Analgesic, << `an` uhl JEE zihk, >> is any drug that relieves pain without causing unconsciousness. People use various analgesics to eliminate or reduce many types of pain. Aspirin, a relatively mild analgesic, relieves headaches, muscle pains, and some discomforts of a cold. A doctor may prescribe more powerful analgesics, such as morphine, for the severe pain caused by back injuries, serious burns, and such illnesses as cancer. Analgesics relieve pain by acting on the nervous system or by blocking the formation of prostaglandins, hormonelike chemicals found throughout the body. However, scientists do not know exactly how analgesics work.
There are two kinds of analgesics, narcotic and nonnarcotic. Narcotic analgesics, also known as opioid analgesics, relieve severe pain but are addictive. Nonnarcotic analgesics relieve only fairly minor pain but are not addictive. The most commonly used nonnarcotic analgesics include acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin; and acetaminophen, used by many people who cannot take aspirin without suffering side effects. Acetaminophen is sold under many trade names, the best-known probably being Tylenol. Narcotic analgesics include codeine, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, meperidine (Demerol), and oxycodone.
The misuse of any analgesic can cause severe illness or death. Narcotic analgesics are especially dangerous because they are addictive. For this reason, narcotic analgesics can be legally obtained only with a prescription.
