ANALGESICS

P R E PA R E D B Y: M O H A M M A D FA R H AT
WHAT ARE ANALGESICS?
• They are substances used to reduce or eliminate the pain. They can be
bought with or without on. They are divided into three groups:
i- Anti-pyretics: are used to lower or eliminate the fever as aspirin and
Panadol (paracetamol)
ii- Anti-rheumatics: are used to reduce or eliminate inflammation of the
muscles and the joints as aspirin, diclofenac, ….
iii- Narcotics: are used to reduce or eliminate moderate and severe pain
example: morphine and codeine.
• Remark: Morphine is an alkaloid. The use of morphine may lead to
dependence. When exceeding a certain limit, it can be considered a drug
and leads to addiction. Morphine acts on the nervous system.
 Generic name Trade name Pharmaceutical
(active ingredient) (commercial name) action
Aspirin Analgesic
(acetylsalicylic Aspirin® Anti-pyretic
acid) Anti-rheumatic
Paracetamol Panadol® Analgesic
or acetaminophen Tylenol® Anti-pyretic
Efferalgan®
Amino-quinolein Floctafenine® analgesic

NB: the superscript ® is the symbol of “registered name”.

-A drug must be kept away from moisture and less than 25ºC to avoid its degradation.
-The patient with an ulcer should not take aspirin because it has an acid character, which
increases the acidity in the stomach (irritates the stomach lining) and leads to bleeding.
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF
ASPIRIN ARE:
• Nausea
• Damages to the stomach (irritation of the stomach lining
membranes)
• Inhibition of the formation of the blood’s platelets that don’t allow
the blood to clot and leads to a hemorrhage (bleeding, it can thin
the blood)