News tagged with painkillers

Opiates' side effects rooted in patients' genetics, study shows

Genetics play a significant role in determining which patients will suffer the most from the disturbing side effects of opiates, commonly prescribed painkillers for severe to moderate pain, according to a new Stanford University ...

Medical research created Jun 20, 2012 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Prescription overdose rate reaches epidemic levels in NYC

The rate of drug overdose from prescription opioids increased seven-fold in New York City over a 16-year period and was concentrated especially among white residents of the city, according to latest research at Columbia University's ...

Medications created Feb 03, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Even small doses of opioids increase risk of road crashes, research finds

Drivers who have taken even a small dose of opioid painkillers have an increased risk of being injured in a car accident, a new study has found.

Medications created Jan 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

US panel opposes pure hydrocodone painkiller

(AP)—U.S. government health experts overwhelmingly voted against a stronger version of hydrocodone on Friday, questioning the need for a new form of one of most widely abused prescription painkillers.

Medications created Dec 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Taking painkillers increases death risk, second heart attacks in survivors

Heart attack survivors who take common painkillers after a heart attack have a higher long-term risk of dying or having a second heart attack, according to a new study published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journa ...

Cardiology created Sep 10, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 4

Methadone linked to 30 percent of painkiller overdoses

The prescription drug methadone is linked to over 30 percent of painkiller overdose deaths, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Tuesday.

Medications created Jul 04, 2012 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Commonly used painkillers may protect against skin cancer

A new study suggests that aspirin and other similar painkillers may help protect against skin cancer. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings indicate that s ...

Cancer created May 29, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Pain relief: Poor evidence for non-drug approaches in labor

There is better evidence for the effectiveness of drug-based approaches for relieving labour pains than non-drug approaches. These are the findings of an all-encompassing publishing in The Cochrane Library, which draws togeth ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology created Mar 13, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Math can save Tylenol overdose patients

University of Utah mathematicians developed a set of calculus equations to make it easier for doctors to save Tylenol overdose patients by quickly estimating how much painkiller they took, when they consumed ...

Medical research created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New powerful painkiller has abuse experts worried

Drug companies are working to develop a pure, more powerful version of the nation's second most-abused medicine, which has addiction experts worried that it could spur a new wave of abuse.

Medications created Dec 26, 2011 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 7

First study to reveal how paracetamol works could lead to less harmful pain relief medicines

Researchers at King's College London have discovered how one of the most common household painkillers works, which could pave the way for less harmful pain relief medications to be developed in the future.

Medical research created Nov 22, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Deaths from painkiller overdose triple in decade

The number of overdose deaths from powerful painkillers more than tripled over a decade, the government reported Tuesday - a trend that a U.S. health official called an epidemic, but one that can be stopped.

Medications created Nov 01, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

For dementia, common painkillers may work best: study

Ordinary painkillers such as paracetamol may work better than the risky antipyschotic drugs often prescribed to calm agitation in people with dementia, according to a study released Monday.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jul 18, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Natural pain relief from poisonous shrub

An extract of the poisonous shrub Jatropha curcas acts as a strong painkiller and may have a mode of action different from conventional analgesics, such as morphine and other pharmaceuticals. Details of tests are reported in the ...

Medical research created Jul 11, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Short term use of painkillers could be dangerous to heart patients

Even short-term use of some painkillers could be dangerous for people who've had a heart attack, according to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Cardiology created May 09, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Analgesic

An analgesic (also known as a painkiller) is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain (achieve analgesia). The word analgesic derives from Greek an- ("without") and algos ("pain"). Analgesic drugs act in various ways on the peripheral and central nervous systems; they include paracetamol (acetaminophen), the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, narcotic drugs such as morphine, synthetic drugs with narcotic properties such as tramadol, and various others.

In choosing analgesics, the severity and response to other medication determines the choice of agent; the WHO pain ladder, originally developed in cancer-related pain, is widely applied to find suitable drugs in a stepwise manner. The analgesic choice is also determined by the type of pain: for neuropathic pain, traditional analgesics are less effective, and there is often benefit from classes of drugs that are not normally considered analgesics, such as tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

For more information about Analgesic, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Related topics: drug