Painkillers: For whom they are dangerous and how much is too much

Most people use painkillers on a daily basis, which are believed to always help or significantly relieve various types of physical discomfort. However, it should be borne in mind that they should not be used lightly.

Most of these medications can be purchased without a prescription, contain legally permitted doses and are safe to use if taken according to the indicated time schedule. However, there is a possibility of addiction if the brain chemistry changes. The patient acquires a tolerance to the medication and needs more doses to achieve the desired effect. These are the three pain relievers that people buy the most because they are the most affordable, but they may not be aware of the seriousness of their side effects:

Paracetamol

In addition to pain relief, it can also be used to reduce high body temperature. It is available in combination with other medicines, especially cold and flu medicines. The usual dose for adults is one or two 500 mg tablets up to four times in 24 hours. There must be a break of four hours between doses. Do not be tempted to increase the amount of paracetamol if the pain is extreme. Paracetamol is safe for pregnant and lactating women, if they consume the smallest possible dose. Unfortunately, cases of addiction are not rare, reports klix.ba.

Acetylsalicylic acid

The next drug that is also dangerous is acetylsalicylic acid, better known as Aspirin, or Andol.

The Mayo Clinic states that daily aspirin therapy may reduce the risk of heart attack, but that it is not for everyone. If you have had a heart attack or stroke, your doctor will recommend taking it daily, unless you have a serious allergy or history of bleeding.

However, he will warn you that even his recommendation cannot be XNUMX% safe for health. So the final decision rests with you. Although Aspirin is safe to use for headaches, body aches or fevers, daily use can lead to brain bleeding.

Ibuprofen

The medicine is used, among other things, for toothache, menstrual problems, arthritis and sprains.

It is advised that ibuprofen tablets and capsules are always taken with food or milk to reduce the chance of stomach upset. It should not be used for more than 10 days, and if you still need help, contact your doctor.

For people who have damaged kidneys, liver or heart, ibuprofen can significantly worsen the functioning of these organs. Time magazine reports that a study of more than 55.000 women in the Nurses' Health Study found that those who regularly used Ibuprofen over a six-year period had a 10 percent higher risk of hearing loss than people who did not use it or took it less frequently.

What is certain is that there are pros and cons to using any medication. Opinions on safe amounts of pain medication vary from doctor to doctor. For this reason, it is very important to read the instructions that come with each box and then talk to multiple experts to find the ideal pain relief solution.