Approaching Chemistry: Analgesic vs Anesthetic | Detailed Explanation

What medication should I take for a sudden headache? It’s an analgesic! What are the necessary steps before performing most surgeries? It’s anesthesia! Are you clear about the difference between analgesic vs anesthetic? Let’s explore the truth.

Introduction of Analgesic vs Anesthetic

1. Analgesic

Analgesics mainly act on the nervous system to selectively alleviate various types of pain and alleviate the resulting fear and anxiety emotions. Painkillers do not shut down nerves, which means that the user is still able to perceive the surrounding environment and has consciousness.

It mainly includes two categories: opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Opioid analgesics can induce sleep. It can be used for short-term or long-term relief of severe pain. The latter is used to alleviate short-term pain, such as headaches, muscle pain, etc. They greatly alleviate the patient’s pain. However，some painkillers can become addictive if used repeatedly. These addictive drugs, such as morphine, are commonly referred to as “narcotic analgesics” and are strictly controlled by relevant departments.

Some analgesics are over-the-counter drugs, which means you don’t need to provide a prescription to purchase them, you can legally purchase them in pharmacies and other places where they are sold. Other drugs can only be obtained through prescription: usually including higher doses of over-the-counter drugs, combination painkillers, and all opioid drugs.

Analgesics can be used in various forms, including oral administration, such as dissolving under the tongue or swallowing liquids or tablets directly; by injection; skin patch; Nasal spray, etc.

The use of analgesics carries other risks besides addiction. Generally speaking, anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs are safe. However, if you use it too frequently or in excessive doses, some side effects and complications may occur. For example, damage to the liver and kidneys, digestive system problems (diarrhea or constipation), allergic reactions, gastric ulcers, and even coagulation problems. After taking analgesics for some time, tolerance may develop, manifested as a decrease in efficacy.

2. Anesthetic

Anesthetics are drugs that can cause local or systemic sensory loss. It suppresses the response to external stimuli, including pain, by acting on the brain or peripheral nervous system, in order to better proceed with the next step of surgery. The state of unconsciousness in the human body after injection of such drugs is called anesthesia. Anesthesia includes general anesthesia and local anesthesia. The former includes loss of consciousness. The latter refers to specifically causing a certain part of the body to lose sensation.

General anesthesia can be administered by inhalation or direct injection into the bloodstream. Inhalation anesthetics are used in combination with oxygen, mostly excreted through the lungs.

As the dose increases, the entire process of perception loss can be divided into four stages. The first stage is loss of consciousness and muscle relaxation, suitable for relatively fast minor surgeries. More anesthetics can lead to the second stage, during which patients become excited and experience more uncontrollable physical activity, making it impossible to perform surgery. Doctors usually quickly pass through this stage in practical operations to ensure the smooth progress of the surgery.

The third stage is the human body state pursued by surgery, usually judged based on respiratory status, pupillary reflex, and eye movement. The fourth stage of anesthesia is characterized by loss of autonomous breathing ability and impending collapse of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular functions, which is extremely fatal.

The ideal anesthetics are almost non-toxic，have no adverse reactions, and can quickly relax muscles to achieve a suitable state for surgery. However, some types of anesthetics are rejected for treatment because they can easily explode when combined with air, cause excessive irritation to the lungs, or have adverse effects on organs such as the liver.

Applications of Analgesic vs Anesthetic

1. Analgesic

Analgesics are used to alleviate pain and inflammation. For example:

l Postoperative pain and inflammation;

l Pain caused by trauma, such as fractures;

l Used for dysmenorrhea or muscle soreness;

l Used for sudden and acute temporary pain, such as headaches;

l Used for long-term chronic pain, such as arthritis.

2. Anesthetic

The anesthesia process requires specialized anesthesiologists to inject and the presence of trained physicians and registered nurse anesthesiologists.

Before anesthesia, there are the following precautions:

l Eight hours before going to the hospital, fasting and drinking water are prohibited, unless otherwise instructed by the doctor;

l To achieve the best effect of anesthesia, please quit smoking two weeks in advance, which is beneficial for improving cardiovascular function;

l According to the doctor’s instructions, stop taking Viagra or some Chinese herbal medicines 24 hours before surgery. Please consult the doctor carefully regarding the use of antihypertensive drugs.

After the anesthesia surgery, it is best to rest for a day to restore normal physical function, and do not drive or drink alcohol for 24 hours. For important decisions, please ensure to make them with a clear mind.

Conclusion

To sum up, analgesic vs anesthetic, the former is used to treat pain and inflammation, while the latter is used to prepare for surgery. The former is prone to addiction through abuse, while the latter can lead to death through excessive use. Both require careful medication according to individual needs.