Minh Quan (27 years old) often has headaches when the weather changes or when under pressure. Before, he only needed to rest for 1-2 hours and his body would return to normal. But over the past year, Quan’s headache condition has gotten worse and worse, he is forced to take pain relievers, and now without medicine, every time he has a headache, he can’t stand it. Gradually, Quan became more and more dependent on painkillers.
Similarly, Hong Ngoc (29 years old) said pain relievers are like her friend when it comes to her menstrual cycle. In the first 1-2 days of her period, Ngoc had a lot of pain in her stomach. Without medicine, she would just lie flat in bed all day.
“Menstrual pain relievers have always been my ‘savior’. People often say that drinking too much is not beneficial. However, if there is no medicine, I will have to go to the hospital every month. Once in my hometown, I was in pain. My mother was very upset, my mother went to the pharmacy to buy medicine for me and was prescribed pain medication by the pharmacist. Since then, I always take this medicine every month, “said Ngoc.
Many people consider pain relievers a “panacea”. Illustration.
Side effects when “abusing” pain relievers
According to Dr. DS. Ta Thanh Son (Institute of Biopharmaceutical Technology, University of Marburg, Germany)tpain reliever It is a “panacea” for many patients. They help patients manage their pain. Many over-the-counter pain relievers are heavily advertised, but they don’t always work as well. Even chronic, uncontrolled abuse of pain relievers can lead to liver and kidney damage and many other side effects.
“There are 3 groups of pain relievers most commonly used: Group 1 includes Paracetamol, Metamizol, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen; Group 2 is a weak central analgesic: Codeine, Tramadol or Tilidine; Group 3 is an analgesic that acts as an analgesic. Strong central use: Buprenorphine, Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydromorphone or Levomethadone”, said Dr. Ta Thanh Son.
In addition, according to Dr. Son, whether prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers can make you dependent. Analgesics are one of the groups with the highest risk of dependence, especially those belonging to the Opioid group (in pill or patch form) such as Morphone, Oxycodone, etc., which focus on the entire brain and nerve system.
Non-opioid pain relievers also have a downside, which can cause allergic reactions, stomach ulcers, kidney, liver or heart problems. According to the study, it is estimated that more than 10% of patients have kidney problems and require dialysis due to inappropriate use of pain relievers.
Even regular use of pain relievers causes chronic pain, the prime example of which is painkiller headaches, which are thought to be responsible for more than 5% of all headaches.
“Overuse” of pain relievers can cause many dangerous side effects. Illustration.
6 signs that you are “abusing” drugs
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an addiction can be considered if 3 of the following behaviors are observed in the most recent year:
There is a strong desire or compulsion to use the drug.
Control is reduced to the point of losing control over when to consume, when to stop, and how much to take.
Withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, sweating, tremors or pain may be observed if the patient does not take the drug.
– More and more drugs must be consumed to achieve the same effect.
– Neglecting other hobbies or interests to spend time on medication or relax due to the effects of the drug.
There are negative consequences but the patient continues to use it.
Prevent overuse of pain relievers
To prevent misuse, physicians and patients should have a clear understanding of the practical possibilities, timing, limitations, and goals of drug-based pain therapy. Goals are set together, and continuous monitoring during treatment helps drugs to be used properly and their effectiveness can be checked. In addition, responsible and open communication from the patient and the treating physician is important.
When taking pain relievers, keep the following in mind:
– Take medication as directed. Under no circumstances should you change the dose or the interval between doses without consulting first.
– The long-term use of pain relievers is only meaningful and justified if it reduces at least one-third of the pain. Discuss this with your treating doctor. If necessary, your doctor will have alternatives for you.
Many strong opioid pain relievers prescribed today are not effective or effective enough for chronic pain. Therefore, experts recommend checking the effectiveness of Opioids after a certain period of time by trying to reduce the dosage after 3 to 6 months.
In addition, patients should eat healthy, know how to cope with stress, exercise and exercise enough, maintain social relationships. A healthy lifestyle will reduce the risk of drug dependence and improve quality of life.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
