Opioids-Clinical Use
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK 17.1 Morphine Morphine is a phenanthrene derivative. The effects are mediated by μ receptors. It is more effective for visceral…
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK NSAIDs act through inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX-1 and COX-2), thus inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty…
Glutamate and GABA Receptors
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Glutamate and GABA receptors are amino acid neurotransmitters present in the central nervous system. They are involved with nociception at…
Serotonergic Receptors
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Serotonin is a transmitter found in the central nervous system. It is involved with nociception at the peripheral and spinal…
Potassium and Calcium Channels
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK K channels are present in all the cells and maintain resting membrane potentials. Closing of K channel leads to depolarisation….
Sodium Channels
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Action potential is initiated by voltage-gated sodium channels. Alterations in channel properties can contribute to inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Voltage-gated…
Assessment of Pain in Elderly
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Life expectancy is increasing and people are living longer. At the same time, the incidence of persistent pain is increasing….