痛(いた)み止(ど)め

Composed of 痛(いた)み (pain, from the verb 痛(いた)む) and 止(ど)め (stopping, from the verb 止(と)める), with the voicing change と→ど. Literally "pain-stopper." This is the standard everyday term for painkillers of any kind — the word learners are most likely to need at a pharmacy or doctor's office.

Common collocations

• 痛(いた)み止(ど)めを飲(の)む: to take a painkiller
• 痛(いた)み止(ど)めを処方(しょほう)する: to prescribe a painkiller
• 痛(いた)み止(ど)めが効(き)く: the painkiller takes effect
• 痛(いた)み止(ど)めが切(き)れる: the painkiller wears off
• 市販(しはん)の痛(いた)み止(ど)め: over-the-counter painkiller

Similar words

• 鎮痛剤(ちんつうざい): analgesic — the more formal/medical term for the same thing
• 解熱鎮痛剤(げねつちんつうざい): antipyretic analgesic — a fever reducer that also relieves pain
• 湿布(しっぷ): compress/patch — a topical pain relief method rather than oral medication