Do glucocortiocids produce analgesia?

Question

Do they reduce pain? If so what ones are clinically used?

Answer 1

Betamethasone and dexamethasone are examples of glucocorticoids.

They are given both as tablets , and injections.

They are used for some inflammatory conditions that cause pain and when they cure the condition the pain is relieved.

Glucocorticoids act as antiinflammatory agents.

But we do not consider them as analgesics.

On the other hand paracetamol (panadol) commonly used to

treat aches and pains, headache, toothache etc. do not treat the cause of the disease but relieve the pain until other drugs treat the cause of the disease. Such drugs are called analgesics.