Analgesics

=Analgesics= By: Arianna Sacchi and Bel Gonzaga What is it?


 * Modes of action and strong analgesics **


 * Mild Analgesics || Strong Analgesics ||
 * * Intercepts the source of the injury by preventing the synthesis of substances or enzymes that causes pain, fever and swelling ;
 * Example: aspirin and Paracetamol. || * Works by blocking the pain signals in the brain and spinal cord;
 * Example: Morphine. ||


 * Aspirin **

In the nineteenth century, the 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid) was used as a pain killer, but it used to have the undesirable side effect of irritating and damaging the mouth, oesophagus and stomach. Though in 1899, the german company Bayer introduced the ethanoate ester to the salicylic acid, naming it "Aspirin", and turning it less irritating because the aspirin is hydrolysed into salicylic acid and ethanoate ions just when it reaches the small intestine.



//Salicylic acid Aspirin // //Advantages //
 * anti-inflammatory properties;
 * Relieves the symptoms of arthritis and rhemautism;
 * Prevents blood clotting, strokes and reoccurence of heart attacks.

//Disadvatages //
 * //Bleeding in the lining of the stomach; //
 * //A few people are allergic, with one or two tablets leading to bronchial asthma; //
 * //The taking of it by children under 12 has been linked to the Reye's disease- a potentially fatal liver and brain disorder; //
 * //Exceeding the safe dose can be fatal because the salicylic acid leads to acidosis caused by a lowering of the pH of the Blood. //


 * Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) **

It is made by the reaction of the carboxilic acid group of salicylic acid with methanol. It has a characteristic smell, and occurs naturally in some plants, such as sweet birch. If it is taken internaly, it can be poisonous, however it can be used in liniments to rub into the skin to relieve the inflammation that causes muscle pain.

Methyl salicylate

 Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is mainly used to relieve pain as well as to reduce fever. It is incorporated in many other pills, such as the ones curing flus and colds. Paracetamol is also a drug known as aniline analgesics, it is the only one still in legal use to this day. Some side effects may be that it can produce confusion.
 * Paracetamol (acetaminophen) **

//Advantages//
 * as a pain reliever it is preferred to aspirin
 * less dangerous side-effects as to the ones from aspirin

//Disadvantages//
 * in very rare cases paracetamol can cause kidney damage and blood disorders
 * overdose is not deadly but may cause severe brain damage and a permanent damage to the kidneys and liver

Paracetamol (acetaminophen)


 * Opiates **

Opiates are used to relieve excrutiating pain caused by injuries, surgery, and chronic diseases such as cancer or heart attacks. The most strong analgesics that fall into the opiate group, are morphine and codeine. <span style="font-family: MyriadPro-Regular,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Comparing the structures of morphine, <span style="font-family: MyriadPro-Regular,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">codeine and diamorphine (heroin, a <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: MyriadPro-Regular,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">semi-synthetic opiate), they all carry with them a N-CH3 bonding, making them all opiates. This can be seen below.

.................. Morphine .............................................. Heroin (diamorphine) .................................... Codeine