Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Painkillers
Analgesic is the medical name for painkillers. Analgesic drugs can be split into three groups:
- opioids,
- non-opioids, and
- combined analgesics.
Opioids
Opioids analgesics are also known as narcotic analgesics. They are used to relieve severe pain and are often prescribed to patients recovering from operations and serious injuries. Some opioid analgesics are:
- Codeine,
- Fentanyl,
- Meperidine,
- Methadone,
- Morphine,
- Pentazocine, and
- Tramadol.
Non-opioids
Non-opioids are also called non-narcotic drugs. They are mainly used to ease mild pain from headaches, muscle and joint pains and period pains. Many non-opioid analgesics can be bought over-the-counter at chemists and supermarkets. Some non-opioids are:
- Etodolac,
- Fenoprofen,
- Ketoprofen,
- Ketorolac,
- Mefenamic acid,
- Paracetamol, and
- Piroxicam.
Some non-opioids also have anti-inflammatory properties, these are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), these include:
- Aspirin (NSAID),
- Diclofenac (NSAID),
- Ibuprofen (NSAID),
- Indomethacin (NSAID), and
- Naproxen (NSAID).
Combined analgesics
Some analgesics combine both mild non-opioid drugs such as aspirin or paracetamol, with a small amount of opioid in a single tablet. These combination analgesics are often prescribed to people who are not benefiting sufficiently from non-opioids alone. People who experience migraines may use combination analgesics. Some combination analgesics are:
- Aspirin with codeine,
- Dextropropoxyphene with paracetamol,
- Dihydrocodeine with paracetamol,
- Paracetamol with codeine.
