analgésies

Analgesia refers to the relief of pain without loss of consciousness. Analgesics are drugs and therapies that achieve this effect, acting at peripheral nerves, the spinal cord, or the brain. They are used in the management of acute, chronic, cancer, and procedure-related pain, and may be combined with non-pharmacological approaches.

Analgesics are typically categorized by mechanism and potency. Non-opioid analgesics include acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen; they reduce pain by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis and/or by other anti-inflammatory effects. They are usually first-line for mild to moderate pain but can cause liver, gastric, or kidney complications with overuse or in certain patients.

Opioid analgesics, including morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl, provide strong relief for moderate to severe pain but carry risks of dependence, tolerance, respiratory depression, and constipation. They require careful dosing, monitoring, and often adjunctive therapy to minimize adverse effects.

Adjuvant analgesics are medicines initially developed for other conditions that can relieve pain, especially neuropathic pain; examples include antidepressants (duloxetine, amitriptyline) and anticonvulsants (gabapentin, pregabalin). Local and topical analgesics, such as lidocaine patches or capsaicin, provide regional relief or surface analgesia.

Multimodal analgesia combines agents with different mechanisms to enhance pain control while reducing individual drug doses and side effects. Analgesia practice also emphasizes safety, including appropriate prescribing, monitoring for misuse, and treatment of overdose with agents like acetylcysteine for acetaminophen toxicity or naloxone for opioid overdose.

Analgesia remains a central component of modern medicine, guiding decisions about pain relief across settings and patient populations, from acute injuries to chronic and palliative care.