Clinically used painkillers are divided into central painkillers and peripheral painkillers, whose principle of action is to inhibit the synthesis of central receptors or prostaglandins to achieve the effect of pain relief.
1. Central painkillers mainly refer to opioid receptor antagonists, through the inhibition of the central nervous system opioid receptors, to prevent the transmission of pain to play the role of pain relief. Such as morphine, fentanyl citrate injection, pethidine hydrochloride, etc., with a certain degree of dependence, suitable for the pain relief treatment of patients with advanced cancer.
2. Peripheral analgesics, i.e., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or antipyretic anti-inflammatory drugs, mainly through the inhibition of peripheral prostaglandin synthesis, thus reducing the excitability of pain receptors. Common analgesics include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, diclofenac sodium, etc. Clinically, they are mainly used for the treatment of some mild-to-moderate pain, such as headache, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, and pressure pain.
Painkillers need to be used under the guidance of a doctor, and should not be used blindly on their own to avoid serious effects.