THE PHARMACIST : Stop popping those painkillers

We’ve all had some sort of pain where we needed to use painkillers. They are one of the most widely consumed medications in the world. However, at times they can be harzadous.

There are numerous types of painkillers in the market, some of which are Paracetamol, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Tramadol and so on. Each of them has a different mechanism of action and is better at relieving certain types of pain than others.

Whenever taking a painkiller, the benefits and risks should be weighed out. At times, chronic use of painkillers cause more harm than good.

Paracetamol

This is one of the most popular pain medication available. It is used for all sorts of pain ranging from body pain to headaches. It is safe enough to be taken during pregnancy in appropriate doses. It is also combined with other medications to alleviate severe pain. Irreversible liver damage is the biggest risk of chronically using large doses.

Many patients overdose on Paracetamol by combining medications that contain it, unknowingly. Some of its side effects include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, rash, yellowing of eyes and skin.

A study conducted at Harvard University found that taking Paracetamol regularly can increase the chance of developing high blood pressure.

NSAIDs

These are also a very popular pain medication. Painkillers such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam and Ketoprofen fall under this category. NSAIDs help in reducing pain, decreasing fever and reducing inflammation. They can help reduce the pain brought out by various conditions including arthritis, muscular pain and kidney stones.

Their most common side effects include gastric ulcers, bleeding, peripheral edema, renal function impairment and heart problems. It is important to consult a healthcare professional before taking these medications. When prescribed an NSAID, let your doctor know if you have any allergies, stomach ulcers, acidity problems, anemia, hypertension, heart, or kidney disease. It is also advisable to let your doctor know of any other medications you take so as to avoid serious drug interactions.

Opioids

Codeine, Fentanyl, Tramadol and Morphine are examples of Opioids, used for managing very severe pain such as chronic cancer pain.

Opioids can cause tolerance and addiction. Tolerance is when you need more of a drug to achieve the same effect while addiction is when you need to get the drug in order to continue with your daily activities.

Some opioids cause sedation, drowsiness and feelings of euphoria which is why they are often misused compared to other pain killers. They can cause major side effects such as respiratory depression, constipation, memory loss, nausea, urinary retention, decreased libido, fatigue, headache anxiety, insomnia and even death.

It is important to take opioids only under the instruction of a doctor at the exact prescribed dose. When prescribed with opioids, it is important to disclose any other medication you take to your doctor.

There are people who believe alcohol can relieve pain. However, it is difficult to describe the effects of using alcohol in treating pain. Instead, alcohol has some biological, mental, and social effects which influence the consequences of using alcohol for pain.

Pain medications are beneficial if used correctly. However, the habit of “popping painkillers” for every minor pain can lead to detrimental side effects. It is always advisable to use these medications in appropriate doses as prescribed by a healthcare professional.

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