Do painkillers work differently for different people?
GEOFF WINSTANLEY, BLANDFORD FORUM
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, socio-cultural influences, our prior experience, emotional state, and by 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. NM
Email your questions to
questions@sciencefocus.com
or submit on Twitter
@sciencefocus