NUR 117: Pain and Inflammation Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms covering pain management, inflammatory response, NSAIDs, salicylates, opioids, migraine therapies, and muscle relaxants based on NUR 117 lecture notes.

Inflammation

The body's response to cell injury, characterized by pain, swelling, heat, and redness (erythema).

Anti-inflammatory agents

Drugs that block the effects of the inflammatory response or process.

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)

An OTC salicylate with anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-thromboxane properties that decreases platelet aggregation.

Salicylism

An adverse effect of salicylates characterized by dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and nausea/vomiting, which may progress to seizures.

Reye syndrome

A rare condition causing swelling in the brain and liver damage that may develop if aspirin is given to children with a viral infection.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for mild to moderate pain, arthritis, dysmenorrhea, and fever by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis via COX-1 or COX-2 blockages.

Celecoxib

A COX-2 inhibitor NSAID that requires caution with sulfonamides, produces less GI symptoms, and increases platelet clumping.

Pain

A sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Analgesics

Compounds with blocking properties that produce analgesia.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

A mild to moderate pain reliever and antipyretic that acts on cells in the hypothalamus to cause sweating and heat release; daily dose must not exceed 3 grams to prevent severe liver damage associated with 4 grams.

Acetylcysteine

The antidote administered in cases of acetaminophen overdose.

Narcotics

Drugs with specific opioid receptors throughout the body used as first-line agents for severe pain, producing analgesia, sedation, and euphoria.

Fentanyl Sticks

A formulation for severe pain introduced to the 2026 curriculum that must be kept away from children who may mistake them for a lollipop.

Narcotic antagonists

Drugs that bind strongly to opioid receptors without activating them to block receptor sites, counteract narcotic effects, or treat an overdose.

Naloxone (Narcan)

A narcotic antagonist administered IV, IM, subcutaneously (SQ), or intra-nasally to reverse opioid effects and treat overdose.

Ergot derivatives

Migraine medications such as ergotamine (Ergomar) that cause constriction of cranial blood vessels, featuring a rapid onset between 15 and 30 minutes.

Triptans

Migraine medications such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) that bind selective serotonin receptors to cause cranial blood vessel vasoconstriction with fewer systemic side effects than ergots.

Spasticity

A condition characterized by sustained muscle contraction.

Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

A muscle relaxant used for spasticity that is best tapered off to minimize adverse effects.