Back Pain Medication Overview: Understanding Medication for Back Pain Relief
The brand names of a handful of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are familiar to most people, but there are many lesser-known NSAIDs available.
See Medications for Back Pain and Neck Pain
The medications listed below are available over-the-counter, by prescription, or both. In some cases, there is a generic version available, but not a brand-name version.
Medication |
Brand |
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) |
Bayer, Ecotrin |
Celecoxib |
Celebrex |
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate |
Tricosal*, Trilisate* |
Diclofenac |
Arthrotec (combination product), Voltaren, Cataflam*, Cambia, Solaraze, Zipsor, Zorvolex, Flector, Pennsaid |
Diflunisal |
Dolobid |
Etodolac |
Lodine* |
Flurbiprofen |
Ansaid |
Ibuprofen |
Advil, Duexis (combination product), Motrin |
Indomethacin |
Indocin, Tivorbex |
Ketoprofen |
Orudis*, Oruvail*, Actron* |
Ketorolac |
Toradol*, SPRIX |
Meclofenamate |
Meclomen* |
Meloxicam |
Mobic |
Nabumetone |
Relafen* |
Naproxen |
Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, Vimovo (combination product) |
Oxaprozin |
Daypro |
Piroxicam |
Feldene |
Salsalate |
Disalsid |
Sulindac |
Clinoril* |
Tolmetin |
Tolectin* |
In This Article:
* Indicates brands that are no longer on the market.
Some NSAIDs are also sold as topical solutions, gels, or as transdermal patches. Adhesive patches slowly release medicine through the skin. An advantage of these topical products is that only the area needing relief is targeted, so less medication is needed, lowering the risk of side effects.
