Health matters; Painkillers
Article: The World of Painkillers: Uses and Hazards, different types of Painkillers and safe alternatives.
What are painkillers?
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, more famously recognized as NS AIDs, are drugs intended to relieve pain, a category known as painkillers or analgesics. The can be in form of tablet, capsule, liquid solution, patch and injection. These analgesics are or may be available without a prescription, or they may only be available if a prescription was given by a doctor.
Self-care remedies can comprise nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirins, acetaminophen. However, prescription pain pills are quite strong and contain drugs found in oxycodone, morphine, and codeine, among other opioids.
What, in your opinion, are the main causes that make people to take painkillers?
They are used to relieve pain as analgesics in mild or severe conditions. Some of the most common reasons for using painkillers include:
- Headaches and migraines
Musuloskeletical pain is a type like back pain, arthritis, for instance.
– Toothache which may be caused by cavities, or having had a tooth pulled out. - Menstrual pain or cramps
- Postoperative pain
If the person has conditions such as fibromyalgia or neuropathy, the pain can be chronic and quite severe.
What do you think about the differences between the so-called ‘counter-irritant’ pain relief drugs and patented and expensive ones?
Non-prescription medications are generally safer.Prescription medications and can be bought without a doctor’s prescription for mild to moderately intense pain. However they should be taken sparingly.Their prolonged use can become a cause of side-effects as ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract, renal or hepatic disorders.
But prescription painkillers are stronger and, therefore, more likely to work even better in severe or chronic cases. But this is more likely to culminate into addiction and abuse on the substance in question. Opioids such as prescription painkillers are very addictive, so using without a doctor’s supervision is something that one should not do.
Do you know of people employing natural methods that substitute the use of pain killer?
There are several natural alternatives to painkillers that people might use to manage pain, including:
- Herbal remedies: That is why such parts of plants and herbs as willow bark, turmeric, and lavender are used to soothe pain.
- Acupuncture: It’s the early practice of Chinese medicine that involves slender needles that are driven through the skin at several body points to relieve pain.
- Massage therapy: Massage therapy can reduce the experience of tissue pain, pressure, and stress.
- Meditation and relaxation techniques: When anxiety is a problem, or there is perceived pain, they can be used to relax and help reduce the experience of pain.
- Heat or cold therapy: Heat bag or cold pack on painful areas can help reduce the pain and inflammation.
Do you think there are risks of regularly taking up painkillers and many people do these days?
Painkillers can be effective in managing pain.But using them too often can lead to several risks, including:
- Tolerance: That’s because at some point the body becomes tolerant to the drugs and you might need more painkillers in order to feel any relief.
- Dependence: Though, it should be mentioned that if you take painkillers often; physical dependence is possible, and as soon as you stop taking the painkillers, you will experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Addiction: Opioid pain relievers are particularly dangerous in that they render patients unable to manage pain without the drug, newly addicted drug seekers.
- Side effects: There are side effects in the long-term use of the fist painkillers of constipation nausea dizziness as well as kidney or liver damages.
- Overdose: An overdose of a painkiller can be fatal and severe in most cases, and this will make it very dangerous when you consume a lot of it.
Therefore to prevent such complications and possible latter problems, this gel must only be used appropriately and carefully as directed and if there is worsening of any kind of pain one must see medical attention. However, in some other circumstances, pain control may necessitate a combination of medication, therapy, and modification of personal behaviour.
Conclusion
A measure of treating pain according to various causes is the analgesic. Most people take Tylenol and other similar products containing paracetamol safely for occasional and/or pain, except that prescription codeine, oxycodone and hydrocodone and others should not be purchased unless prescribed and should be taken for the prescribed period; they are opioids that can induce dependence. Control of pain is aided by supplements and other nonpharmacological treatments; however traditional pain medications should not be overlooked. And therefore the risks and benefits of painkillers should be weighed carefully and painkillers should be used as much as possible to relieve as much pain as safely as possible as we carry out patient treatment.
@radjasalman
@neelofar
@zoyabhatti06
