LESSON 4
ANALGESIC, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANTIGOUT AGENTS
Section I. BACKGROUND
4-1. INTRODUCTION TO ANALGESIC, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANTI-GOUT
AGENTS
Since the beginning of time, every civilization has sought a perfect medicinal
agent that would relieve pain. As far back as the third century, B.C., physicians were
administering the juice of the opium poppy to patients for the relief of pain. Opium
derivatives are still widely used in the treatment of severe pain. Fortunately, agents with
less abuse potential have been discovered for the relief of pain. This lesson will focus
on analgesics, anti-inflammatory, and anti-gout agents.
4-2. DEFINITIONS
a.
Analgesic. An analgesic is an agent that relieves pain.
b. Antipyretic. An antipyretic is an agent that lowers elevated body
temperature.
c. Anti-Inflammatory Agent. An anti-inflammatory agent is a drug that
decreases inflammation.
d. Rheumatism. Rheumatism is a condition characterized by inflammation of
connective tissue.
e. Arthritis. Arthritis is a form of rheumatism in which the inflammation is
confined to body joints.
f. Gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that is caused by an excess of uric acid in
the blood that periodically precipitates in the peripheral joints as monosodium urate.
Section II. ANALGESIC AGENTS
4-3. BACKGROUND
Analgesic agents relieve pain. Some agents (like morphine or meperidine) are
used to relieve severe pain, while others (like acetaminophen) are administered to
relieve less severe pain. The material in this section of the lesson will consider agents
used to relieve less severe pain.
MD0805
4-2