Pain Relief Options: Comparing Prescription, OTC & Non-Drug Approaches

There is no single pain-relief solution that works for everyone.

Pain management may involve:

Prescription medication: Used when clinically appropriate.

OTC medicines: May be useful for certain types of mild or moderate pain.

Physical approaches: Exercise, physical therapy, massage and other approaches may help specific conditions.

Psychological approaches: CBT, mindfulness and other interventions may support people living with chronic pain.

NCCIH reports that several complementary approaches may provide modest benefits for certain chronic pain conditions, although evidence varies by condition.

For chronic pain, the objective should be to identify and address the underlying condition while balancing symptom relief and safety.