Nerve pain can be treated with both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. However, before taking any medications, its important to speak with a doctor or healthcare professional. Here are some OTC options that may be beneficial if your pain is mild, if you havent seen a doctor yet, or if its safely combined with prescription medications:

• Topical creams: Some OTC topical creams, like lidocaine or capsaicin, may be helpful for nerve pain. They work as a local anesthetic, numbing the pain in the area where you apply them.

• Painkilling medicines: Some people with neuropathic pain turn to familiar OTC painkillers like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. While these drugs might help with mild or occasional pain, theyre often not strong enough for serious nerve pain. Theres also a risk that someone with chronic pain might begin to rely on these medicines too much. So, always make sure to follow the directions on the bottle. Most painkillers should never be taken for more than 10 days.

• Supplements: Some supplements like acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, and gamma linolenic acid might help with nerve pain caused by diabetes. However, the evidence isnt clear, and more research needs to be done. Always check with a doctor before you start taking a supplement regularly.

Its important to note that most medicines that work for nerve pain can only be bought with a doctors prescription. Pain relieving medicines such as paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid medicines (such as codeine and morphine) dont usually work for nerve pain. Medicines used to treat nerve pain usually act on natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the bodys nervous system. Most work by calming down nerve activity to reduce your nerves hypersensitivity to pain. Some prescription medications that may be used to treat nerve pain include:

• Anticonvulsants: Gabapentinoids, a subclass of anticonvulsants (gabapentin, pregabalin), are often used to treat nerve pain.

• Antidepressants: Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) and selective-serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine, venlafaxine) are often used to treat nerve pain.

• Opioids: Opioids are often used to treat nerve pain, but they are not usually the first choice due to their potential for addiction and other side effects.

Its important to work with a doctor to find a medicine or combination that works for you. Many medicines used for nerve pain may not ease the pain immediately, and its important to build up the dose slowly so the side effects dont outweigh the benefits.