Pain Medication List Strongest to Weakest, Risks & Effects

Pain Medication List Strongest to Weakest, Risks & Effects

As the opioid epidemic in the United States continues to increase in severity, with over 2 million people suffering from opioid addiction and 90 Americans dying each day from an opioid overdose, being able to understand and identify the strongest pain medications has become more important than ever.

Opioids are powerful drugs that relieve pain and produce feelings of euphoria and should only be taken for short periods of time for acute pain, such as following surgery or injury. Regardless of strength, all opioids are potentially addictive and can result in an overdose if abused. However, different opioids can induce different risks and effects depending on their frequency of use and method of administration.

Abuse and diversion of these medications is a growing problem as the availability of these medications increases. Common side effects of opioid administration include sedation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, physical dependence, tolerance, and respiratory depression. Opioids can cause life-threatening breathing problems, including slow, shallow, unusual or no breathing — even when used as recommended. These problems can occur at any time during use,

The following pain medication list includes commonly abused opioids and opiates from strongest to weakest in potency. Opioids and opiates are controlled substances with a high potential for abuse, dependence, and tolerance. Not surprisingly, an estimated 1.7 million Americans were addicted to pain relievers and two million had an opioid use disorder in 2018.

Pain Medications Statistics

Pain relievers or painkillers are drugs designed to diminish or eliminate pain. Opioids fall under this umbrella term, as well as oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl. Opioids are the most abused drug type, with addiction and overdose rates climbing annually.

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4. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) – pain medication list strongest to weakest

Dilaudid is an opioid analgesic pain prescription drug synthesized from morphine to create a potent hydromorphone drug. We know it by the brand name Dilaudid. It helps people who suffer from severe pain but also puts them at risk for abusing the medication [3].

Dilaudid is sold in immediate-release tablets, oral solutions, and intravenous injections. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) [2] lists hydromorphone as a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and a high chance of causing dependency.

This prescription drug ranks fourth on the list as the strongest pain medication. Dilaudid addiction means that the person physically and psychologically needs the drug longer than they feel the pain from their injury. This dependency affects all aspects of their life, including family, school, work, and community life.

According to the National Institutes of Health, certain drugs can change the structure and inner workings of the brain. Repeated use affects a person’s self-control and interferes with the ability to resist the urge to take the drug. For instance, being unable to stop taking Dilaudid even though you know the side effects of Dilaudid abuse is the hallmark of addiction. [4]

6. Methadone – pain medication list strongest to weakest

Methadone is used to relieve severe pain in people who are expected to need pain medication around the clock for a long time and who cannot be treated with other medications. It is also used to prevent withdrawal symptoms in individuals addicted to opiate drugs and are enrolled in treatment programs to stop taking or continue not taking the drugs.

Methadone is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. Methadone works to treat pain by changing how the brain and nervous system respond to pain. In addition, it works to treat people who were addicted to opiate drugs by producing similar effects and preventing withdrawal symptoms in people who have stopped using these drugs.

When abused, methadone consumption can result in chemical and psychological dependence. Whether taken orally as a tablet or injected as a liquid, methadone abuse can result in adverse health effects if not administered under qualified medical supervision.

As a powerful Opioid, Methadone can cause an overdose. An overdose occurs when someone takes too much of the medication, often without a prescription or beyond medical limits. An overdose is a dangerous situation that requires medical attention, so it’s important to recognize the signs.

7. Oxycodone – pain medication list strongest to weakest

Oxycodone is an opioid agonist prescription medication. A doctor will prescribe these drugs if there are no alternative treatment options that will work to treat moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone is marketed alone as OxyContin in 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg extended-release tablets and other immediate-release capsules like 5 mg OxyIR. It is often used in combination with other drugs (Acetaminophen) such as Percocet and Roxicet. Common street names include Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker, OC, Ox, Roxy, Perc, and Oxy.

Oxycodone is abused orally or intravenously. The tablets are crushed and sniffed or dissolved in water and injected. Others heat a tablet that has been placed on a piece of foil and then inhale the vapors. Oxycodone products are in Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act, meaning they had medical use and a high potential for addiction. Euphoria and feelings of relaxation are the most common effects of oxycodone on the brain, which explains its high potential for abuse.

