Analgesics are substances that mitigate or eliminate pain.
Analgesic is something linked to analgesia : the absence or elimination of pain . The substances that cause this analgesia are called analgesics.
Thus, when a person talks about painkillers, it is likely that they are referring to a drug intended to mitigate a painful sensation in the body. Analgesics are indicated by doctors to relieve body pain (in the muscles, bones, etc.).
Examples of pain relievers
The best known pain reliever is aspirin . In addition to relieving pain, this analgesic is anti-inflammatory (reduces or eliminates inflammation) and antipyretic (reduces fever). This means that a wide variety of ailments and minor health disorders can be treated with aspirin.
Morphine is also a pain reliever. Unlike aspirin, which is available over the counter, the supply of morphine is regulated as it is an addictive narcotic. Due to its powerful analgesic action, morphine is usually prescribed after surgery or in cancer treatment .
There are different types of pain relievers.
Possible contraindications
It is important to keep in mind that all pain relievers have contraindications and can cause adverse effects. Aspirin, for example, can cause intestinal problems, including ulcers. As it is an antiplatelet agent, it helps combat the development of clots in the veins and arteries but, for the same reason, it can cause bleeding .
Beyond these issues, paying attention to the package inserts and consulting a medical specialist, painkillers are beneficial to combat everyday discomforts such as muscle pain or headache .
Damages from painkiller abuse
Medicine has very clearly defined the damage that the abuse of painkillers can cause to each part of our body. Let's look at the most important cases below.
Drugs such as opioids can suppress our ability to breathe, thereby interfering with the proper functioning of the lungs . For this reason, it is considered that there is a direct relationship between the abuse of these analgesics and pneumonia.
Inhaling certain opioids, such as hydrocodone or oxycodone, on the other hand, can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, leading to particular difficulty breathing .
Painkiller abuse can also affect the gastrointestinal system . In the case of opiates, even a moderate dose can cause constipation. When a person increases the dose well beyond the recommended values, it is common for them to become dependent on laxatives to stimulate bowel movement, and this can lead to damage to the sphincter or anus, such as painful fissures.
As can be seen, it is not always the action of the analgesic that is consumed in excess that directly affects us, but in some cases the greatest damage begins with the measures that we must take to counteract its effects .
Consuming painkillers in too high quantities also puts the integrity of the liver at risk , since any drug must be broken down and processed by this organ. The stress that the liver suffers from excessive painkillers can lead to the storage of toxins.
The paracetamol found in many painkillers is the cause of the worst damage to the liver: the abuse of Lortab , Percocet and Vicodin pills , to name some of the medications in which it occurs in high concentrations, can cause liver failure. .
In summary, we should not underestimate the consequences of overusing painkillers, since in some cases this behavior can be fatal. It is important, therefore, to follow the doctors' instructions and always contrast them with those in the medication leaflets .