CHAPTER 10: ANALGESIC DRUGS Flashcards
acute pain
pain that is sudden in onset, usually subsides when treated, and typically occurs over less than 6-week period
addiction
a chronic, neurobiology disease whose development is influenced by genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors
adjuvant analgesic drugs
drugs that are added for combined therapy with a primary drug and may have additive or independent angelic properties or both
agonist
a substance that binds to a receptor and causes a response
agonists-antagonists
substances that bind to a receptor and cause a partial response that is not as strong as that caused by an agonist
analgesic ceiling effect
what occurs when a given pain drug no longer effectively controls a patient’s pain despite the administration of the highest safe dosages
analgesics
medications that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness (painkillers)
antagonists
a drug that binds to a receptor and prevents (blocks) a response
breakthrough pain
pain that occurs between doses of pain medication
cancer pain
pain resulting from any of a variety of causes related to cancer and/or the metastasis of cancer
central pain
pain resulting from any disorder that causes central nervous system damage
chronic pain
persistent or recurring pain that is difficult to treat. Includes any pain lasting longer than 3 to 6 months, pain lasting longer than 1 month after healing of an acute injury or pain that accompanies a non healing tissue injury
deep pain
pain that occurs in tissues below skin level; opposite of superficial pain
gate theory
the most well-described theory of pain transmission and pain relief. It uses a gate model to explain how impulses from damaged tissues are sensed in the brain
narcotics
a legal term established under the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914. It originally applied to drugs that produce insensibility or stupor, esp the opioids (morphine, heroine). Currently used to refer to any medically used controlled substances and in legal settings to refer to any illicit or “street drug”
neuropathic pain
pain that results from a disturbance of function or pathologic change in a nerve
nociception
processing of pain signals in the brain that gives rise to the feeling of pain
nociceptors
a subclass of sensory nerves (A or C fibers) that transmit pain signals to the CNS from other body parts
nonopiods analgesics
analgesics that are not classified as opioids
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
a large, chemically diverse group of drugs that are analgesics and also possess anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity but are not corticosteroids
opioid analgesics
synthetic drugs that bind to opiate receptors to relieve pain
opioid naive
describes patients who are receiving opioid analgesics for the first time and who therefore are not accustomed to their effects
opioid tolerance
a normal physiologic condition that results from long-term opioid use, in which larger doses of opioids are required to maintain the same level of analgesia and in which abrupt discontinuation of the drug results in withdrawal symptoms
opioid tolerant
the opposite of opioid naive; describes patients who have been receiving opioid analgesics (legally to otherwise) for a period of time (1 week or longer) and who are at greater risk of opioid withdrawal syndrome upon sudden discontinuation
opioid withdrawal
the signs and symptoms associated with abstinence from or withdrawal of an opioid analgesic when the body has become physically dependent on the substance
pain
an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
pain threshold
the level of a stimulus that results in the sensation of pain
pain tolerance
the amount of pain a patient can endure without its interfering with normal function
partial agonist
a drug that binds to a receptor and causes a response that is less than that caused by a full agonist
phantom pain
pain experienced in the area of a body part that has been surgically or traumatically removed
physical dependence
a condition in which a patient takes a drug over a period of time and unpleasant physical symptoms (withdrawal symptoms) occur if the drug is stopped abruptly or smaller doses are given.t The physical adaptation of the body to the presence of an opioid or other addictive substance
psychologic dependence
a pattern of compulsive use of opioids or any other addictive substance characterized by a continuous craving for the substance and the need to use it for effects other than pain relief (addiction)
referred pain
pain occurring in an area away from the organ of origin
somatic pain
pain that originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments or joints
special pain situations
the general term for pain control situations that are complex and whose treatment typically involves multiple medications, various health care personnel and nonpharmacologic therapeutic modalities (massage, chiropractic care, surgery)
superficial pain
pain that originates from the skin or mucous membranes
synergistic effects
drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs with similar actions is greater than the sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone. 1+1 is greater than 2
tolerance
the general term for a state in which repetitive exposure to a given drug, over time, induces changes in drug receptors that reduce the drug effects
vascular pain
pain that results from pathology of the vascular or perivascular tissues
visceral pain
pain that originates from organs or smooth muscles
WHO
an international body of health care professionals, including clinicians and epidemiologists among many others, that studies and responds to health needs and trends worldwide
