Pain relievers, called analgesics (from the Greek for “no sense of pain”), vary greatly in how they work and consequently in the type of pain for which they are most effective. In practical terms, there are two general types of pain. Acute pain is short term may be mild or severe, and is caused by an identifiable injury or disorder, such as a broken arm or surgery. Chronic pain is long-term can be continual or intermittent, and can be of varying severity.
Analgesic drugs are narcotic or nonnarcotic:
Narcotic analgesics (such as Percodan, Demerol and codeine) act like morphine by inhibiting pain impulses in certain centers of the brain, These are useful in treating acute pain, since it is short-term and as a temporary measure in some cases of chronic pain. However narcotic analgesics (also called opiates, though not all are opium derivates) are usually not suitable for chronic pain because the body may develop tolerance to them that is experience a diminished effect with prolonged use. Another danger is addiction, the most dramatic component of which is physical dependence. Narcotics also impair physical and mental function.
The main nonnarcotic analgesics are aspirin, ibuprofen and other no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as acetaminophen. Most of these inhibit the body’s production of inflammatory compounds called prostaglandins and are especially useful for bone pain (including dental) some types of arthritis, and headaches. There’s a “ceiling effect” that is, increasing the dose beyond ‘a certain point doesn’t result in greater benefit. There’s no risk of addition. Still, continual high doses of nonnarcotic may entail adverse side effects.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 8, 1989
