Living life happily and pain-free, that’s what everyone wants. Pain is the most common reason people visit the doctor’s clinic. It is a primitive warning signal and is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong.
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Everyone has felt pain at one point or another. Pain occurs due to an injury, infection, inflammation, trauma, and many other causes. When in pain, you don’t care to think of anything except being pain-free. Pain management ladder involves using different pain medicines, in a stepwise manner to reduce pain. Most commonly, we advise hot fomentation, then Paracetamol. Additional medications are added then according to the response.
What are the different kinds of painkillers?
For all practical purposes Over the counter (OTC) drugs and prescription pain killers are the two kinds.
Non-prescription pain killers – Most common OTC is Acetaminophen or Paracetamol . It gives relief in headache, toothache, muscle pain. NSAIDs are another group of OTC painkillers, including Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Aceclofenac, and others.
Prescription pain medicines include Opioids medicines like Codeine, morphine Oxycodone.
Complications of Pain medicines
Acetaminophen or Paracetamol
It is one of the safest pain medications and the first choice of analgesic for doctors. It is safer than Aspirin and other NSAIDS concerning side effects. Paracetamol is present in many fever medications, cold medicines, and cough syrups. This is the reason complications from overdosing can arise.
Side effect of Paracetamol
It is a safe and well-tolerated drug. The problem is, pain killers are highly misused. Nausea, vomiting, rash, and liver damage in overdosing are side effects in rare cases. Avoid this drug in case of liver disease and alcoholism.
NSAIDs or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
You need to take an acid suppressant like pantoprazole at least twenty minutes before taking an NSAID for safe use. Peptic ulcer disease and kidney damage are potentially severe complications.
Black tarry poop, vomit with blood, severe abdominal pain, and peptic perforation are life-threatening. If any such symptoms occur, you must visit the ER of any Government hospital nearest to you. Don’t use NSAIDs in chronic liver disease, Dengue, and related viral infections, and if you are on blood thinners.
Danger signs of Salicylism due to Aspirin overdose- Dizziness, ringing sound in the ear(tinnitus), reversible hearing loss.
Reye’s syndrome-It is a rare type of hepatic encephalopathy occurring in children with viral infections like flu and chickenpox.
Opioids
A group of drugs used strictly under a Physicians monitoring. These drugs alter how the brain feels pain. This is used as a pain medication only in case of severe pain, unrelieved by other painkillers. Constipation is the most common side effect. Others being nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, excessive sweating, itchiness, depression, sedation, tolerance and addiction, respiratory center depression.
COMPLICATIONS OF PAIN MEDS How to avoid complications of pain meds
How can you prevent complications from pain killers?
1)Avoid self-medication
2) Have as little as possible only when necessary and never for more than a few days. If pain increases or doesn’t improve, consult a doctor, or visit a Government hospital.
3)Read the package inserts to know what is the active ingredient. A similar active ingredient may be present in a drug for headaches, cold and cough, and prescription drugs.
4)) Read the label every time you use a medicine. Check the expiry date and dosage instructions.
5) If you have any medical conditions like a liver problem, kidney problem, cardiorespiratory problem, or alcohol or drug abuse – avoid self-medicating
6) Don’t ever mix OTC painkillers, with prescription pain killers, recreational drugs, sedatives, or alcohol.
7)Avoid taking multiple medicines at the same time. This helps in avoiding accidental drug overdosing and adverse drug interactions. Strictly avoid using medications that you have had an allergic reaction too. Keep a strict record of drug allergy and a list of all your current medicines.
8) NSAIDs need to be taken after a meal and with an acid suppressant like Proton pump inhibitor to avoid potential peptic ulcers.
9)Infant pain formula and Children pain formula have different concentrations of medicines. Please don’t mix them up.
