Effect of Pain killers

Are you on a pill-popping spree?

An increasing number of people take painkillers without prescriptions, knowing little about the damage it can have on their health. BT tracks this dangerous trend

    Do you often pop painkillers just to seek relief from a backache, body pain or a migraine? Or perhaps, in order to go to work the next morning after a night of partying hard? And almost all the time, have you been
popping pills without a prescription? If yes, then you’re heading for trouble. Read on to find out why you should quit doing so...
WHAT ARE PAINKILLERS? In medical terms, painkillers are known as analgesics. An analgesic is a type of drug that is used to relieve pain or achieve analgesia. The word analgesic is derived from the Greek words ‘an’ meaning ‘without’ and ‘algos’ meaning ‘pain.’ Painkillers are prescribed to those suffering from arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and as a part of the recovery process for those who have undergone surgeries.
    A lot of people take painkillers to seek relief from terrible backaches, painful migraines and body pain. They do so in order to seek anti-inflammatory effects. Orthopaedic Dr Vivek Shetty says, “Anti-inflammatory drugs provide reduction in swelling of the muscles. These drugs can have analgesic properties, but analgesic need not be anti-inflammatory.” He says that drugs like paracetmol possess anti-inflammatory properties and are not painkillers. Drugs like ibuprofen and tramadol are painkillers, and morphine — which is the highest order and purest form of painkillers — is given to cancer patients who suffer severe pain.
HOW DO THEY WORK? When a certain part of the body is negatively affected, unpleasant emotions are experienced in the brain. Painkillers act at the level of the nerve receptors in the brian to block the painful sensation. Neurologist Dr PP Ashok says, “Excessive use of painkillers reduces an individual’s pain threshold. With the passage of time, he/she requires a higher dose to seek relief from discomfort.” He says that those suffering from arthritis and other chronic ailments are prescribed such drugs, but if one takes painkillers without a prescription to seek relief from a migraine, say more than four times a week, it amounts to misusing the drug.
SIDE-EFFECTS Painkillers are not to be taken lightly because they can have severe sideeffects. Cardiologist, Dr Brian Pinto lists the following harmful effects:
Excess use of painkillers can damage the kidneys by putting additional strain on them.
    Salt and water retention in the body, which in turn leads to weight gain.
    Sometimes, sudden internal bleeding of the stomach and guts could occur.
    Painkilers that come under the category of Cox-2 inhibitors drugs damage cardio-vascular health, increasing the chances of a heart attack.
    Dr Shetty opines that in most cases there are sideeffects like acidity, nausea, and drowsiness. Potent drugs like morphine contains addictive properties.
PRECAUTIONS It is okay to take a painkiller once in a while but otherwise, it is recommended that one take such drugs only under medical supervision. Dr Shetty warns, “People suffering from diabetes especially, need to be cautious because the possibility of kidney damage. Also, in some cases, the indiscriminate use of painkillers can trigger asthmatic conditions.” He suggests the following precautions:
    To seek pain relief from backaches and body pain, it is advisable to take paracetamol because it is safer.
    If one does take a pain killer, he/she should take half and hour after having a meal and then take an acidity pill to curb the resulting acidity.
    Painkillers should not be taken when consuming alcohol.

Are you on a pill-popping spree?

An increasing number of people take painkillers without prescriptions, knowing little about the damage it can have on their health. BT tracks this dangerous trend

    Do you often pop painkillers just to seek relief from a backache, body pain or a migraine? Or perhaps, in order to go to work the next morning after a night of partying hard? And almost all the time, have you been
popping pills without a prescription? If yes, then you’re heading for trouble. Read on to find out why you should quit doing so...
WHAT ARE PAINKILLERS? In medical terms, painkillers are known as analgesics. An analgesic is a type of drug that is used to relieve pain or achieve analgesia. The word analgesic is derived from the Greek words ‘an’ meaning ‘without’ and ‘algos’ meaning ‘pain.’ Painkillers are prescribed to those suffering from arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and as a part of the recovery process for those who have undergone surgeries.
    A lot of people take painkillers to seek relief from terrible backaches, painful migraines and body pain. They do so in order to seek anti-inflammatory effects. Orthopaedic Dr Vivek Shetty says, “Anti-inflammatory drugs provide reduction in swelling of the muscles. These drugs can have analgesic properties, but analgesic need not be anti-inflammatory.” He says that drugs like paracetmol possess anti-inflammatory properties and are not painkillers. Drugs like ibuprofen and tramadol are painkillers, and morphine — which is the highest order and purest form of painkillers — is given to cancer patients who suffer severe pain.
HOW DO THEY WORK? When a certain part of the body is negatively affected, unpleasant emotions are experienced in the brain. Painkillers act at the level of the nerve receptors in the brian to block the painful sensation. Neurologist Dr PP Ashok says, “Excessive use of painkillers reduces an individual’s pain threshold. With the passage of time, he/she requires a higher dose to seek relief from discomfort.” He says that those suffering from arthritis and other chronic ailments are prescribed such drugs, but if one takes painkillers without a prescription to seek relief from a migraine, say more than four times a week, it amounts to misusing the drug.
SIDE-EFFECTS Painkillers are not to be taken lightly because they can have severe sideeffects. Cardiologist, Dr Brian Pinto lists the following harmful effects:
Excess use of painkillers can damage the kidneys by putting additional strain on them.
    Salt and water retention in the body, which in turn leads to weight gain.
    Sometimes, sudden internal bleeding of the stomach and guts could occur.
    Painkilers that come under the category of Cox-2 inhibitors drugs damage cardio-vascular health, increasing the chances of a heart attack.
    Dr Shetty opines that in most cases there are sideeffects like acidity, nausea, and drowsiness. Potent drugs like morphine contains addictive properties.
PRECAUTIONS It is okay to take a painkiller once in a while but otherwise, it is recommended that one take such drugs only under medical supervision. Dr Shetty warns, “People suffering from diabetes especially, need to be cautious because the possibility of kidney damage. Also, in some cases, the indiscriminate use of painkillers can trigger asthmatic conditions.” He suggests the following precautions:
    To seek pain relief from backaches and body pain, it is advisable to take paracetamol because it is safer.
    If one does take a pain killer, he/she should take half and hour after having a meal and then take an acidity pill to curb the resulting acidity.
    Painkillers should not be taken when consuming alcohol.