Lidoderm

( lidocaine topical)

Lidoderm is a local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve signals in your body. Lidoderm is used to relieve post-shingles pain. Apply Lidoderm only to intact skin with no blisters. Lidocaine topical in other formulations is used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by skin irritations such as sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and minor cuts, scratches, hemorrhoids, and burns. Lidocaine topical can also be used to treat sores inside the mouth, during dental procedures to numb the gums, and to numb the skin for a medical procedure (such as getting stiches).

Route: Topical 

Dose: Apply up to 3 patches, only once for up to 12 hr within a 24-hr period

Side effects may include:

• uneven heartbeats;

• drowsiness, confusion;

• tremors, seizure (convulsions); or

• blurred vision.

Do not allow Lidoderm to come into contact with your eyes. If it does, rinse with water. Avoid using other topical medications on the affected area unless your doctor has told you to.

Roxanol

( Morphine Oral Concentrate)

Used to ease pain, This medicine has an opioid drug in it. Severe side effects have happened when opioid drugs were used with benzodiazepines or other drugs that may make you drowsy or slow your actions. This includes slow or troubled breathing and death. Benzodiazepines include drugs like alprazolam, diazepam, and lorazepam. Benzodiazepines may be used to treat many health problems like anxiety, trouble sleeping, or seizures. If you have questions, talk with your doctor

Route: oral concentrate

Dose: 10 to 30 mg every 4 hours or as directed by physician

Side effects may include:

• Very bad dizziness or passing out.

• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.

• Feeling confused.

• Noisy breathing.

• Seizures.

• Severe constipation or stomach pain. These may be signs of a severe bowel problem.

• Feeling very tired or weak.

• Depression or other mood changes.

• Swelling in the arms or legs.

• Fever, chills, or sore throat.

• Pain when passing urine.

• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.

This medicine is a strong pain drug that can put you at risk for addiction, abuse, and misuse. Misuse or abuse of Roxanol can lead to overdose and death.

Fentanyl

( Actiq )

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain, it is up to 100 times stronger than other opioids like morphine, heroin or oxycodone. Fentanyl is from the class of medicines called narcotic analgesics.

Route: injection

Dose: 1 to 2 mcg/kg/dose intranasally each hour as needed; the maximum dose is 100 mcg

Side effects include:

• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, pale skin, feeling weak or tired

• constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or

• sleep problems (insomnia)

• swelling in your hands or feet

• increased sweating, or cold feeling

• for patches itching, redness, or rash where a patch was worn.

You should not use fentanyl unless you are already being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant.

Tramadol

( ConZip )

Tramadol is a strong pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain that is not being relieved by other types of pain medicines. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid and acts in the brain and spine (central nervous system) to reduce the amount of pain you feel.

Route: Oral 

Dose: 50 to 100 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours 

Side effects may include: 

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;

• a slow heart rate or weak pulse;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• seizure (convulsions); or

• low cortisol levels - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

Take tramadol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use tramadol in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to take more of this medicine.

Aleve

( camphor)

Aspirin is a salicylate (sa-LIS-il-ate). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation. Aspirin is used to treat pain, and reduce fever or inflammation. It is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes, and chest pain (angina).

Route: oral

Dose: 1 or 2 tablets, taken every 4 to 6 hours.

Side effects may include:

• upset stomach;

• heartburn;

• drowsiness; or

• mild headache.

You should not use aspirin if you have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding, or if you are allergic to an NSAID

Tylenol

( acetaminophen)

Tylenol is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Tylenol is used to reduce fever and relieve minor pain caused by conditions such as colds or flu, headache, muscle aches, arthritis, menstrual cramps and fevers.

Route: oral

Dose: 2 caplets every 6 hours

Side effects may include:

• stomach pain (upper right side);

• loss of appetite;

• tiredness, itching;

• dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose

precocet

(acetaminophen and oxycodone)

Percocet contains a combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone. Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of oxycodone. Percocet is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

Route: oral

Dose:  capsule every 6 hours as needed.

Side effects may include:

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;

• slow heartbeat or week pulse;

• cold, clammy skin;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• weakness, tiredness, fever, unusual bruising or bleeding;

• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• seizure (convulsions);

• problems with urination;

Due of the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, even at recommended doses, Percocet is only prescribed when treatment with non-opioid pain relieving medication has not been tolerated or has not provided adequate pain relief.