Takeaway
Pain killers may reduce pain, but they will not cure the cause. It helps to localize, detect, and identify the tissue-damaging process, which causes pain. When you take pain medicines without knowing the reason, you delay getting better. Paracetamol is the most common and safe pain killer. Persistent pain means you must consult a doctor. Live healthy live pain-free.
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I am very particular about reading the label and the side effects of the medicine. And yes i agree pain can only be subsided with painkillers we need to reach root of the problem.
I didnt know so much can happen for just a mere taking a pain killer. Thanks for your insightful tips to avoid complications while taking them. Even I have started to give the pain a fight of tolerance.
This is so informative. I always try to avoid painkillers specially unless the pain is unbearable. Painkillers are for short time relax but can cause big issues later on.
I avoid taking painkillers as much as possible. I also try to avoid to self medicate. Those are very helpful tips for taking painkillers.
This is such an informative post, Dr. Amrita. I had no idea that pain medicines can result in complications too, thanks for sharing this.
This is some in-depth information, I wasn’t aware that painkillers can have so many serious side effects. I however, try and avoid using medication as much as possible.
I used to pop up a lot of pain meds but after reading you I know the difference and act accordingly.
I so agree that we should not try to take medications for every small pain …This is really informative for everyone
We rarely give a thought to the long term side effects before popping a pill. This post is an eye opener, and has wizened me up.
Informative post and I agree we should try to avoid using pain killers for minor issues. Using natural ways and gentle theripes like homoeopathy way more better option than using pain killers.
So much information on pain killers in this post. They may cause side effects but when a person is in pain their seems no other option.
I wait to take any meds until I am not able to bear it anymore and most of the times, I don’t need to take them. Not mixing infants and children meds is a very important point. I have seen sometimes parents give an extra dose of infant’s meds just because they run out of children meds.
I feel this is such an important information which many are not even aware. Thanks for sharing, this can make people more aware.
It’s true. Unfortunately pain killers can be take. Improperly. Thanks for the great info.
These painkillers need to be taken carefully. I knw someone who got side-effects of 1 such medcn. Thnx fr informative post.
Very informative post! I’ve always ensured that I take medicines only when a doctor prescribes and never to take pain killers on my own.
I use to take a lot of pain killers for my endometriosis buddy but now I have worked on my health and try to take them as less as possible
Thanks Dr. Amritsar for such an informative post. Not many people are aware of all this and keep taking pain relief medicines which can lead to long time problems.
This is very informative, some pain medicines give me gastric troubles. Though i rarely take these medicines. Thanks for sharing these informations.
I agree we should visit doctor and get the cause of pain treated as this painkillers can only give temporary relief …thanks for sharing information
This is so informative.. we shouldn’t take medicine without prescription. And also frequent intake of painkillers is dangerous for body.
That’s an informative post Amrita. Taking pain killers without knowing side effects is more dangerous , it is like aggravating another issue to solve one. I never self medicate , always ask doctor what to be done.
I generally avoid pain killers but when its necessary for certain times one has to take. These are some really helpful advices one can follow.
It is so important to know the reason behind taking the pain killer. I have seen people getting used to of them. I try not to take them if the pain is bearable. As you said if the pain is chronic then it is telling us something else and it has to be checked by a professional.
Yes I have known this for a while now. Took pain killers during pregnancy only. Very rarely for a headache. I prefer going to snooze over a headache.
Very informative post. I mostly avoid taking painkillers for headache, stomach ache and any other types of pain and aches. I use lotion, ointments, balms, pain killer sprays or any gharelu nuskha. In the severe pain I take paracetamol 500mg.
Very informative, I try not to take any medication unless it’s absolutely necessary. Hubby is on so many prescription medications for RA and it seems like each one has side affects for major organs. Scary how a medication for one thing can harm something else.
Thank you sharing this article. This is very informative. I have grown up hearing that pain killers can do more harm than good in the long run. It’s better to take them only on your doctor’s advice.
My answer is generally to live (in agony) through the pain. Not exactly the best solution- but the one that works for me.