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Amine

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Anesthesia

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Definition

Analgesia is the loss of sensitivity to pain.

An analgesic is a substance that causes analgesia.

Additional Info

You may be familiar with the term "analgesic" for common pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen for example. Each of these common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are effective pain relievers, but each carries its own set of risks, particularly with long-term use; see Further Reading below to learn more./

Be careful not to confuse pain relievers with anesthetics which are used to block pain and other sensations during surgical procedures.

SDS Relevance

"Analgesia" may appear as a symptom of exposure in Section 11 (toxicological information) of a Safety Data Sheet. Acute exposure to certain chemicals such as ethyl chloride can induce analgesia among other symptoms. Less commonly, the term "analgesic" may appear in Section 4 (first-aid measures).

Complete or partial insensitivity to pain may sound great, but this presents a serious hazard. Imagine having no sensations of pain in your everyday life -- you might not notice that you have put your hand on a hot stove and suffered third degree burns until you smelled the charred flesh. Ugh!

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Further Reading

• Anesthesia & Analgesia is a journal publised by the International Anesthesia Research Society.
• Postoperative Analgesia: Economics, Resource Use, and Patient Satisfaction in an Urban Teaching Hospital, from Anesth Analg 2002;94:130-137.
• Guidelines for the Use of Anesthetics, Analgesics and Tranquilizers in Laboratory Mammals at the U of Minnesota.
• Safety Concerns Associated with Over-the-Counter Drug Products Containing Analgesic/Antipyretic Active Ingredients for Internal Use (PDF file), an FDA Science Background report from 2004.
• Hidden Dangers of Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers at AARP.
• Cardiorenal Safety of OTC Analgesics at J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2018, 23(2), 103–118.
• Safe Use of Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers and Fever Reducers at the US FDA.
• Chronic pain: Medication decisions at the Mayo Clinic.

See also: anesthesia, asphyxiant.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

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