What term describes a medication that relieves pain?

The term that describes a medication specifically designed to relieve pain is analgesic. Analgesics work by acting on the peripheral and central nervous systems to reduce the perception of pain, making them essential for managing various types of discomfort caused by conditions such as injuries, surgeries, or chronic pain conditions. They can be classified into various categories, including non-opioid analgesics like acetaminophen and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), as well as opioid analgesics.

In contrast, anti-inflammatory medications are primarily used to reduce inflammation, which can contribute to pain but do not focus solely on pain relief. Antipyretics, on the other hand, are medications that reduce fever and can sometimes have analgesic properties, but their primary purpose is the lowering of elevated body temperature rather than direct pain relief. Therefore, among the given options, analgesic is the most accurate term for medications specifically intended to alleviate pain.