Find out dangerous long term effects of painkillers on body

Get a review on the side effects of painkillers like paracetamol for headache is commonly used and but many painkillers for stomach pain are also available but they could be dangerous in long-term use.

Posted by Rukhma Khalid on September 24, 2022

We've all relied on different analgesics for quick relief at some point in time but they do more harm than good. The use of these pills might damage your body. Our blog warns you about the harmful effects of these medications.

Mechanism of pain killer:

They act like a sponge and absorb the pain. When something is causing us damage and irritating us for example pencil or a tip of a needle or something else. Our body has special cells that are called nociceptors. Their main function is to send signals to the brain. The brain then perceives it as pain. However, when cells of our body are severely damaged or injured as a result they have the capacity to release chemicals called arachidonic acid.

We can explain it just like a key fits in a lock. The acid name arachidonic acid fits perfectly in enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2 and forms prostaglandin and other compounds in the body. These compounds increase the sensitivity of nociceptors. Due to this reason, it pains or hurts more. Nowadays, the most common painkillers that are used are aspirin and ibuprofen. These painkillers work by attaching themselves to COX-1 and COX-2. Thus blocking them and not allowing arachidonic acid to bind to them. As a result, prostaglandin is not produced in the body. And the sensitivity of nociceptors decreases in us. Hence, the pain begins to subside.

paracetamol headache relief time

The main side effects of pain killer:

If there is one thing we are guilty of painkillers is a bad headache and aspirin causes severe muscle aches.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen pain killer side effects:

While at work you reach out for that strip of paracetamol in your bag. We rely on painkillers every So, often they are a quick fix but shortcuts can be dangerous. Health experts say painkillers do more harm than good. The advice to doctors is not to prescribe painkillers like Paracetamol and ibuprofen. They are used to treat chronic pain. That is not caused by a medical condition or an injury according to the London headquarters national institute for health and care. Long-term use of these and many more painkillers can be harmful. So, the harmful effects include addiction. Paracetamol and ibuprofen could cause stomach and liver damage.

Other techniques for the relief of pain:

The institute of England advises psychological therapy or acupuncture and some antidepressants can be considered as well.

Dr. review on pain killers:

Dr. Paul crisp director of the center for guidelines at the institute breaks it down; he says “I quote when many treatments are ineffective or not well tolerated. It is important to get full knowledge about how pain is affecting a person's life and also those around them. Because, you must know what is important to the person is the first step in developing an effective care plan”—anti-epileptic drugs including gabapentinoids. Local anesthetics ketamine should not be offered to people to manage chronic primary pain. And Chronic pain lasts for more than three months. According to professor Martin Marshall, “most patients in pain do not want to take medication long term and I do not want this either. But sometimes medication is the last option and has been the only thing that brings relief”.

stomach pain killer tablet

Top ten most famous pain killers.

  1. Hydrocodone-combination (Vicodin)
  2. Oxycodone with acetaminophen (generic Percocet)
  3. Oxycodone HCL (generic OxyContin)
  4. Acetaminophen with codeine
  5. Morphine sulfate
  6. Fentanyl
  7. Brand-name OxyContin
  8. Methadone
  9. Hydromorphone HCL (generic Dilaudid)
  10. Oxymorphone HCL, extended-release (Opana ER)

Conclusion:

As such these new guidelines focus on alternative therapies that have the potential to be beneficial for patients but they will need to be guaranteed appropriate access to them. Simply put painkillers do provide relief but the relief comes at a high cost in the long run your body is paid the price. So, the next time you reach out for that next strip of aspirin remember it may kill more than just your pain