analgesic
Sign in to saveAn analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate, sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.
AI overview
An analgesic, also known as a painkiller, is a type of drug used to relieve pain. Analgesics are different from anesthetics, which temporarily block sensation, though these drugs can sometimes overlap in their effects since both work on similar nervous system pathways.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Drug class.Image
- Opium pod cut to demonstrate fluid extraction1.jpg
- Drug class.Caption
- Opium poppies such as this one provide ingredients for the class of analgesics called opiates. Also visible is the plant's latex, from which numerous opiate compounds have been isolated.
- Drug class.Use
- Pain
- Drug class.ATC_prefix
- N02A
- Drug class.MedlinePlus
- analgesics
- Drug class.Consumer_Reports
- analgesics
- Drug class.medicinenet
- analgesics
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
20 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Classification
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
- NSAIDs
- COX-2 inhibitors
- Opioids
- Alcohol
- Cannabis
- Combinations
- Alternative medicine
- Other drugs
- Adjuvants
- Other uses
- Uses
- List of drugs with comparison
- Research
- See also
- References
- Citations
- Sources
An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate, sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.
Analgesic choice is also determined by the type of pain: For neuropathic pain, recent research has suggested that classes of drugs that are not normally considered analgesics, such as tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants may be considered as an alternative.