The toolkit for pain management needs to be broad and robust when using non-opioid interventions. Opioid alternatives include not only pharmacological therapies but also interventional procedures, behavioral health approaches, and complementary/integrative health approaches. In this talk, we will discuss some of the recommended therapies by the CDC, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Aetna. We include these three organizations to provide a fuller view of how administrators, pain management physicians, and insurance organizations approach pain management and what common recommendations exist.

We will discuss:
Opioid Pharmacological Alternatives
NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Ketorolac - short-term use)
Acetaminophen
Nerve pain medications (Gabapentin, Pregabalin)
Antidepressants (Effexor XR, Cymbalta, Savella)
Medicated Topical Applications (anesthetics, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, capsaicin, compound topicals) - Consider replacing "creams, foams, gels, lotions, ointments, sprays, and patches" with "topical applications" for brevity and clarity.
Interventional Pain Management (steroid injections, nerve blocks, etc.)
Non-Opioid Anesthesia
Self-Care
Complementary Therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic care, osteopathic manipulative treatment, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
Rehabilitation Therapies (occupational therapy, physical therapy)
Behavioral and Mental Health Therapies
 

2019
https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/non-opioid-pain-management/_documents/alternatives-facts-11x17-eng.pdf

Alternative Treatments Fact Sheet.
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/nonopioid_treatments-a.pdf

pmtf-final-report-2019-05-23.pdf
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pmtf-final-report-2019-05-23.pdf

Non-Opioid Treatment for Chronic Pain | Made for This Moment
https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/pain-management/non-opioid-treatment/

Factsheet CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/Guidelines_At-A-Glance-508.pdf

Can you take TYLENOL® on an empty stomach? | TYLENOL®
https://www.tylenol.com/adult-relief/stomach-conditions/acetaminophen-stomach-problems#:~:text=Acetaminophen%20is%20a%20non%2Daspirin,stomach%20or%20certain%20stomach%20conditions.

List of COX-2 Inhibitors + Uses, Types & Side Effects - Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/cox-2-inhibitors.html