 · 20 · 40mg

Prednisolone tablets in five strengths from 2.5mg to 40mg, used for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and allergic states. A synthetic corticosteroid.

From$0.35/ tabletView

Prelone

Prednisolone

5 · 10 · 20 · 40mg

Prednisolone 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg tablets, used for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and allergic states. A glucocorticoid acting on gene expression.

From$0.32/ tabletView

Medrol Active

Methylprednisolone

4 · 8 · 16mg

Medrol Active is methylprednisolone 4mg, 8mg and 16mg tablets for inflammation and allergic states, a corticosteroid that damps the immune response.

From$0.48/ tabletView

Colchicum Autumnale

Colchicine

0.5mg

Colchicine 0.5mg tablets, used for gout. It blocks tubulin polymerisation, so neutrophils do not migrate into the inflamed joint.

From$0.37/ tabletView

Fleqsuvy

Baclofen

200ml

Fleqsuvy is baclofen as a 200ml oral suspension for muscle spasticity, a liquid rather than a tablet. A GABA-B receptor agonist.

From$34.00/ bottleView

Lodine

Etodolac

200 · 300 · 400mg

Etodolac 200mg, 300mg and 400mg tablets and capsules, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and pain. An NSAID of the acetic acid group.

From$0.72/ tabletView

Key points

  • This group treats inflammatory and musculoskeletal pain rather than every kind of pain.
  • NSAIDs carry stomach, kidney and cardiovascular considerations that shape who can use them and for how long.
  • Gout flares and ongoing arthritis are managed differently, one as a short course and one over the long term.

Classes and ingredients in this category

Conditions it covers

These medicines are used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and ankylosing spondylitis. Persistent pain warrants a diagnosis rather than indefinite self-treatment, and that decides the class used.

Further reading

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