10. Codeine – pain medication list strongest to weakest

Codeine is a less potent opioid drug that is used to treat mild to moderate pain. It is also an ingredient in some prescription Tylenol medications that are used to treat coughing. It comes in tablet form and is the main ingredient in prescription-grade cough suppressants. Tylenol 3, a popular Painkiller, is Codeine combined with Acetaminophen. Patients who are prescribed Codeine by their doctors may soon find they’ve developed a Codeine addiction.

Codeine use often starts out innocently, with a prescription for a Codeine-based cough syrup. Because Codeine is less regulated than some Opiates considered to be more dangerous (such as Morphine and OxyContin), calling and using it is relatively easy. This is despite the fact that Codeine is very similar chemically to drugs such as Morphine and Hydrocodone. Though less rugged, Codeine provides results similar to Morphine.

Alcohol and codeine can be dangerous when taken together. In fact, mixing the two can lead to a life-threatening reaction. The combined effects of alcohol and codeine can also cause problems with memory, coordination, and judgment. Alcohol and codeine are both highly addictive drugs. They have a powerful effect on the body, which can be fatal if taken in large amounts or mixed with other substances. The effects of alcohol and codeine on the body can be dangerous if you drink enough of either substance or don’t have any other health conditions that could be affected by either drug.

11. Meperidine (Demerol) – pain medication list strongest to weakest

12. Tramadol – pain medication list strongest to weakest

In 2012, more than 3 million people reported having used Tramadol for recreational or nonmedical purposes. Although Tramadol is the least potent opioid on the list, it is still often misused and can lead to addiction. Tramadol is an opioid pain reliever to treat moderate to fairly severe pain. It is marketed under the trade names Ultram and others. The beginning of pain alleviation when ingested in an immediate-release formulation often starts within an hour. Additionally, it can be injected. Tramadol and Alcohol can be dangerous if you take them both simultaneously.

Tramadol abuse does occur, though, often by those who have never been prescribed the medication in the first place or those who started taking more of the drug to combat their building tolerances. This type of behavior can lead to several severe effects, especially as the result of tramadol abuse as opposed to the abuse of other opioids. This drug, in particular, can cause severe withdrawal syndrome in certain individuals, which makes it potentially more dangerous than other drugs in its class.

Strongest Pain Medication Addiction Treatment

If you think a loved one is abusing drugs or alcohol, you should research the substances and their associated addiction to understand better what your loved one needs. Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle the effects of drug addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During this intervention, offer compassion and support instead of judgment. Lastly, show your support throughout the entire treatment process.

In addition, prolonged drug use can have severe physical and psychological effects on you, so it is essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. To have a better idea on the strongest pain medication addiction treatment, it is essential to get medical assistance when needed. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of drug withdrawal. 

Strongest Pain Medication Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated drug detox withdrawal but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete the drug detox.

Cravings are very common during drug detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can give medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient Drug Addiction Rehab

There isn’t one treatment approach or style that will suit everyone. Treatment should speak to the needs of the individual. Inpatient rehab and addiction treatment aren’t just about drug use. the goal is to help the patient stop using drugs and other substances, but drug rehab should also focus on the whole person’s needs.

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. When someone or their family is considering different treatment facilities, they should account for the complexity of addiction and the needs of the individual. The objective of attending an inpatient rehab center for addiction treatment is to stop using the drug and re-learn how to live a productive life without it.

Following a full medical detox, most people benefit from inpatient rehab. Inpatient drug rehab can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Patients stay overnight in the rehab facility and participate in intensive treatment programs and therapy. Once someone completes rehab, their addiction treatment team will create an aftercare plan, which may include continuing therapy and participation in a 12-step program like Narcotics Anonymous.

Psychotherapy

Many rehab programs will also have early morning classes or programs. Group sessions occur during inpatient rehab, as do individual therapy sessions. Family therapy may be part of inpatient rehab when it’s feasible. Alternative forms of therapy may be introduced during inpatient rehab, like a holistic therapy program, yoga for addiction recovery, or an addiction treatment massage therapy.

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Solution-focused therapy is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. Traumatic experiences can often result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend mainly on the treatment for both diseases done by the same team or provider.

8 Most Common Strongest Pain Medication Addiction FAQs