Aches And Pains: Analgesic

Question 1

Chronic pain

Answer 1

▪️pain which lasts more than three months

-cutoff point set as normal wound healing would be completed by 3 months

Question 2

Nociception vs neuropathic

Answer 2

▪️nociceptive pain
-arises from stimulation of nerves through pain receptors
▪️neuropathic pain
-arises from injury to nerves

Question 3

Simple analgesics

Answer 3

▪️over the counter medication
▪️paracetamol based
▪️low does non-steroidal anti-flammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Question 4

Paracetamol

Answer 4

▪️1-4h half life
▪️10 minutes to work
▪️metabolised in liver

Question 5

Arachidonic acid

Answer 5

▪️helps in inflammatory process
-steroid drugs (NSAIDs) bock synthesis of phospholipase which leads to production of arachidonic acid
▪️AA enters the cycle-oxygenate pathway
-leads to production of prostaglandins and thromboxane (pain, inflammation and fever)
-aspirin blocks synthesis of COX1 and COX2 in the pathway therefore decreased pain, inflammation and fever

Question 6

Risk to benefit ratio

Answer 6

▪️number of patients that need to be treated in order to achieve one beneficial event. Eg if the number is 10, 10 people need to be treated for 1 of them will have a beneficial outcome
▪️number of patients that need to be treated in order for one t have a side effect

Question 7

What does a opioid do?

Answer 7

▪️decreases CNS function

▪️works as an analgesic

Question 8

What does potency depend on?

Answer 8

▪️affinity

▪️efficacy