All
drugs are placed into one of seven categories called "controls".
The categories are:
C7
(available over the counter)
C6 (prescription only - nonaddictive us.)
C5 thru C2 (have addictive potential, which us. increases as the number
decreases, as does the ability to relieve pain)
C1 (strongly addictive & no therapeutic benefits).
To treat
the kind of pain we are all talking about, you want a C2 drug (a.k.a.
narcotic analgesic). Narcotic analgesics are all pretty much equal when
it comes to pain relief or strength.
Darvocet
N-100 is a C4 drug...not real strong. It contains Propoxyphene Napsylate
100mg and Acetaminophen 650mg.
Tylenol
#3 is a C3 drug...a little stronger. It contains Codeine 30mg and Acetaminophen
300mg.
Lortab,
Lorcet, and Vicodin are all C3's and are somewhat stronger than Tylenol
#3. They contain varying combinations of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen.
The narcotic
analgesics are as follows:
Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)
Demerol (Meperidine)
Mepergan Fortis (Meperidine & Promethazine) - these three all cause
less constipation & nausea, especially the Mepergan Fortis because
it contains an extra ingredient (promethazine) used to treat & prevent
nausea.
Tylox (Oxycodone 5mg & Acetaminophen 500mg)
Percocet (Oxycodone 5mg & Acetaminophen 325mg)
Percodan (Oxycodone 5mg & Aspirin 325mg) -these three are more apt
to cause constipation & nausea.
MS Contin (Morphine Sulfate)
Oxycontin (Oxycodone 10mg & up)
The last
two are the strongest because they contain more mgs of the active ingredient
per pill. These are usually reserved for people with more severe pain,
such as cancer pain.
