Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 WebMD Today HomeWebMD News Center Member Services Newsletters & AlertsBoards & EventsWebMD UniversityMy WebMDFind a Physician Medical Info Diseases & ConditionsCheck SymptomsMedical LibraryDrugs & HerbsQuizzes, CalculatorsClinical TrialsMedicare Rx BenefitsHealth Plan Health & Wellness Women, Men, LifestylePregnancy & FamilyDiet & Nutrition Who We Are About WebMDPrivacy & YouSite Map You are in Diseases & Conditions. Choose a TopicAll ConditionsADD/ADHDAllergiesAlzheimer'sArthritisAsthmaBack PainBreast CancerCancerDentalDepressionDiabetesEye HealthHeart DiseaseHepatitisHIV/AIDSHypertensionMen's ConditionsMental HealthMigraines/HeadachesMultiple SclerosisOsteoporosisParkinson'sSexual ConditionsSkin & BeautyStrokeWeight ControlWomen's Conditions Health Topics | Symptoms | Medical Tests | Medications | Wellness | Support Organizations Examples How It Works Why It Is Used How Well It Works Side Effects What To Think About Narcotic pain relievers for a herniated disc Examples acetaminophen and codeine phosphate (Tylenol with Codeine) oxycodone and aspirin (Percodan) hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen (Lortab, Vicodin, Norco) How It Works Narcotic pain relievers relieve pain by altering how the brain perceives pain.Why It Is Used Narcotic pain relievers are used only to treat more severe pain that is poorly controlled after using nonnarcotic medications. Because these medications can be addictive, they are usually prescribed for a short period of time (1 to 2 weeks).How Well It Works While these narcotic pain relievers control pain more effectively than nonnarcotic medications, they are not appropriate for treating chronic back pain because they lose their effectiveness over time, can lead to addiction problems, and can be misused.Side Effects Side effects of narcotic pain relievers include: Confusion, clouded judgment. Drowsiness. Nausea/vomiting. Constipation (which can increase back pain). See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)What To Think About Limit your use of narcotic pain relievers to less than 2 weeks. Narcotics are only meant for treating periods of extremely severe pain and are not intended for use until the pain goes completely away. See a list of questions to ask your doctor about medications. Credits Author Kathe Gallagher, MSW Editor Renée Spengler, RN, BSN Associate Editor Lila Havens Associate Editor Landauer Primary Medical Reviewer M. Green, MD- Emergency Medicine Specialist Medical Reviewer B. Keller, MD- Orthopedics Last Updated August 27, 2002 ^back to top To Search the Help Last updated: August 27, 2002 Print-Friendly Version © 1995-2004, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. All Rights Reserved.This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Medscape for Physicians | Medscape for Healthcare Professionals Corporate | Contact Us Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy and Agreement ©1996-2004 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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