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Pain Medicine: Different Types of Pain Medicine

The formal term for painkillers is analgesics, a word derived from the Greek words an (without) and algia (pain). The three most commonly used types of pain medicine today are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the paracetamol based drugs and the opioid drugs.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) group contains a wide range of different painkillers. Examples of commonly known NSAID painkillers are Aspirin, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. NSAID pain killers do not only alleviate pain; they will also lower fever and decrease inflammations. They are called non-steroidal in order to discern them from the steroids, since the steroids are also used for their anti-inflammatory capacity. Aspirin was discovered in 1829 when salicylic acid was chemically isolated for the first time, but willow bark containing salicylic acid has been used as a pain killer long before the 19th century. A lot of NSAIDs are available over-the-counter but this does not mean that they are harmless. When misused, even comparatively weak NSAIDs can have severe side effects, including bleeding ulcers and photosensitivity. NSAIDs are generally not recommended during pregnancy.

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What You Need to Know to Ask About Medicine

Taking medicine has its risks. In fact, some medicine you take will have more risks than the illness you are tying to cure by taking the medicine. There are a lot of things about medicine your probably don’t know, but are facts that you need to educate yourself on so you can be as healthy as possible and know what is going on with your body.

Before you take any medicine, make sure you know what the medicine is, the name of it, and why you are taking it. Mistakes happen all the time in the medical field, so it is up to you to make sure you are getting the correct medicine.

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