Nerve pain, also called neuropathic pain, can cause various symptoms that can lead to discomfort. This can range from a burning or tingling sensation to a shooting and stabbing pain. People with nerve pain have several treatment options to manage their condition.
Doctors can recommend medications, such as OTC drugs and topical ointments, or prescribe you more potent pain drugs. This depends on the severity and cause of your neuropathic pain. Depending on the type of nerve pain you are experiencing, OTC medications may not be strong enough to provide you relief.
OTC painkillers
Nerve pain, true to its name, directly affects your nerves, and the pain it may cause can be severe and debilitating. People with neuropathic pain may feel severe shooting or stabbing pain and experience numbness and tingling.
If you experience mild nerve pain in certain areas of your body, doctors may first recommend trying to treat it with OTC pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
However, these are not usually very effective if you have moderate or severe neuropathic pain. If you don’t experience any improvement in nerve pain with OTC drugs, speak with a doctor.
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Topical lidocaine
Topical lidocaine (Lidoderm) is one of the most common local anesthetics. Doctors may recommend topical lidocaine for treating peripheral nerve pain. Depending on its strength, lidocaine is available OTC or with a prescription.
Lidocaine comes in many different forms, including patches, creams, gels, lotions, and sprays that you can apply on your skin in the area where you experience neuropathic pain. Lidocaine can provide relief for both chronic and acute pain by numbing the area where you apply it.
The effect of lidocaine typically lasts several hours and may cause tingling or itchiness on your skin. However, lidocaine can also cause allergic reactions. Immediately contact a doctor if you experience one or more of the following symptoms after using lidocaine:
- nausea
- vomiting
- severe headache
- blood pressure changes that cause lightheadedness or dizziness
- skin rash or other allergic reactions
- changes in your heart rate
- difficulties breathing
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the active component that makes chili peppers hot. Capsaicin can help improve nerve pain by making the nerves numb to pain messages. Skin patches containing high concentrations of capsaicin (8%) can help relieve moderate nerve pain.
Capsaicin patches can also cause some side effects, such as:
- local pain
- a medication-related rash (erythema)
- itching
- high blood pressure, but this is rare
Similar to lidocaine, capsaicin also comes in ointments, gels, patches, sticks, lotions, and creams. Doctors can recommend you the most appropriate formula and strength depending on your symptoms.
Supplements
Taking certain supplements, such as alpha-lipoic acid, may help improve nerve pain. These may be more effective in people who have diabetic neuropathy, but they may also help people with other types of nerve pain. Supplements typically take time to work and don’t provide immediate relief.
Other supplements that may help with nerve pain include:
However, more research needs to be done on the effectiveness of supplements for nerve pain.
Before taking any new supplements, always speak with a doctor to make sure they are safe for you to use. A doctor can also let you know of any interactions with other medications you may be taking.
Prescription options
More severe and chronic cases of neuropathic pain may require more potent prescription medications. People taking prescription medications for nerve pain should make sure to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations. This is because these drugs can cause severe side effects and addiction when incorrectly taken.
Examples may include:
- Anticonvulsants: These are some of the most commonly used drugs for nerve pain. Anticonvulsants make changes to the electrical activity in your nerves and reduce the pain signals from the damaged nerves. Medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) can help reduce acute and chronic nerve pain.
- Opioids: These are strong pain medications doctors may prescribe for treating acute nerve pain. However, people cannot typically use opioids for a prolonged time as they can cause serious side effects and several health complications, such as opioid use disorder. These include tramadol (Ultram).
- Antidepressants: Doctors often prescribe these medications for treating depression. Antidepressants can change the levels of serotonin in your body, reducing the sensation of pain. Examples include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and amitriptyline (Elavil).
- Botulinum toxin (BoNT): This is usually one of the last choices for treating neuropathic pain when other types of treatment do not provide you any pain relief. BoNT can help ease your discomfort and reduce the inflammatory response in your body by preventing the release of pain neurotransmitters that send messages to the pain receptors in your brain and spinal cord.
Summary
People may experience nerve pain for various reasons. Neuropathic pain can cause discomfort that ranges from a tingling sensation to a shooting and stabbing sensation. Several treatment options are available for treating nerve pain, including OTC medications, topical ointments, and prescription drugs.
Topical ointments for nerve pain include lidocaine and capsaicin skin patches, creams, and ointments. Prescription drugs for neuropathic pain may include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, opioids, and botulinum toxin. When using these medications, always follow the doctor’s recommendations.
Doctors can recommend the most appropriate treatment option based on the severity of your discomfort and the underlying causes of your neuropathic pain.
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