Painkillers, which are medicines used to reduce pain, can be dangerous for the patient when their use is longer than 3 months or when an exaggerated amount of the drug is ingested, which can lead to addiction, for example.
However, some painkillers contain both antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen and aspirin, which help reduce pain, fever and inflammation.
- Painkillers can be easily purchased without a prescription from a pharmacy.
- With an increased risk of self-medication.
- At risk of developing problems.
- Such as an allergic reaction or drug poisoning.
- For more information about the dangers of self-medication.
- See: Dangers of Self-Medication.
Therefore, all painkillers, including non-opioid pain relievers, which are the most common and are used to relieve mild or moderate pain, such as acetaminophen or diclofenac, should be used under the supervision of a health care professional, such as a doctor or nurse. to avoid problems from misuse.
Some of the main dangers of using painkillers for more than 3 months include:
In addition, in more severe cases, the use of opioid painkillers, which are used to relieve severe pain and have an opium composition, such as morphine, can cause breathing difficulties that can lead to death.
When painkillers are used daily for more than a week, side effects can occur mainly in the stomach, such as loss of appetite, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea and, in more severe cases, the development of stomach ulcers. . Stomach.
As many painkillers are also anti-inflammatory, it is essential to eat food before taking the medicine to protect the stomach.