Types of Painkillers and How They Work

Painkillers are prescribed to patients who are unable to manage the pain in the body.

How do painkillers actually work?

Usually, when the body is injured, some particular nerve endings will send the pain message to the brain. The job of painkillers are to interfere with the messages sent by these nerve endings. The interference can be at the injury site, or it can be in the brain, or spinal cord. Most drugs are derived from either opiates or aspirin. Aspirin applies the use of a chemical that is found in willow bark that Ancient Greeks used to relieve pain. Opiates are derived from opium which is originally found in poppies.

The most common ways people take painkillers are orally or by injection. Those injected into the body, like Morphine, is designed for severe conditions or extreme pain. The ones that are orally taken, like Paracetamol, are meant to alleviate minor pains. The oral medication may come in tablets, capsules, or syrup form. Some painkillers can also be administered via the rectum. Such drugs are referred to as suppositories.

Types of Painkillers

Generally, the main types of painkillers people take can be grouped into three categories. They include the following;

• Paracetamol
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, NSAIDS, and
• Opioids

These painkillers will work differently, but they will all be taken in small amounts to allow the prescribed medicine to work. Nonetheless, some individual cases will require the patient to use the painkillers for long.

How does each painkiller work?

Paracetamol

These are ingested to target the brain, and they will work by inhibiting or stopping the pain production from its source. Paracetamol will limit the synthesis of inflammatory chemicals and substances in the brain. These chemicals and materials are called the prostaglandins. The inflammatory chemicals are located anywhere around the body though they are mostly in the brain. These painkillers will be used to relieve the pain and also, they can be used to relieve fever in the body.

Opioids

This is a medication that aims at the receptors. The receptors are usually located in the gut and the central nervous system. They can also be found in other vital areas in the body. Opioids enhance the body’s tolerance for pain and they aim at limiting pain in the body.

NSAIDS

These are drugs that are specifically inclusive of ibuprofen and aspirin. They work differently from Paracetamol in that NSAIDS will target the prostaglandins that are in the body. They will not target the brain, like Paracetamol does.

Dosage of the painkillers

If you suffer from chronic pain, such as backache or headaches, you will be advised to take painkillers regularly, usually for a set period and under guidance and supervision of your doctor. You should not skip doses, and you shouldn’t take them all at once. If your pain is minor and happens just once (acute pain), like with a toothache, then you can take the painkillers once to limit the pain. It is advised to eat something, prior to taking painkillers, especially the NSAIDS (taking these on an empty stomach can irritate the gut lining and sometimes cause bleeding.)

Addiction to the painkillers

Since the painkillers will intercept the nerve endings to send the pain signal to the brain, they have been some cases of the drug addiction. Some painkillers are designed to trigger the happy mood in the mind. With this, people are using it as a way of getting high. Too much ingestion of the drug can make the person high. Several cases have been reported of the patients and other persons overusing aspirin. This is because it aims at the causes of pain mostly.

What are the side effects of each painkiller?

Since the painkillers work differently, they will deliver different results. This also means that they will have different side effects in the body. As simple as the painkiller might seem, it can pose some lethal side effects on your body. Here is a look at the common side effects of each painkiller.

“¢ NSAIDs

These do not have harmful side effects as such though some side effects might be considered a threat. Some of the side effects include the bleeding of the stomach and gut, or other cardiovascular disorders.

“¢ Opioids

These are among the most abused, and they will have some side effects like confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation and nausea.

“¢ Paracetamol

Paracetamol is considered a safe drug, which cannot cause any side effects if taken as prescribed. Nonetheless, it can be lethal if it is abused. Some side effects can occur, which an be fatal, especially when the Paracetamol is taken in large amounts. The medicine can cause a permanent live damage, which can lead to death.

The painkillers have a unique way of intercepting the production and transport of pain and its signals. These are some of the reasons why they work. Before taking any painkiller, ensure that you contact your doctor for advice. Always follow the right prescription when taking the painkillers, to avoid the severe side effects.

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