Medicines that relieve pain are called analgesics, also known as pain medicines or pain relievers. Some people also use the term painkiller, but it is not accurate to say that medicines can kill pain. Analgesics do not affect the cause of the pain, but they can help reduce pain. Different types of medicine may be used, depending on the type and level of pain. Your health care team will compare the expected pain relief against possible side effects and how the side effects might affect your quality of life. Let them know what you’d like to be able to do, e.g. “I like to be awake throughout the day”.
Learn more about:
- Types of pain control
- Making the most of your medicines
- Ways of taking medicine
- Using medicines safely
- Travelling with medicines
Types of pain control
There are different types of pain medicines.
| non-opioids |
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| opioids |
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| adjuvant analgesics |
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More resources
Dr Tim Hucker, Pain Medicine Specialist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Keiron Bradley, Palliative Care Consultant, Bethesda Health Care, WA; A/Prof Anne Burke, Co-Director Psychology, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, President, Australian Pain Society, Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network, SA, School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, SA; Tumelo Dube, Accredited Pain Physiotherapist, Michael J Cousins Pain Management and Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Prof Paul Glare, Chair in Pain Medicine, Palliative Medicine Specialist, Pain Management Research Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW; Andrew Greig, Consumer; Annette Lindley, Consumer; Prof Melanie Lovell, Palliative Care Specialist HammondCare, Sydney Medical School and The University of Technology Sydney, NSW; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Melanie Proper, Pain Management Specialist Nurse Practitioner, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Alison White, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Director of Hospice and Palliative Care Services, St John of God Health Care, WA.
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