Overview of Western Painkillers, December 3, 1999

Overview of Western Painkillers, December 3, 1999

Western painkillers are broadly divided into four categories: ① salicylate-based drugs: aspirin; ② aniline-based drugs: amidopyrine; ③ pyrazolone-based drugs: aminopyrine; ④ nonsteroidal drugs: aspirin (indomethacin), ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid (methamidophosphate, chloramidophosphate, fluoro-mefenamic acid). In addition, there are opiate preparations such as pethidine, strong painkiller, and codeine; traditional Chinese medicine extracts include high-alkaloid aconite and cranial painkiller. The term "nonsteroidal painkiller" distinguishes itself from steroid-based drugs like prednisone and dexamethasone. Steroids are the basic structural components of all endocrine enzymes and hormones in the body, with adrenal cortical hormones built upon this foundation. Given the widespread clinical application of these drugs and their significant pain-relieving effects, they also have obvious side effects, such as water and sodium retention and central obesity. Due to the long history of these drugs and their considerable side effects, many people avoid them out of fear of adverse reactions, so aspirin, ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid, among others, explicitly label themselves as "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs" upon market release to alleviate patient concerns. In reality, nonsteroidal painkillers are much more than just aspirin. Ibuprofen 0.2 g, taken three times daily, with its extended-release version Fenbid 300 mg, also taken three times daily, is currently a representative example of nonsteroidal painkillers.