Painkillers
 

Ok, call me crazy - but how is that, if I have a headache and I take some ibuprofen, the headache will stop hurting normally completely in a little while, but yet i can still stroke something soft, I could still have an orgasm, I could still taste the difference between types of food?

How does the drug block only one sensation (ie pain) and not others???

well since I don't the scientific reason, I'm guessing that since Ibuprofen doesn't have an analgesic or an opiate quality.. there's no numbing effect; hence the reason why touch and taste aren't affected.

guccilvr's got it.

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory. It reduces pain by reducing inflammation. It does nothing to numb pain via the brain and nervous system like analgesics do.

Right - you certainly wouldn't want an anti-inflammatory to work on your junk!

Ibuprofen is an NSAID (Non-Steriodal Anti-Inlamatory Drug) which places it into the same family as Aspirin and several other drugs with similar names (fenbrufen, naproxen, and so on).

They generally work by affecting prostaglandin chemistry, by inhibiting the action of COX-1 and COX-2.

Prostaglandins are involved in inflamation, fever, pain and various other things (which is why this family of drugs can seriously damage the linig of the stomach if used for a long time).

Aspirin famously "thins the blood" because of this; of course, this is bollocks - the actual viscosity is not affected, but the clotting time is increased, so blood doesn't form plaques (i.e. scabs) inside the blood vessels.

Long story short, they decrease swelling and fever (removing the sources of discomfort) and "turn down" the perception of pain.

As other people have said, emotions are not regulated this way (they relate to serrotonin not prostaglandin), and perception of feeling is similarly NOT related to prostaglandin.

The only way to shut down ALL forms of perception is to use anaesthetic.

Someone from work gave me some stuff called coedine and said it would help me sleep (still have toothache)... after reading up on it Im not sure I fancy it though.

Anti-inflammatory medications are usually better than pain killers on toothaches, because most toothaches are usually caused by inflammation due to an infection (abscess).
Codeine is a narcotic pain killer, and does nothing for inflammation. It will lessen the pain, though. A toothache is a good example of when an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory will complement each other well. I'd take about 400 mg of ibuprofen, on a full stomach, for a toothache - after making a dentist appointment. He/she might give you a Rx for some Tylenol 3, which has codeine in it. Tylenol does not reduce swelling, though.

Codeine's fine, provided you don't overdo it.

Long term it can cause constipation, and can be habit forming if you max out the dose for a long period, and if you take it in its most common form (co-codamol) the paracetamol will destroy your liver and kill you (seriously - not funny) should you overdose on it.

Provided you follow the instructions codeine is perfectly safe.

Interestingly as with all opiates, the metabolism handles it differently if you actually are in pain because your teeth hurt, then the risks are much lower. :thumbsup:

---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 PM ----------

Tylenol 3 doesn't exist in the UK, but any generic Co-codamol (for example Solpadeine) available over the counter at a supermarket or pharmacy will do the same.

lots of people are allergic to codeine though so you need to be careful...I cant take it, it gives me god awful headaches

All I've been taking for my toothache is between 4 and 6 325mg Aspirins I picked up from the dollar store throughout the day, and two Excedrin PMs right before I pass out.

It's been about a week now, and I haven't needed a single pill today. I think I'm in the clear. I'm getting the tooth pulled soon though.

I don't take any kind of medicine unless I have a toothache though, so I have a really low tolerance.

I can't take it at all either--all opiates make me horribly nauseous.

I have always wondered like SF exactly how these drugs know where in the body to target. If I have muscle pain in my neck or pain in a knee joint, how does my body know where to "place" the anti-inflammitory (ibuprofin in my case). You guys have explained it very well for me! Thanks.

I thought Daniel was in the rubber business and here he is offering medical/health help. I'm reminded of a Seinfeld episode when Elaine and George switch places. "How come he's gettin' so smart? I stopped having sex with Ben three days ago and I don't know no Portuguese?".

I kid, I kid! You're included in the above thanks Daniel! ;)

Trained in Chemistry, researched thermodynamics, worked in hospitals and drug companies, became expert in Quality Management, Procurement and Stock Control, moved into manufacturing industry (printing labels for drug companies), wrote some international quality standards, THEN started work as QA Manager for a company that amongst other things makes and sells medical latex.

I guess that makes me some sort of know-it-all/renaissance man... :thumbsup: