system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does medicine work with our body to relieve pain in different parts of our body? Back ache-Take an asprin. Tooth ache-Take the same asprin.
gpt
Pharmacist here. To ELI5 this: basically, there are enzymes which facilitate reactions (cause them to happen more rapidly and more often) which cause signals to be sent producing pain. The name of the enzyme medicines like Ibuprofen target is called cyclo-oxygenase, or COX for short. Meds like this are closely related to the chemicals in the body which actually activate this enzyme, and the med takes the place of the body chemical, but do not activate the enzyme, causing it not to activate. That's it on a molecular level, and that happens many, many times when you take medicine. This causes the pain signal not to be sent. This is an example using NSAIDS. There are many other types of pain medications, all having unique ways in which they stop pain (Tylenol, opioids).