Medicines and Drugs - D3 - Analgaesics Flashcards
Name the three strong opiates.
Morphine, heroin (aka dia(cetyl)morphine, and codeine.
What is meant by OTC?
Over-the-counter drugs
What are analgesics?
They are drugs that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness
What is pain?
An unpleasnat sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
What is one disadvantage of aspirin?
Risk of developing severe gastrointestinal bleeding following the use of alcohol.
What is aspirin?
Aspirin is a very widely used mild analgesic (painkiller). It is derived from salicylic acid (2-hydroxylenzoic acid). It has a range of useful medicinal actions.
List the two main mild analgesics.
Aspirin and Acetaminophen
What is paracetamol? And in what ways is it similar and different from Aspirin?
Paracetamol (UK) or acetaminophen (US), like aspirin, relieves pain and reduces fever, but unlike aspirin does not reduce stiffness, redness and the swelling symptoms of arthritis.
What is Morphine?
Morphine is a natural opiate found in opium, which is extracted from the latex in the seed capsule of the opium poppy.
What are opiates?
Opiates are made out of opium poppy, and are natural alkaloids. They’re used for the relief of very severe pain and are highly addictive
What are codeines?
Codeines are alkaloids found in opium, but most codeine used in medicine is synthesized from morphine(via the attachment of a methyl group)
What effect does the constriction of blood vessels caused by mild analgesics have on the body?
It decreases the concentration of prostaglandins, which lead to a reduction in pain, fever and inflammation.
State the difference in mechanism of action of a mild analgesic (eg aspirin) in comparison to that of a strong opiate (eg morphine).
Mild analgesics act on inflammed tissue and the associated nerves, whereas strong opiates act directly on the brain to eradicate pain.
What are the four main uses for derivatives of Salicylic acid?
It works as a mild analgesic and an anti-inflammatory agent, reduces fever, and prevents abnormal blood clotting.
What is Reye’s syndrome?
It is a potentially fatal condition linked to the usage of aspirin. It is primarily a children’ disease, but may occur at any age.
