Pain Management Health Center

Cervical Disc Disease Treatment: Drugs That Can Help

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Steroids. Steroids such as prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, Sterapred) work by reducing inflammation. Although they can be taken orally, steroids given for neck pain are sometimes delivered directly to the spine via an injection to the area. Research shows that steroid injection does relieve neck pain over the short term, although its effectiveness for chronic pain is unclear. The most common side effects of steroid injections are infection, headache, and bleeding. Side effects of oral steroids include weight gain, and, less often, high blood pressure and osteoporosis.

Muscle Relaxants. Baclofen and other muscle relaxants calm muscle tightness, and some research suggests they can relieve neck pain within the first few days of an acute injury. When using these drugs, watch out for side effects such as drowsiness, dependence, and urinary retention. These drugs are best used short term under a doctor's guidance. 

Anticonvulsants. Although they are approved by the FDA to treat seizures, anticonvulsant drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and pregabalin (Lyrica) may help with nerve-related neck pain. How exactly anticonvulsants work on neck pain is unknown, but they are believed to affect the way the brain perceives pain. Side effects include dizziness, sleepiness, vision problems, and vomiting.

Antidepressants. Antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) may help with chronic pain and with sleep. It may take several weeks to see an effect. Side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, and urinary retention.