Do painkillers work differently for different people?

In short – yes, it is thought that there is some individual variation in the response to a particular painkiller. But pain is a complex perception. Sensation is influenced by so many factors, including variation in the type of pain, genetic factors, stress-related physiological responses, sociocultural influences, our prior experience, emotional state, and the context it occurs.

So it is difficult to attribute our response to a painkiller, to something as simple as painkiller receptors alone, but these are likely to play a part.

Read more:

• If the brain has no pain receptors, why do I get headaches?
• Why do I have such a low pain threshold compared to my sister?
• Are there any studies on the best over-the-counter painkillers?
• Could painkillers also kill pleasure?

Asked by: Geoff Winstanley, Blandford Forum

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