Pharmacological pain treatment involves administering medication that
relieves the patient of pain. There are four categories of pain medication: non-
narcotic analgesics, nonsterioidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), narcotic
analgesics, and salicylates (discussed in Chapter 12).
Narcotic analgesics are opioid narcotics that can induce respiratory depres-
sion. The effects of a narcotic analgesic can be reversed by administering a nar-
cotic antagonist.
Many patients and healthcare providers are concerned that a patient will
become addicted to narcotic analgesics or develop a tolerance for these drugs.
Both can occur. However, proper pain management can alleviate these potential
problems.
This chapter concludes the look at pain medications. In the next chapter, we’ll
take a look at medications that are used to control the immune system.Quiz
- Physical sensation of pain
(a) occurs when nerve endings are stimulated causing it to send an
impulse along the nerve pathways to the brain.
(b) is a person’s emotional response to pain based on a person’s pain
threshold.
(c) occurs when the brain stimulates nerve endings at the site of the
injury.
(d) none of the above. - Nonpharmacological pain relief treatments use the
(a) Pain Oppression theory.
(b) Pain Suppression theory.
(c) Brain Suppression theory.
(d) Gate Control theory. - The presence of severe discomfort or an uncomfortable sensation that has
a sudden onset and subsides with treatment is
(a) neuropathic pain.
(b) visceral pain.
(c) chronic pain.
(d) acute pain.
(^312) CHAPTER 16 Narcotic Agonists