Prescription medicines can provide important benefits when used appropriately. Painkillers can help manage acute or persistent pain, while medicines such as diazepam may be prescribed for specific neurological, muscular or anxiety-related conditions.
However, medicines that affect the central nervous system can also cause drowsiness, dizziness, dependence and other adverse effects. Understanding how different medicines work and how they may interact is an important part of responsible medicine use.
This article looks at several prescription medicines commonly associated with pain management and sedation, including oxycodone, oxymorphone, tramadol, codeine and diazepam.
Medical disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and should not be used as a substitute for individual medical advice. Always follow your prescriber’s instructions and consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your treatment.
Different medicines work in different ways
Not all prescription medicines used for pain or nervous-system conditions work in the same way.
Opioid medicines such as oxycodone, oxymorphone, tramadol and codeine primarily work through pathways involved in the body’s perception of pain. Diazepam belongs to a different class of medicines called benzodiazepines and has a calming and muscle-relaxing effect on the central nervous system.
Because these medicines have different mechanisms and risks, they should only be used for the conditions for which they have been prescribed.
Oxycodone: an opioid for severe pain
Oxycodone is a strong opioid analgesic that can be prescribed when a patient requires treatment for severe pain.
Oxycodone is available in different strengths and formulations. Our website provides information about OxyContin 20mg and OxyContin 40mg.
As with other opioid medicines, oxycodone can cause side effects such as:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Reduced alertness
More serious effects can occur when too much opioid medicine is taken or when it is combined with other substances that suppress the central nervous system.
Patients should use oxycodone only according to the instructions provided by their healthcare professional.
Oxymorphone and opioid analgesia
Oxymorphone is another opioid analgesic used for the treatment of certain types of severe pain.
Our Opana 5mg page contains additional information about this medicine.
Opioid medicines should not be treated as interchangeable simply because they are all used to manage pain. They differ in potency, formulation and how they are processed by the body.
If a doctor decides that a patient needs to change from one opioid to another, the appropriate medicine and dose should be determined by a qualified healthcare professional.
Tramadol: what patients should know
Tramadol is an opioid analgesic used for certain types of moderate to
