Recently while I was putting together pharmacology lectures, I decided that it would be cool to use Maslow's hierarchy of needs as a reference point for what need different pharmacological products were addressing. I still feel that this is a valid approach. It's helpful to explain how an antibiotic is different from an antidepressant. There was one class which I found to be problematic: analgesics, and, more specifically, opiates. One can't help but ponder whether or not pain is in fact, the fifth vital sign, or not. Historically, opiates were used for major surgery such as amputation up until the late 1800s. It's hard to even think of this type of operation without some form.of anesthesia or analgesics.
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