What is an analgesic?

What is an analgesic?

• A. Medication that reduces fever
• B. Medication that treats infection
• C. Medication that relieves pain
• D. Medication that causes sleep

Answer: (C)

An analgesic is a medication that relieves pain by reducing or blocking the signals of pain in the nervous system. Different analgesics work in different ways—paracetamol relieves pain (and can reduce fever), NSAIDs like ibuprofen reduce pain and inflammation (and fever), and opioids provide strong pain relief but can cause drowsiness. The defining purpose is pain relief, not treating infection or inducing sleep. So the correct description is relief of pain.

An analgesic is a medication that relieves pain by reducing or blocking the signals of pain in the nervous system. Different analgesics work in different ways—paracetamol relieves pain (and can reduce fever), NSAIDs like ibuprofen reduce pain and inflammation (and fever), and opioids provide strong pain relief but can cause drowsiness. The defining purpose is pain relief, not treating infection or inducing sleep. So the correct description is relief of pain.