NURS 5334/ NURS5334 PAIN DRUGS FULL
STUDY GUIDE | TERMS & COMPLETE
DEFINITIONS | NEWEST UPDATE 2025/2026 |
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
NON-OPIOID PAIN RELIEVERS
Non-opioid Analgesics/antipyretic
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) o Therapeutic use:
Relief of mild to moderate pain and fever.
o Mechanism of action: Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the
CNS, leading to antipyresis and analgesia.
o
o
, o
o Contraindications: Severe hepatic impairment or active liver
disease.
o Adverse Reactions/side effects: Hepatotoxicity, especially
with overdose; rare skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson
syndrome.
o Assessments: Monitor liver function tests with prolonged
use or high doses; assess for alcohol use.
NSAID / Salicylate
ASA (Aspirin) (Bayer, Ecotrin) o Therapeutic use: Relief of
pain, inflammation, and fever; prevention of
thrombotic events (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke).
o Mechanism of action: Irreversibly inhibits COX-1 and COX-2
enzymes, reducing prostaglandin and thromboxane
synthesis.
o Contraindications: Active bleeding, peptic ulcer disease,
children with viral infections (risk of Reye’s syndrome).
o Adverse Reactions/side effects: GI bleeding, ulcers, tinnitus,
Reye’s syndrome in children, hypersensitivity reactions.
o
o
, o Assessments: Monitor for signs of bleeding, especially
gastrointestinal; assess platelet count if used long-term.
NSAID / Propionic Acid
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) o Therapeutic use: Treatment of mild
to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever. o Mechanism of
action: Reversibly inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, reducing
prostaglandin synthesis.
o Contraindications: History of GI bleeding or ulcer, severe
heart failure, hypersensitivity to NSAIDs.
o Adverse Reactions/side effects: GI discomfort, nausea,
increased risk of cardiovascular events, renal impairment.
o Assessments: Monitor renal function and signs of GI
bleeding; assess pain and temperature regularly.
• Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
o Therapeutic use: Relief of pain, inflammation, and fever,
particularly in arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders.
Mechanism of action: Reversibly inhibits COX enzymes,
reducing inflammation and pain.
o
o
STUDY GUIDE | TERMS & COMPLETE
DEFINITIONS | NEWEST UPDATE 2025/2026 |
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
NON-OPIOID PAIN RELIEVERS
Non-opioid Analgesics/antipyretic
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) o Therapeutic use:
Relief of mild to moderate pain and fever.
o Mechanism of action: Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the
CNS, leading to antipyresis and analgesia.
o
o
, o
o Contraindications: Severe hepatic impairment or active liver
disease.
o Adverse Reactions/side effects: Hepatotoxicity, especially
with overdose; rare skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson
syndrome.
o Assessments: Monitor liver function tests with prolonged
use or high doses; assess for alcohol use.
NSAID / Salicylate
ASA (Aspirin) (Bayer, Ecotrin) o Therapeutic use: Relief of
pain, inflammation, and fever; prevention of
thrombotic events (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke).
o Mechanism of action: Irreversibly inhibits COX-1 and COX-2
enzymes, reducing prostaglandin and thromboxane
synthesis.
o Contraindications: Active bleeding, peptic ulcer disease,
children with viral infections (risk of Reye’s syndrome).
o Adverse Reactions/side effects: GI bleeding, ulcers, tinnitus,
Reye’s syndrome in children, hypersensitivity reactions.
o
o
, o Assessments: Monitor for signs of bleeding, especially
gastrointestinal; assess platelet count if used long-term.
NSAID / Propionic Acid
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) o Therapeutic use: Treatment of mild
to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever. o Mechanism of
action: Reversibly inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, reducing
prostaglandin synthesis.
o Contraindications: History of GI bleeding or ulcer, severe
heart failure, hypersensitivity to NSAIDs.
o Adverse Reactions/side effects: GI discomfort, nausea,
increased risk of cardiovascular events, renal impairment.
o Assessments: Monitor renal function and signs of GI
bleeding; assess pain and temperature regularly.
• Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
o Therapeutic use: Relief of pain, inflammation, and fever,
particularly in arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders.
Mechanism of action: Reversibly inhibits COX enzymes,
reducing inflammation and pain.
o
o
