The present invention relates to use of natural or chemically synthetic sophoridine and its analogues or derivatives as an analgesic. The present invention further related to pharmaceutical compositions comprising alkaloid compounds having diquinolizidine-like structure selected from the group consisting of sophoridine, sophocarpine, matrine, oxymatrine, malanine, aloperine, sophoramine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used for eliminating or alleviating acute or chronic pain without suffering from the undesirable tolerance and addiction with continued usage.