Potent (Narcotic) Analgesics

Analgesics : Oralmedic swabs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Morphine
• Pethidine
• Papaveretum (Omnopon)
• Methadone (Physeptone)
• Pentazocine (Fortral)
• Codeine Oxycodone

All these drugs are capable of producing dependence.

As well as pain relief their pharmacological effects are respiratory depression, vasomotor depression, postural hypotension, vomiting and depression of cough reflex, and patients on pentazocine frequently experience hallucinations.

Their use should be limited to: 

• Pre- and post-operative pain relief.
• Control of very acute pain.
• Relief of intractable pain of malignancy.
• Acute surgical and medical emergencies, of which there are a number.
• Pre-medication.