Analgesics Classification Quiz

Adrenergic and Non-Adrenergic

• Adrenergic substances are activated by adrenaline, influencing nerve fibers in various bodily functions.
• Non-adrenergic substances involve norepinephrine in transmitting nerve impulses, impacting central noradrenergic pathways.

Cholinergic and Acetylcholine

• Cholinergic fibers release or are activated by acetylcholine, crucial for autonomic nervous system functions.
• Acetylcholine (C7H17NO3) is a neurotransmitter essential for nerve impulse transmission, formed from choline in tissues.

Agonists and Antagonists

• Agonists are chemicals that activate receptors to produce pharmacological responses.
• Antagonists reduce the activity of other chemicals in the body by blocking their receptors, particularly in the nervous system.

Opioids and Opiates

• Opioids encompass endogenous neural peptides (like endorphins) and synthetic drugs (like methadone) that mimic opiate properties.
• Opiates include sedative narcotics containing opium or its derivatives, inducing similar narcotic effects as opioids.

Non-Opioids

• Non-opioid analgesics primarily provide pain relief, fever reduction, and inflammation control without binding to opioid receptors.

Opioid vs. Non-Opioid

• Opioids target pain receptors in the brain/spinal cord to reduce pain perception, while non-opioids work directly on injured tissues.
• Opioids diminish awareness of pain, whereas non-opioids address chemical changes at injury sites that contribute to pain and inflammation.

NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)

• NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, reducing pain, edema, and inflammation in response to tissue damage.

Adjuvant Analgesics

• Adjuvant analgesics, including antidepressants and anticonvulsants, are used alongside conventional analgesics for persistent or neuropathic pain management.

Opioid Antagonists

• Opioid antagonists serve as antidotes for overdoses related to natural and synthetic opioid analgesics.

Opioid Agonist-Antagonist

• These medications combine an opioid antagonist (such as Naloxone) with an opioid agonist, providing a balance in pain management.