CHOOSE THE PERFECT PAINKILLER
A painkiller is also known as an analgesic.It is any member of the group of medicines used to reliefepain or acheve analgesia. The word analgesic derives from Greek word an- (“without”) and algos (“pain”). Analgesic drugs act in many ways on the peripheral and main nervous systems; they include paracetamol(para-acetylaminophenol, also known in the UK as acetaminophen), the non steroidal anti inflametory drugs(NSAIDs) such as the salisylates, and opioid drugs such as morphine and tramadol.
In choosing painkillers, the severity and response to other medication determines the choice of agent; the WHO pain ladder, originally developed in cancer-related pain, is vastly applied to find suitable drugs in a stepwise manner. The painkillers choice is also determined by the type of pain: forNeuropathic pain, traditional painkillers are less effective, and there is often benefit from classes of drugs that are not normally considered analgesics, such as trycyclicantideressant and anticonvulsants.
There are four major classes of pain killers—
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Paracetamol and NSAIDs: The exact procedure of action of paracetamol or acetaminophen is uncertain, but it appears to be acting centrally.
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COX-2 nhibitors: These drugs are derived from NSAIDs. These drugs are equally effective analgesics when compared with NSAIDs, but cause less gastrointestinal hemorrhage in particular.
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Opiates and morphinomimetics: there are risks such as addiction and the body becoming used to the drug in sing these drags.
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Specific agent
Painkillers are frequently used in combination, such as the paracetamol and codeine preparations found in many non-prescription pain relievers. They can also be found in combination with some other drugs such as pseudohedrine for sinus-related preparations, or with antihistamine drugs for allergy sufferings. Generally painkillers recommended to avoid systemic side-effects.Overdose of painkiller can cause problem to a human being.
