Pain pathways and mechanisms

This graphic shows the four major processes of pain transmission and what are thought to be the primary sites of action of medications that affect those processes.

TCA: tricyclic antidepressant; SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; SNRI: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; LA: local anesthetic; NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Graphic 140280 Version 1.0