nalgesics are medicines that are used to relieve pain. They are also known as painkillers or pain relievers. Technically, the term analgesic refers to a medication that provides relief from pain without putting you to sleep or making you lose consciousness.
Many different types of medicines have pain-relieving properties, and experts tend to group together those medicines that work in a similar way. Two of the most common groups of pain killers are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids (narcotics), but there are many more.
What are analgesics used for?
Analgesics may be taken to relieve pain that arises from a wide range of conditions, such as:
- appendicitis
- cancer
- congenital conditions such as curvature of the spine
- fibromyalgia
- gallbladder disease
- gastrointestinal disorders
- headaches
- improper lifting techniques
- infection
- menstruation
- migraines
- multiple sclerosis
- nerve damage
- osteoarthritis
- pain syndromes
- poor posture
- rheumatoid arthritis
- sprains
- strains
- surgery
- trauma
- toothache
- wound cleansing and debridement.
It is important to note that not all analgesics are appropriate for all these conditions.
What are the differences between analgesics?
Analgesics differ in the way they work and, in their potency, (how strong they are). There are also differences in the way they are absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted within the body.
Within the same class of analgesic (for example NSAIDs), there are differences in their likelihood for side effects, potency, and the way they need to be taken (for example, by mouth, applied topically, by injection).
Below, we have listed seven different classes of analgesics:
- Analgesic combinations (includes narcotic analgesic combinations)
- Antimigraine agents
- Cox-2 inhibitors
- Acetaminophen and miscellaneous analgesics
- Narcotic analgesics
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Salicylates.
