Final answer:
An analgesic is an agent that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness, differing from narcotics and general anesthetics, which can induce unconsciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
A analgesic is an agent that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness. This term is distinguished from narcotics, which can induce drowsiness and loss of consciousness at higher doses.
While analgesics include drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which are commonly used for mild to moderate pain, there are also stronger analgesics like oxycodone that can treat more severe pain.
It's important to note that analgesics do not result in loss of consciousness, unlike general anesthetics, which are used to induce a temporary loss of consciousness and lack of awareness to painful stimuli during surgical procedures.
Analgesics work by blocking the pathways of pain signals to the brain or by interfering with the brain's interpretation of these signals.