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Medicine vocabulary · Prescriptions and Medication

Analgesic

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˌænəlˈdʒiːzɪk/nounCommon term

In medicine, analgesic means: A medicine that relieves pain, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or morphine; patients usually call it a painkiller.

In Turkish: analjezik, ağrı kesici

How it is used

Doctors prescribe regular or as-needed analgesics and step up the analgesia when pain is not controlled. The noun analgesia means pain relief in general: 'He needs better analgesia.'

Example sentences

  1. She's been taking simple analgesics, but the pain keeps her awake at night.

  2. Make sure he has adequate analgesia before you move him.

Common collocations

  • simple analgesics
  • regular analgesia
  • opioid analgesics
  • adequate analgesia
  • prescribeTo officially decide on and write down a medicine or treatment for a patient, so that they can get it from a pharmacy.
  • doseThe amount of a medicine taken or given at one time, for example 500 mg, often stated together with how often it is taken.
  • PRNShort for the Latin 'pro re nata', meaning 'as needed': a medicine given only when the patient needs it, not at fixed times.
  • over-the-counterDescribes medicines that can be bought from a pharmacy or shop without a doctor's prescription, such as some painkillers and cold remedies.
  • side effectAn effect of a medicine or treatment that is not the main one intended, and is often unwanted, such as drowsiness or an upset stomach.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Prescriptions and Medication

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.