Aug 15, 2001 11:43 PM
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First of all I will like to thank Mouthshut for including the topic. One of the most widely used medicine are the pain killers or Analgesics and these are generally available as Over The Counter drug. It is very important to know the role of Analgesics and its management.
The drugs that relieves algesia(pain) are called analgesics. Algesia is a symptom of an underlying disease /pathological change.
If we were not gifted algesia by our mother nature, we would have been attacked by diseases and pathological changes silently, so pain or algesia is a blessing in disguise.
It is very important to understand this to cure the underlying causes rather than pain itself.
Whenever we suffer from pain may it be mild or agonizing, we take help analgesics to get rid of the pain quickly. I would like to warn here that analgesics, only relieves a symptom and not the cause.
Now a days with the advent of new generation of analgesics, the spectrum has been widened to cover anti inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic in one drug.
The analgesics are classified:
According to mechanism of action
a) Centrally acting,
b) Peripherally acting.
Clinically
a) Opioid / Narcotic analgesics,
b) Non Opioid / Non Narcotic, e.g., Aspirin.
Opioid analgesics are broadly of 3 types:
a) Natural opoids, e.g., morphine, codeine.
b) Semi synthetic, e.g., Diacetyl morphine(Heroin).
c) Synthetic, e.g., Pethidine.
The Opioid analgesics are very effective but to be used under medical guidance, as these produce sedation/ drowsiness and can cause side actions like vomiting, constipation or urinary problems. One important problem is susceptibility to addiction.
Non opioid analgesics are most widely used Over the Counter(OTC) pain killers and are classified according to their actions.
Potent anti inflammatory and good analgesic
a) Salicylates, i.e., Acetyle salicylic acid(Aspirin) or their soluble salts(Disprin).
Lysine acetylsalicylate(Biosprin, etc.)
b) Oxicam derivatives
1) Piroxicam,
2) Meloxicam
3) Tenoxicam
c) Pyrazolone derivatives,
d)Proplonic derivatives, like Ibruprofen
e)Arylacetic acid derivatives, like Diclofenac(Voveran).
f)Sulfonanilide containing derivaves( Nimsulide)
Antipyretic and good analgesic
a) Para aminophenol derivatives(Paracetamol)
b) Pyrazolone derivatives(Metamizole)
c) Benzaoxazocine derivaves(Nebopam)
These drugs are safer compared to Opioids, but these also have side effects specifically for frequent use and over dosage. They are vomiting, allergy, blood with stool, stomach ulceration, kidney & liver damage etc. It is best to take the medicine under medical supervision, and if that is not available immediately be cautious about the dosage.
Some guide lines for use of analgesics
Consider—Do you really need an analgesic or can bear it and ignore, may be it will go on its own.
Do not take analgesics in empty stomach.
Take some anti ulcer(antacid) with analgesics.
Consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Remember analgesics relieves the pain and does not cure the cause.
