264 articles
Naproxen
Naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) is a propionic acid NSAID inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2, U.S.-approved 1976 via Syntex, used for arthritis, gout, and pain; OTC as 220 mg naproxen sodium, with comparatively low cardiovascular risk among NSAIDs.
Narcotic
Narcotic is a term for drugs that relieve pain and dull the senses; medicine now prefers opioid, while in law it follows the 1961 Single Convention.
Nepafenac
Nepafenac (Nevanac, Ilevro) is a topical ophthalmic NSAID prodrug converted in the eye to amfenac, a COX inhibitor; FDA-approved in 2005 for cataract surgery pain and inflammation and studied for macular edema prevention.
Neuromuscular blockade
Neuromuscular blockade, also called neuromuscular block, is drug-induced paralysis of skeletal muscle used for intubation, surgery, and ventilation, introduced with curare in anesthesia in 1942.
Nicoboxil
Nicoboxil (2-butoxyethyl nicotinate, CAS 13912-80-6) is a nicotinic acid ester rubefacient combined with nonivamide in Finalgon topical analgesics for musculoskeletal and low back pain.
Niflumic Acid
Niflumic acid (NFA) is a fenamate-class NSAID acting by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, used clinically for pain and inflammation and in research as a chloride channel blocker.
Nitazenes
Nitazenes (2-benzyl benzimidazole opioids, benzimidazole-opioids) are synthetic mu-opioid receptor agonists developed by CIBA in the 1950s, never medically approved, and illicit since 2019; some analogues exceed fentanyl in potency.
Nonivamide
Nonivamide (pseudocapsaicin, N-vanillylnonanamide, CAS 2444-46-4) is a synthetic capsaicinoid, the amide of vanillylamine and nonanoic acid, a TRPV1 agonist used in pepper sprays, topical rubefacients, and as a flavoring.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and celecoxib, relieve pain, inflammation, and fever by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes; key risks are gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney injury, and cardiovascular events.
Oliceridine
Oliceridine (Olinvyk, TRV130) is an intravenous mu-opioid receptor agonist approved by the FDA in 2020 for moderate to severe acute pain in adults; developed by Trevena as a G protein-biased agonist, with contested mechanism and roughly half morphine's adverse-event odds at equal analgesia.
Olopatadine
Olopatadine (KW-4679, AL-4943A), a doxepin analog, is a topical H1 antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer used as eye drops and nasal spray for allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis; first FDA-approved 1996.
Olumacostat glasaretil
Olumacostat glasaretil (formerly DRM01) is a topical acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor pro-drug developed by Dermira to cut sebum in acne; Phase 3 trials CLAREOS-1 and CLAREOS-2 missed endpoints in 2018 and development was discontinued.
Opioid rotation
Opioid rotation, also called opioid switching or sequential opioid trials, is substituting one opioid painkiller for another to balance pain relief against side effects, needed by 20–44% of patients on opioid therapy.
Opium
Opium: air-dried latex of Papaver somniferum containing morphine, codeine, papaverine, thebaine; historic analgesic and antitussive, centerpiece of the India-China colonial trade, now restricted to medical use.
Oxaprozin
Oxaprozin (DAYPRO, COXANTO) is a long-half-life propionic acid NSAID inhibiting COX-1/COX-2, indicated for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 1,200 mg once daily, maximum 1,800 mg or 26 mg/kg daily.
Oxomemazine
Oxomemazine (oxomémazine), also known by brands like Toplexil, is a sedative phenothiazine H1 antihistamine (ATC R06AD08) used as an antitussive for dry cough in adults and children over 2, despite lacking RCT evidence of efficacy.
Oxycodegol
Oxycodol (NKTR-181) is a mu-opioid agonist developed by Nektar Therapeutics. It is defined by its slow CNS entry and reduced abuse potential, but it failed regulatory review in 2020.
Oxycodone
Oxycodone: semisynthetic opioid analgesic synthesized from thebaine in Germany in 1916; metabolized mainly by CYP3A4/5 to noroxycodone and CYP2D6 to oxymorphone; extended-release OxyContin is the most commonly misused prescription opioid.
Oxyphenbutazone anhydrous
Oxyphenbutazone anhydrous (UNII A7D84513GV, CAS 129-20-4, Tanderil/Tandearil) is the water-free active form of oxyphenbutazone, a pyrazolidinedione NSAID and active metabolite of phenylbutazone, withdrawn worldwide by 1985 for fatal bone marrow toxicity.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP, Tylenol) is a first-line analgesic and antipyretic synthesized in 1878, marketed from 1955, metabolized mainly via glucuronidation, and a leading cause of acute liver failure in overdose.
Paramethasone acetate
Paramethasone acetate (Haldrone, Monocortin; CAS 1597-82-6) is a synthetic fluorinated glucocorticoid, the 21-acetate of paramethasone, about 10 times as potent as hydrocortisone with no mineralocorticoid activity; its US oral tablets are discontinued.
Parecoxib
Parecoxib (Dynastat) is an injectable coxib, a sulfonamide prodrug of valdecoxib converted in the liver, used for short-term postoperative pain in adults; EU-authorized 2002, contraindicated after CABG surgery and in sulfonamide allergy.
Pelubiprofen
Pelubiprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug of the 2-arylpropionic acid family, related to ibuprofen, developed in South Korea and approved in 2007 for osteoarthritis, later for back pain.
Pemirolast
Pemirolast (Alamast, Alegysal) is a pyridopyrimidine mast cell stabilizer and antihistamine; its 0.1% potassium ophthalmic solution, FDA-approved in 1999, prevents ocular itching in allergic conjunctivitis and has been studied orally for asthma.
Phenazopyridine
Phenazopyridine (Pyridium, AZO) is an azo-dye urinary analgesic for dysuria, not an antibiotic. Dosed 200 mg three times daily, limited to 2 days; risks include methemoglobinemia and renal or hepatic toxicity.
Pheniramine
Pheniramine (pheniramine maleate, Avil) is a first-generation alkylamine H1 antihistamine, FDA approved in 1948, used for allergy, hay fever, colds, motion sickness, and allergic conjunctivitis eye drops; largely supplanted by second-generation antihistamines.
Pifoxime
Pifoxime (pifoxima, CAS 31224-92-7) is a piperidine oxime NSAID and peripheral analgesic once sold in France as Flamanil and withdrawn after three months for toxicity; usual dose 600 mg/day oral.
Pimecrolimus
Pimecrolimus, marketed as Elidel, is a 1% topical calcineurin inhibitor cream approved in the United States in 2001 for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients aged 2 and older.
Piritramide
Piritramide (pirinitramide, Dipidolor, R 3365) is a synthetic diphenylpropylamine mu-opioid agonist synthesized by Paul Janssen in 1960, given parenterally only, with up to 6-hour analgesia, hepatic metabolism without active metabolites, and wide postoperative use in Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Piroxicam
Piroxicam (Feldene) is the first oxicam-class NSAID, approved in the US in 1982, a non-selective COX-1/COX-2 inhibitor with a long half-life allowing 20 mg once-daily dosing, now restricted in Europe to chronic inflammatory arthritis.