• mild pain be treated with non-narcotic medications
such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other
aspirin-like drugs called non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
• moderate pain be treated with a combination of
NSAIDs and weak narcotics such as codeine
(Tylenol with codeine), hydrocodone (Vicodin or
Lortab), Percocet, Percodan or propoxyphene
(Darvon); and
• severe pain be treated with strong opioids such as
morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, fentanyl or
methadone in combination with an NSAID.
The guidelines also suggest adding an adjuvant medication to these narcotic and non-narcotic medications, where appropriate. These medications—which include steroids , antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications, antihistamines and sedatives—are often useful in treating
