{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T23:29:03Z","timestamp":1776727743253,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,23]],"date-time":"2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745366400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly impacts individuals\u2019 quality of life and functional abilities. In non-oncological settings, CLBP is often treated for long periods using pharmacotherapy. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacological treatments for CLBP, detailing their mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and evidence supporting their use. We discuss various medication classes, including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, antidepressants, gabapentinoids, tramadol, major opioids, corticosteroids, antispasticity drugs, benzodiazepines, and antibiotics. Special emphasis is given to the opioid crisis, examining its history, the pathophysiology of opioid tolerance and dependence, the need for cautious opioid use, the key challenges in treatment and emerging medications for CLBP. We also share insights from our experiences with polypharmacy, commonly seen in CLBP patients, at a specialized pain centre in Belgium.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15050690","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,23]],"date-time":"2025-04-23T10:40:48Z","timestamp":1745404848000},"page":"690","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Pain Medication in Chronic Low Back Pain"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Ali","family":"Jerjir","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic, VITAZ Hospitals, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Frederik","family":"Nietvelt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic, VITAZ Hospitals, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Iris","family":"Smet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic, VITAZ Hospitals, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nina","family":"D\u2019hondt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic, VITAZ Hospitals, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jean-Pierre","family":"Van Buyten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic, VITAZ Hospitals, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1111\/ner.12018","article-title":"Epidemiology of low back pain in adults","volume":"17","author":"Manchikanti","year":"2014","journal-title":"Neuromodulation"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1007\/s11916-019-0757-1","article-title":"Low Back Pain, a Comprehensive Review: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment","volume":"23","author":"Urits","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr. 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