Analgesic

Analgesic
Drug class
Opium poppies such as this one provide ingredients for the class of analgesics called opiates.
Class identifiers
Use	Pain
ATC code	N02A
Clinical data
Drugs.com	Drug Classes
Consumer Reports	Best Buy Drugs
WebMD	MedicineNet
Legal status
In Wikidata

An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate, sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.

Analgesic choice is also determined by the type of pain: For neuropathic pain, recent research has suggested that classes of drugs that are not normally considered analgesics, such as tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants may be considered as an alternative.^[1]

Various analgesics, such as many NSAIDs, are available over the counter in most countries, whereas various others are prescription drugs owing to the substantial risks and high chances of overdose, misuse, and addiction in the absence of medical supervision.