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Narcotic vs Anesthetic - What's the difference?

narcotic | anesthetic |

As nouns the difference between narcotic and anesthetic

is that narcotic is any class of substances or drugs, that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour while anesthetic is a substance administered to reduce the perception of pain or to induce numbness. An anesthetic may or may not render the recipient unconscious, depending upon the type used.

As adjectives the difference between narcotic and anesthetic

is that narcotic is of, or relating to narcotics while anesthetic is causing the reduction of pain sensitivity.

narcotic

English

(wikipedia narcotic)

Alternative forms

* narcotick (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Any class of substances or drugs, that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour.
  • Any type of numbing drug.
  • Certain illegal drugs.

    • Related terms

    * narco- * narcosis * narcoterrorism * narcotize * nonnarcotic

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, or relating to narcotics.
  • Inducing sleep; causing narcosis.

    • References

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    anesthetic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * anaesthetic

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Causing the reduction of pain sensitivity.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine) A substance administered to reduce the perception of pain or to induce numbness. An anesthetic may or may not render the recipient unconscious, depending upon the type used.
  • * 1994 , Anesthetics (Ophthalmic)] ([http://www.drugs.com/cons/anesthetics-ophthalmic.html original version), Drugs.com:
    • After a local anesthetic' is applied to the eye, do not rub or wipe the eye until the ' anesthetic has worn off and feeling in the eye returns.
  • * 2004 , Jacoby, David B. and Youngson, R. M., Encyclopedia of Famiy Health , Marshall Cavendish, pg. 91.
    • Modern anesthetics can be divided into several different groups according to how and where they act to reduce pain.
    During premedication, the anesthetist may give a patient drugs that make him or her feel relaxed and drowsy before the actual general anesthetic is administered.

    Related terms

    * freezing

    References

    * " Anesthetics", 2010 MeSH, National Library of Medicine.