Oxycodone

( Oxaydo)

Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication sometimes called a narcotic. Oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of oxycodone is for around-the-clock treatment of pain and should not be used on an as-needed basis for pain.

Route: Oral

Dose:9 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours

Range: take with food 

Side effects may include:

• a slow heart rate or weak pulse;

• cold, clammy skin;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• seizure (convulsions);

You should not use this medicine if you are already using a similar opioid medicine and are tolerant to it. Do not use this medicine if you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine or have received a methylene blue injection.

Oxycontin

(Dazidox)

OxyContin is an opioid pain medication sometimes called a narcotic. OxyContin is a strong prescription medicine used when an opioid medicine is needed to manage severe pain enough to require daily around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.

Route: oral

Dose:9 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours

Range: take with food 

Side effects may include:

• Difficulty having a bowel movement

• drowsiness

• lack or loss of strength

• relaxed and calm feeling

Oxycodone extended-release capsules or tablets should only be used by patients who have already been taking narcotic pain medicines, also called opioids. These patients are called opioid-tolerant. If you are uncertain whether or not you are opioid-tolerant, check with your doctor before using this medicine.

Wellbutrin

( bupropion)

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medicine that is thought to work in the brain and nerves on the chemical messengers norepinephrine and dopamine. Wellbutrin XL  is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder, and Wellbutrin SR is only used to treat major depressive disorder Another brand of bupropion called Zyban is used to help to stop smoking, Wellbutrin is not indicated to help quit smoking.

Route: oral

Dose: 200 mg per day, given as 100 mg twice daily.

Side effects may include:

• dry mouth, sore throat, stuffy nose;

• ringing in the ears;

• blurred vision;

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, constipation;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• tremors, sweating, feeling anxious or nervous;

• fast heartbeats;

• confusion, agitation, hostility;

• rash;

• weight loss;

• increased urination;

• headache, dizziness; or

• muscle or joint pain.

Bupropion may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Remeron

( mirtazapine)

Remeron is an antidepressant. The way mirtazapine works is still not fully understood. It is thought to positively affect communication between nerve cells in the central nervous system and/or restore chemical balance in the brain.

Remeron is prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.

Route: oral

Dose: 15 mg by mouth before bedtime.

Side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness;

• increased appetite; or

• weight gain.

Using Remeron with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Effexor

(venlafaxine)

Effexor (venlafaxine) is used in adults to treat major depressive disorder. Effexor XR extended-release (long-acting) capsules are also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worrying that is difficult to control), social anxiety disorder (extreme fear of interacting with others or performing in front of others that interferes with normal life), and panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks).

Route: oral

Dose: 37.5–75 mg once per day

Side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness;

• ringing in your ears, feeling anxious, nervous, or jittery;

• sleep problems, unusual dreams;

• tremors;

• fast heartbeats;

• blurred vision;

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;

• changes in weight or appetite;

• dry mouth, yawning;

• increased sweating; or

• sexual problems.

Using Effexor with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Abilify

( aripiprazole)

Abilify is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. Abilify is used with antidepressant medication to treat major depressive disorder in adults.

Route: oral

Dose:10 or 15 mg/day once-a-day

Side effects may include:

• increased saliva or drooling;

• muscle stiffness;

• uncontrolled muscle movements, shaking, anxiety, feeling restless;

• weight gain;

• nausea, vomiting, constipation;

• increased or decreased appetite;

• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;

• sleep problems (insomnia); or

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;

St. John's wort is a shrubby plant with clusters of yellow flowers that have oval, elongated petals. Scientists believe it is native to Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and the western United States. The plant gets its name because it is often in full bloom around June 24, the day traditionally celebrated as the birthday of John the Baptist. Both the flowers and leaves are used as medicine.

Route: oral

Dose:  The usual dose for mild depression and mood disorders is 300 mg

Side effects may include:

• insomnia, 

• anxiety, 

• dry mouth, 

• Dizziness,

•  gastrointestinal symptoms, 

• fatigue, headache, 

• or sexual dysfunction

For people with major depression, there's some concern that taking St. John's wort may increase the risk for mania. Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should not take St. John's wort