An Informative Look at Analgesics
You may have heard the term analgesic before, or have read it on something and wondered what it was. The term is used for any member of the group of drugs used as pain relievers. The word actually comes from the Greek meaning without pain. These types of drugs help the peripheral and central nervous systems to nullify pain in the body. These sort of medicines can ease all sorts of pain, but when mixed can have some adverse reactions, some of which could turn deadly for the patient. Some of these can help with other depression and convulsions, but are sometimes less effective and not classified as pain relievers, but are still in the same family.
There are some major classes of analgesics, and they are all used for various degrees of pain relief and inflammation. The major classes are listed simply as Paracetamol and NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, Opiates and morphinomimetics, and are all used in different treatments. Breaking down each group can be confusing, but the topical main effects are all similar.
Paractemol and NSAIDs appear to act centrally and is most commonly seen in Aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs help reduce pain and inflammation and are usually found over the counter. These are traditionally mild, but if used in excess could cause fatal kidney and liver damage.
COX-2 inhibitors are drugs that have been derived from NSAIDs and have recently been suggested by several researchers to have adverse effects. This form of medication inhibits the COX2 enzyme. They have less gastrointestinal hemorrhage compared to other pain relievers, however data has shown that risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events with these drugs is increased due to clotting in the blood and complications derived thereof. The role of drugs of this nature is heavily debated in the medical community.
Opiates and morphinomimetics are substances that are given for severe pain or injury. Examples of this drug are codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and diamorphine, just to name a few. While these drugs offer great pain relief, there are some unpleasant side-effects. They can include nausea and vomiting, itching, constipation, and in many instances they can be habit forming.
Analgesics are used in many different ways, most often though, used as pain relievers. Topical agents are most common, with little to no side-effects derived from use. These are often contained in gels that are used as an anesthetic such as scrapes, small cuts, or for mouth sores and even more commonly used to numb areas for dental work or minor medical procedures. While many of these elements are found over the counter, or used within minor procedures, there are some analgesics found in Cannabis. Cannabis, while illegal in many places, does in fact contain agents that form properties similar to many other numbing, pain relieving agents.
The benefits and use of these types of medicines run the gamut of medical practice. The main focus of these are pain relief, and numbing. From dental to surgical, and post operative measures, these medications are used to help patients make comfortable recoveries and help in a variety of different ways.
More information:
http://www.medicinenet.com/analgesics_antipyretics/article.htm
http://arthritis.about.com/od/analgesic/a/factsanalgesics.htm
