Know your medical terms: Analgesic

'Analgesic' is a term that keeps appearing in the medicinal world. We explain what the word really means.

Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : June 27, 2014 6:46 PM IST

Analgesics are a group or class of drugs that provide pain relief. In simple words, they are what you commonly call pain-killers. Analgesics just provide symptomatic relief. This means that they don't cure or treat the underlying cause of pain but just mask the pain for a while to provide temporary relief. The mechanism by which they act involves the nervous system. Basically, they block the nerve impulses which allows you to sense and feel pain.

There are two types of analgesics:

Anti-inflammatory drugs: They block chemicals that cause inflammation and trigger pain receptors to transmit a pain signal to the brain. They are used for relieving mild pain like headache, muscle strain or injury.
Opioids: They act on the receptors in the brain that are involved in transmission of pain signals. They are prescribed for short-term as well as long-term relief of severe pain.

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Know your medical terms: Analgesic

'Analgesic' is a term that keeps appearing in the medicinal world. We explain what the word really means.

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