| Analgesic | |
|---|---|
| Drug class | |
 Opium poppies such as this one provide ingredients for the class of analgesics called opiates. Also visible is the plant's latex, from which numerous opiate compounds have been isolated. | |
| Class identifiers | |
| Use | Pain |
| ATC code | N02A |
| Clinical data | |
| Drugs.com | Drug Classes |
| Consumer Reports | Best Buy Drugs |
| WebMD | MedicineNet |
| Legal status | |
| In Wikidata | |
An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate, sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.
Analgesic choice is also determined by the type of pain: For neuropathic pain, recent research has suggested that classes of drugs that are not normally considered analgesics, such as tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants may be considered as an alternative.[1]
Various analgesics, such as many NSAIDs, are available over the counter in most countries, whereas various others are prescription drugs owing to the substantial risks and high chances of overdose, misuse, and addiction in the absence of medical supervision.
- ^ Dworkin RH, Backonja M, Rowbotham MC, Allen RR, Argoff CR, Bennett GJ, et al. (November 2003). "Advances in neuropathic pain: diagnosis, mechanisms, and treatment recommendations". Archives of Neurology. 60 (11): 1524–34. doi:10.1001/archneur.60.11.1524. PMID 14623723.