Neck pain can be frustrating and distracting as well as excruciating and if you are suffering from it, it is likely that you will be seeking a fast form of pain relief that allows you to get on with enjoying your life.

In order to effectively and accurately treat your neck pain, your doctor will first of all need to make a proper diagnosis and determine what is causing your symptoms.

Once a correct diagnosis has been made, he will be better equipped to prescribe the right medication for your pain. Medications are best used along with other treatments, such as physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic, and your doctor will devise a treatment plan that is suitable for you.

Neck pain-relief medication

The most common pain-relief medications for neck pain are paracetamol and ibuprofen and, used correctly, they can both relieve back pain and neck pain.

Paracetamol is a mild analgesic and it is often used to treat aches and sprains, while ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is frequently used to treat pain and swelling.

The recommended dosage for paracetamol is 500mg to 1g up to four times daily and if you are using ibuprofen, take 400mg tablets three times a day.

Ibuprofen can cause some side effects that you need to keep an eye out for, including stomach upsets and erectile dysfunction and you can read more about these here.

Whenever you take any kind of pain-relief medication, we strongly advise that you carefully read the information supplied with it so you are aware of all the possible side effects and their warning signs. Under-16s should always seek medical advice before taking pain-relief tablets.

Antidepressants for pain relief

Antidepressants such as amitriptyline can also be used to treat neck pain, but they must be prescribed by a physician. The dosage will usually be much lower than that used to treat depression and you must be over 18 to take it.

If you would like to learn more about medication for neck pain, you can read our Broadgate Journal article.