Cancer Australia

Many drugs and other treatments are available to treat pain of all types and severity.

Drug treatments for pain

Drugs used to control pain include:

• aspirin and paracetamol
• codeine-based drugs
• anti-cholinergic drugs (drugs to relieve colicky pain)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• morphine and other strong opioid drugs.

Pain relieving drugs can be used in a number of ways:

• patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps
• patches worn on the skin
• injection into skin or muscle
• tablets or liquids
• suppositories.

If one method doesn’t work, other approaches can be tried. It’s important for women to tell their doctor if pain relief isn’t working.

Other medical treatments for pain

Other medical treatments for pain include:

• antidepressants
• muscle relaxants
• radiotherapy
• steroids
• surgery.

A doctor will discuss these options with a woman if it’s felt that any of them would be beneficial.

Non-medical treatments for pain

Some complementary therapies, such as relaxation therapy and acupuncture, have been shown to be helpful in managing pain.

A doctor or other member of the treatment team can provide advice about non-medical methods of pain relief, such as relaxation therapy.