4 ms·

The mechanism of action of analgesic drugs is very simple and well-understood. Considering the fact that the very same painkillers that humans use are effectiv

The mechanism of action of analgesic drugs is very simple and well-understood. Considering the fact that the very same painkillers that humans use are effective on drastically different organisms, such as snails or crustaceans, I find it extremely unlikely that gender plays any significant role in their effectiveness. To be honest, it feels like this study was politically motivated.

garmaine 8y ago
Since ibuprofen impairs testosterone production, a key sex differentiating hormone, I'd not be surprised at all if there is a gender correlation in effectiveness or side effects.
tropdrop 8y ago
The study is not disproving the efficacy of analgesic drugs of most organisms - only suggesting that not all pain mechanisms are well understood, which is a reasonable suggestion. Further, given our (US) current opioid epidemic and death count, I find the implication that "we don't need to study other pain-relieving drugs" dubious. Finally, do note that most analgesics have harmful side effects (acetaminophen - liver, NSAID - stomach bleeding). Does that mean they do not work as pain killers? No. But when a large portion of 50% of the population needs to take them for several days for 1 week of every month, we have every market incentive to look for other pain-relieving solutions. Just for a personal example, my mother's period pain warranted a prolonged combination of NSAIDs and acetaminophen all her life, for 1 week of every month. Had the pills been more effective, she might have needed fewer of them in a sitting, and may not be dealing with the stomach bleeding she has now.
EvilTerran 8y ago
> The mechanism of action of analgesic drugs is very simple and well-understood. https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/4/153/293533 https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/4/153/293533 (2013) the exact mechanism of action of paracetamol [ie acetamophen] remains to be determined. There is evidence for a number of central mechanisms, including effects on prostaglandin production, and on serotonergic, opioid, nitric oxide (NO), and cannabinoid pathways, and it is likely that a combination of interrelated pathways are in fact involved. That's the most widely-used analgesic in the world, and its mechanism is evidently neither simple nor well-understood.

garmaine 8y ago

Since ibuprofen impairs testosterone production, a key sex differentiating hormone, I'd not be surprised at all if there is a gender correlation in effectiveness or side effects.

tropdrop 8y ago

The study is not disproving the efficacy of analgesic drugs of most organisms - only suggesting that not all pain mechanisms are well understood, which is a reasonable suggestion. Further, given our (US) current opioid epidemic and death count, I find the implication that "we don't need to study other pain-relieving drugs" dubious. Finally, do note that most analgesics have harmful side effects (acetaminophen - liver, NSAID - stomach bleeding). Does that mean they do not work as pain killers? No. But when a large portion of 50% of the population needs to take them for several days for 1 week of every month, we have every market incentive to look for other pain-relieving solutions. Just for a personal example, my mother's period pain warranted a prolonged combination of NSAIDs and acetaminophen all her life, for 1 week of every month. Had the pills been more effective, she might have needed fewer of them in a sitting, and may not be dealing with the stomach bleeding she has now.

EvilTerran 8y ago

> The mechanism of action of analgesic drugs is very simple and well-understood. https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/4/153/293533 https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/4/153/293533 (2013) the exact mechanism of action of paracetamol [ie acetamophen] remains to be determined. There is evidence for a number of central mechanisms, including effects on prostaglandin production, and on serotonergic, opioid, nitric oxide (NO), and cannabinoid pathways, and it is likely that a combination of interrelated pathways are in fact involved. That's the most widely-used analgesic in the world, and its mechanism is evidently neither simple nor well-understood.