Analgesics

Analgesics

Analgesia is a general term for providing pain relief while awake. Many drugs can provide pain relief. Non-opiate drugs such as aspirin usually do so without reducing the person’s ability to function and are not habit- forming. Some interrupt the pain signal at the site of injury. Others suppress the perception of pain. Opiate drugs such as morphine and codeine interrupt pain signals in the spinal cord and brain. They induce drowsiness, reducing a patient’s ability to function, and can cause addiction. Tissue damage causes the release of a chemical called prostaglandin, which triggers nerve endings to send a pain message to the brain.

Non-opiates, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, stop prostaglandins from being produced. Acetaminophen blocks the pain signal in the brain.
Opiates bind with receptors in the spaces between nerve cells, called synapses. This prevents pain signals from traveling between cells.

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Acupressure can help relieve pain
For a list of acupressure points, visit PointFinder.org. Click or touch the painful area.
If this is your first time, please read the instructions. Don’t use acupressure to replace standard emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment. If you are seriously injured or have acute symptoms seek urgent medical treatment.

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LABELS:
Nerve endings
Prostaglandin
Pain signal
To brain
Non-opiate
Nerve cells
Synapse
Pain signal
Opiate
STOP
Receptor

Text and illustrations by Kevin T. Boyd