analgesic drugs

• what is an analgesic drug

  medications that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness
• opioids

  a type of analgesic drug that is used to treat moderate to severe pain
• opiate adverse effects

  hypotension, bradycardia, constipation, urinary retention, respiratory depression, rash
• what is breakthrough pain

  pain that occurs between doses of pain medications
• contraindications for opioid use

  drug allergy and cases of respiratory insufficiency ( asthma, sleep apnea), and pregnancy
• interactions with opioids

  co-administration of an opioid with any CNS depressant can cause severe respiratory depression

  black box warning for combined use with benzos
• codeine sulfate

  opioid similar to morphine

  commonly used as antitussive

  high abuse potential
• fentanyl

  synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain

  IV form used in operative setting for sedation during mechanical vent.
• fentanyl patch

  highly effective in treating chronic pain such as cancer pains

  patch lasts 72 hours- new patch every 72 hours
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid)


  very potent opioid analgesic

  7 times more potent then morphine

  given in very low doses
• methadone

  opioid of choice for detox treatment of opioid addicts

  eliminated through liver- safer choice for renal impaired pts

  may cause cardiac dysrhythmias
• morphine

  drug prototype for all opioid drugs

  indicated for severe pain and has high abuse potential
• opioid antagonists

  compete with opioids for CNS receptor sites
• naloxone (Narcan) 


  pure opioid antagonist

  drug of choice for complete or partial reversal of opioid- induced respiratory depression
• adverse effect of Narcan

  headache
• acetaminophen (Tylenol)

  nonopioid analgesic

  drug of choice in peds

  contraindicated in severe liver disease
• maximum daily limits for Tylenol

  healthy adult- 4000mg/day

  older adult- 3000 mg/day

  liver disease- 2000 mg/day
• antidote for acetaminophen toxicity

  N-acetylcysteine