Definition
Drugs that reduce or block the sensation of pain. Analgesics range from mild over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen to stronger prescription drugs including opioids such as codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Stronger analgesics, particularly opioids, can cause drowsiness, impaired judgment, slowed reaction time, and disqualify a pilot from flight; even some milder analgesics may have side effects that affect safe operation of an aircraft.
Plain English
Painkillers. Some are mild and sold without a prescription; others are strong prescription drugs. Many of them affect alertness, judgment, or reaction time, which matters before flying.
Context Anchor
Seen in aeromedical and preflight fitness discussions, especially when deciding whether a medication or medical condition could make a flight unsafe.
Derivation
From the Greek 'an-' meaning 'without' and 'algos' meaning 'pain.' Literally 'without pain' — a drug that takes the pain away.
Why Pilots Care
Certain analgesics can cause drowsiness, reduced alertness, or mask symptoms of underlying medical issues that affect flight safety.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “analgesic” means “safe for flying.” It only means the medicine is used for pain; its side effects and the reason you need it still matter.
Example Sentence 1
Before her flight, she checked with her aviation medical examiner to confirm that the analgesics she had been prescribed were safe to use.
Example Sentence 2
Reviewing the label, she confirmed the analgesic she used earlier had no lingering effects before starting preflight checks.