14.5 Glossary

Module 14 Glossary

acute pain

pain that is sudden in onset and is expected to last less than 1 month

addiction

a persistent, compulsive dependence on a substance or behavior despite known harm

antipyretics

medications used to treat fever

chronic pain

pain persisting longer than 3 months

conduction

the process of converting chemical signals into electrical signals to be carried by nerves

cyclooxygenase

an enzyme responsible for the production of several inflammatory cytokines, including prostaglandins

cytochrome P450 2D6

a family of oxidative enzymes responsible for metabolizing many different drugs

cytokines

proteins that regulate inflammation in immune responses

hepatotoxicity

injury to the liver caused by many factors, such as a drug, environmental toxins, or radioactive exposure

modulation

the process of enhancing or inhibiting a painful signal before it reaches the brain

neuropathic pain

pain that originates in the peripheral or central nervous system

nociception

the processing of noxious stimuli by both the peripheral and central nervous system

nociceptive pain

pain that occurs because of tissue injury

nociceptors

specialized nerves that respond to painful stimuli

nonopioid analgesic

any analgesic that does not activate the opioid receptors to relieve pain

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

a classification of drugs that reduce inflammation by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase

opioid agonists

drugs that activate opioid receptors

opioid use disorder

a persistent, compulsive dependence on opioids

pain

an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage

pain threshold

the point at which a stimulus is perceived as painful

perception

the point at which the brain receives a painful signal

referred pain

deep visceral pain that causes pain elsewhere in the body (e.g., pancreatic injury that causes back pain, myocardial infarction that causes jaw and shoulder pain)

Reye’s syndrome

a disorder characterized by liver and brain toxicity culminating in life-threatening neurologic symptoms, seen most often in the setting of aspirin therapy in children with a viral illness

substance P

a neurotransmitter that enhances pain perception

tolerance

physiologic adaptation to the effect of a drug after repeated exposure

transduction

the initial activation of nociceptors

transmission

the process of carrying a painful signal from the peripheral nervous system to the brain

withdrawal

physiologic effects that occur after discontinuation of a drug that has been used for a prolonged period