NUR 1141 Pharmacotherapeutics Unit 2 Exam QUESTIONS
WITH WELL VERIFIED ANSWERS
Pain
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage
Acute Pain
Pain that is sudden in onset, usually subsides when treated, and typically occurs over less than a
6-week period.
Agonist
A substance that binds to a receptor and causes a response
Analgesics
Medications that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness
Antagonist
A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks a response
Chronic Pain
Persistent or recurring pain that is often difficult to treat. Includes any pain lasting longer than 3
to 6 months, pain lasting longer than 1 month after healing of an acute injury, or pain that
accompanies a nonhealing tissue injury.
Opioid Analgesics
synthetic drugs that bind to opiate receptors to relieve pain
Tolerance
The general term for a state in which repetitive exposure to a given drug, over time, induces
changes in drug receptors that reduce the drugs effects (same as physical dependence)
Somatic Pain
Pain that originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, or joints.
Deep pain
pain that occurs in tissues below skin level; opposite of superficial pain
,Vascular pain
pain that results from pathology of the vascular or perivascular tissues
Viceral pain
pain in organs
Superficial pain
Pain that originates from the skin or mucous membranes; opposite of deep pain.
Referred pain
pain that is felt in a location other than where the pain originates
Neuropathic pain
pain from damage to neurons of either the peripheral or central nervous system
Phantom pain
pain or discomfort felt in an amputated limb
Cancer Pain
pain resulting from any of a variety of causes related to cancer and/or the metastasis of cancer
Central pain
Pain resulting from any disorder that causes central nervous system damage.
Massaging painful area
stimulates large sensory fibers.
Result
Closes gate
Reduces pain sensation
Mild Agonists (Opioid Drugs)
codeine and hydrocodone
Strong Agonists (Opioid Drugs)
morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, meperidine, fentanyl, and methadone
, Meperidine (Demerol)
not recommended for long-term use because of the accumulation of a neurotoxic metabolite,
normeperidine, which can cause seizures
Opioid Analgesics: Mechanism of Action
Three classifications based on their actions
-Agonists
-Agonists-antagonists
-Antagonists (nonanalgesic)
Agonists-Antagonists
Bind to a pain receptor
Cause a weaker neurologic response than a full agonist
Also called partial agonist or mixed agonist
Opioids are also used for
cough suppression, treatment of diarrhea, balanced anesthesia
Opioid Analgesics: Contraindications
Known drug allergy
Severe asthma
Use with extreme caution in patients with:
Respiratory insufficiency
Elevated intracranial pressure
Morbid obesity and/or sleep apnea
Paralytic ileus
WITH WELL VERIFIED ANSWERS
Pain
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage
Acute Pain
Pain that is sudden in onset, usually subsides when treated, and typically occurs over less than a
6-week period.
Agonist
A substance that binds to a receptor and causes a response
Analgesics
Medications that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness
Antagonist
A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks a response
Chronic Pain
Persistent or recurring pain that is often difficult to treat. Includes any pain lasting longer than 3
to 6 months, pain lasting longer than 1 month after healing of an acute injury, or pain that
accompanies a nonhealing tissue injury.
Opioid Analgesics
synthetic drugs that bind to opiate receptors to relieve pain
Tolerance
The general term for a state in which repetitive exposure to a given drug, over time, induces
changes in drug receptors that reduce the drugs effects (same as physical dependence)
Somatic Pain
Pain that originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, or joints.
Deep pain
pain that occurs in tissues below skin level; opposite of superficial pain
,Vascular pain
pain that results from pathology of the vascular or perivascular tissues
Viceral pain
pain in organs
Superficial pain
Pain that originates from the skin or mucous membranes; opposite of deep pain.
Referred pain
pain that is felt in a location other than where the pain originates
Neuropathic pain
pain from damage to neurons of either the peripheral or central nervous system
Phantom pain
pain or discomfort felt in an amputated limb
Cancer Pain
pain resulting from any of a variety of causes related to cancer and/or the metastasis of cancer
Central pain
Pain resulting from any disorder that causes central nervous system damage.
Massaging painful area
stimulates large sensory fibers.
Result
Closes gate
Reduces pain sensation
Mild Agonists (Opioid Drugs)
codeine and hydrocodone
Strong Agonists (Opioid Drugs)
morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, meperidine, fentanyl, and methadone
, Meperidine (Demerol)
not recommended for long-term use because of the accumulation of a neurotoxic metabolite,
normeperidine, which can cause seizures
Opioid Analgesics: Mechanism of Action
Three classifications based on their actions
-Agonists
-Agonists-antagonists
-Antagonists (nonanalgesic)
Agonists-Antagonists
Bind to a pain receptor
Cause a weaker neurologic response than a full agonist
Also called partial agonist or mixed agonist
Opioids are also used for
cough suppression, treatment of diarrhea, balanced anesthesia
Opioid Analgesics: Contraindications
Known drug allergy
Severe asthma
Use with extreme caution in patients with:
Respiratory insufficiency
Elevated intracranial pressure
Morbid obesity and/or sleep apnea
Paralytic ileus
