Analgesics Flashcards
The level of stimulus needed to create a painful sensation
Pain threshold
The amount of pain a person can endure without having it interfere with normal functioning
Pain tolerance
A drug prescribed for the relief of pain
Analgesics
Neurohormones
Endorphins
Drugs that are less potent than opioid analgesics, used to treat mild to moderate pain
Nonopioid analgesics
Drugs prescribed for moderate and severe pain
Opioid agonists
A psychological and physical dependence upon a substance beyond normal voluntary control, usually after prolonged use
Addiction
Low blood pressure that occurs when an individual assumes an upright position from a supine position
Orthostatic hypotension
Symptoms include irritability, diaphoresis, restlessness, muscle twitching, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure.
Withdrawal syndrome
An alternative route for opioid administration for self-administered pain relief as needed
Patient controlled analgesia (PCA)
A generic term for medication not designed to manage pain
Adjuvant analgesics
Medications in which an opioid antagonist is added to an opioid agonist
Opioid agonist-antagonists
An agent that blocks the receptor and displaces any opioid that would normally be at the receptor
Opioid antagonist
Characterized by a unilateral throbbing head pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and photophobia
Migraine headaches
Headache characterized by a severe, unilateral, non-throbbing pain usually located around the eye
Cluster headaches
Pain that has a sudden onset and has lasted for less than 3 months
Acute pain
Pain that has a gradual onset and has lasted for more than 3 months
Chronic
This type of pain results from tissue injury
Nociceptor pain
This type of pain results from injury to the nervous system
Neuropathic pain
List reasons for undertreatment of pain.
Patients don’t acknowledge pain. Patients fear addiction. Nurses don’t assess pain or offer pain meds. Health care providers have negative attitudes about treating pain. Nurses don’t believe patients’ reports of pain.
List the effects of unrelieved pain.
Increase in respirations, blood pressure, and heart rate. Increased stress response which can cause hyperglycemia. Urinary retention, atelectasis, constipation, confusion. Increased health care costs.
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Naproxen are which type of analgesic?
Non-opioid
Signs of aspirin toxicity include:
Tinnitus, vertigo, bronchospasm, hyperventilation, possible metabolic acidosis
The therapeutic serum level of aspirin is:
15-30 mg/dL
True or False: Acetaminophen is an NSAID.
False
True or False. It is okay for someone who drinks alcohol frequently to take the normal amount of acetaminophen.
False
What is the effect of taking acetaminophen with oral contraceptives?
Decreased effectiveness of acetaminophen
What is the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
Acetylcysteine
True or False: Opioid analgesics can caused increased intracranial pressure in those with head injuries.
True
Supplements that interact with opioids include:
St. John’s wort, kava, and valerian
True or False: Itching indicates an opioid overdose.
False
Side effects/adverse reactions of opioids include:
Drowsiness, dizziness, euphoria, confusion, depression, miosis, GI distress, flatulence, constipation, orthostatic hypotension. urinary retention, pruritis, pscyhological dependence, respiratory depression
Which is preferred for use in labor and delivery: Morphine or Meperidine?
Meperidine (Demerol)
True or False: Hydromorphone is more potent than Morphine.
True
True or False: It is okay to let a patient’s family member have full control over a PCA.
False
The most common opioid delivered by transdermal patch is:
Fentanyl
List reasons why older adults may underreport pain.
They fear addiction. They don’t want to be seen as weak. They don’t want to be a burden. They feel that pain is just a part of getting older.
Adjuvant analgesics can include which types of meds?
Anticonvulsants, antidepressants, corticosteroids, antidysrhythmics, and local anesthetics.
Nalbuphine and Buprenorphine are examples of:
Opioid agonist-anagonists
What drug is most commonly used for opioid overdose?
Naloxone (Narcan)
Which type of headaches typically cause unilateral, throbbing pain and are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and photophobia?
Migraine headaches
Which type of headaches cause severe unilateral non-throbbing pain located around the eye?
Cluster headaches
Which types of drugs are used to prevent migraine and cluster headaches?
Beta blockers, Anticonvulsants, and TCAs
Which types of drugs are used to treat active migraine and cluster headaches?
Non-opioid analgesics, opioid analgesics, ergot alkaloids, and selective serotonin receptor agonists.
