What a Pain! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aspirin

Aspirin was originally derived from willow bark and is one of the oldest known pain remedies. Around 400 BC, Hippocrates wrote of a powder obtained from willow bark that lessened pain and reduced fever. Native Americans also used a derivative of willow bark to treat pain and fever. Antiplatelet drugs block the formation of blood clots by not allowing platelets to clump together. Aspirin does this by blocking production of thromboxane, a chemical platelets produce which causes clumping. Ibuprofen is an over the counter pain reliever and anti-inflammatory drug. Witch hazel is a topical astringent.

Many analgesics were sold in powder form before the manufacture of tablets became commonplace.

Answer: It may be taken without regard to meals

Food does not significantly affect the absorption of Tylenol. Also, Tylenol does not usually cause stomach upset or discomfort, so it may be taken with or without food. Tylenol is often the pain remedy of choice for those with gastric problems as it does not usually damage the gastric lining of the stomach. NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen may be toxic to gastric mucosal cells and can aggravate or worsen ulcers. Tylenol does pass into breast milk and nursing women should consult their physician before taking. Provided proper dosage guidelines are followed, Tylenol is usually quite safe to give infants and many infant drop preparations are marketed.

However, any caregiver should consult a physician first before administering any drug to an infant.

Answer: It is available by prescription only, in the U.S.

Ultram, or tramadol, is a synthetic (lab created) drug. It is a central, not a local, analgesic. This means it lowers the perception of pain in the brain. A local analgesic causes a loss of sensation near the site of the pain. It some ways it resembles opiates in its mechanism of action.

It has partial affinity for opiate receptors in the brain. It also affects several neurotransmitter systems in the brain including those associated with GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), serotonin and norepinephrine.

It has not been shown to have any significant efficacy as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Answer: Relafen (nabumetone)

A controlled substance is a drug or substance which has its sale, manufacture, and possession regulated by federal government agencies, most notably the D.E.A. (Drug Enforcement Administration). Such drugs are usually thought to have some abuse potential. Vicodin, Vicoprofen, and Percodan are all opiate painkillers and have a high potential for abuse. Relafen is an NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory drug) and does not cause the euphoria typical of opiates. Because of this it is believed not to have any abuse potential.

In the U.S. it is available by prescription only but is not a controlled substance.

Answer: It is safe to drink alcohol while taking butalbital

Butalbital is classified as a barbiturate with analgesic properties. It is marketed under a dizzying array of trade names. As a pharmacist, the butalbital containing brands I have dispensed most commonly in the pharmacy are Esgic, Fiorinal, Fioricet and Dolgic. I'm sure this varies from region to region. Prescription brands often add aspirin, acetaminophen, codeine or caffeine to augment to analgesia provided.

It is not safe to drink alcohol while taking butalbital. As a barbiturate, it is a central nervous system depressant and may cause sedation and respiratory depression. Alcohol may intensify these effects and could possibly lead to a fatal overdose.

Answer: None of these is true concerning Vicodin

Vicodin is a centrally acting opiate analgesic indicated for moderate to moderately severe pain. There are many other brand names of hydrocodone available in the U.S. in addition to the Vicodin brand name. Vicodin has not been shown to be any safer than other opiates. It can be very addictive and has a high potential for abuse.

Answer: All of these are true concerning Oxycontin

Oxycontin is a centrally acting, timed-release opiate. Because it has some stimulant properties, some patients may feel "wired up" instead of drowsy. Many abusers have discovered that when oxycontin is crushed and taken via insufflation (i.e. snorted) it has a much greater euphoric effect and creates a "high" that some find desirable. Crushing the tablets destroys the timed-release effect, allowing all 12 hours worth of drug to arrive in the blood stream at once.

This is extremely dangerous and has caused many deaths.

Answer: The hypodermic needle

Morphine was discovered by a German pharmacist named Freedrick Wilhelm Serturner. He decided to name it after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams because of its ability to induce sleep. The hypodermic needle was invented in 1853 after which time morphine became widely used. Morphine was extensively used during the civil war.

Answer: It is frequently used in veterinary practice to immobilize large animals

Fentanyl is a powerful opiate commonly used in hospital settings for anesthesia and analgesia. It may be injected into the spinal canal or used in epidurals. It may also be given orally, transdermally (through the skin), buccally (through the cheek), intravenously, or transmucosally (through the mucous membranes) in the mouth. One of the dosage forms is a lozenge on a stick which is designed to be taken transmucosally in the mouth. Patients and health care professionals frequently refer to it as a "lollipop". One brand name of these lollipops is Actiq.

These lollipops or lozenges are commonly used to treat breakthrough pain in cancer patients who are already taking other analgesics. Fentanyl is not used to immobilize animals. Wildnil, an analogue of fentanyl, is used for this purpose.

Answer: May cause discoloration of the urine

The prescription medication you had filled contains hydrocodone, an opiate analgesic, and acetaminopen, an over-the-counter analgesic. Hydrocodone/apap, or hydrocodone/acetaminophen, is the generic name for Vicodin, Lorcet, Azdone, Norco and many other marketed brands. On prescription labels in the U.S., the word acetaminophen is usually abbreviated as apap. Neither hydrocodone nor acetaminophen commonly cause urine discoloration. One drug which does commonly cause urine discoloration (usually brownish or light orange)is the antibiotic nitrofurantoin (marketed under various trade names).

Sources I used in this quiz include the following websites:
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/oxycodone.html
http://pharma-help.com/fioricet
http://opioids.com/tramadol/index.html
http://www.drugs.com/tylenol.html