analgesics Flashcards
examples of analgesic drug categories?
opiates, anti-depressants, anti-epileptics and anti-emetics
describe nociceptive/ acute pain?
short term, identifiable cause, a warning of present tissue damage/disease which responds well to medication
describe chronic/ neuropathic pain?
persistent, constant and intermittent. no longer has benefit to the body, outlived its purpose
describe allodynia?
pain from a stimulus that does not normally cause pain
describe parathesis?
painful feelings e.g. pins and needles with no apparent stimulus.
where is pain perceived?
in the thalamus, and localised in the somatosensory cortex
function of opioid analgesics?
modify the transmission of pain signals and the subjective perception of pain
what do antidepressants / antiepileptics treat?
treat neuropathic pain that is resistant to opioids
function of local anaesthetic?
effective for severe, neuropathic pain - it is also an emergency medicine
where do opioids act?
spinal cord and CNS
side effects of opioids?
nausea, vomiting, constipation, respiratory depression, drowsiness, hypotension, sedation, dependency
examples of opioids?
morphine, diamorphine, methadone, codeine, tramadol and more.
main classes of antidepressant drugs?
serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
examples of, and action of SNRI’s?
neuropathic pain, e.g. duloxetine, venlafaxine
examples of SSRI’s and actions?
not effective as general analgesics. e.g. paroxetine, citalopram
action of antiepileptic agents?
inhibit voltage gated Na+ channels and Ca2+ channels ; inhibits action potential firing and prevents impulse transmission.
examples of anti-epileptic agents?
gabapentin (drug of choice) and carbamazepine
action of local anaesthetics?
inhibit voltage gated sodium channels or NMDA receptors and prevent nerve-nerve cell communication
examples of local anaesthetics?
lidocaine, ketamine
