The use of painkillers: what mistakes we make

15 February 2020, 02:46 | Health 
фото с e-news.com.ua

Despite the fact that we do not buy painkillers so often, sometimes we have a faint idea of \u200b\u200bwhat is in their composition, which can act in different ways (analgesics, antipyretics, or anti-inflammatory drugs), and when and how to use this drug. net What mistakes do we make most often?

Taking the drug in doses more than recommended in the document is often meaningless and even dangerous due to the so-called "

It consists in the absence of a strong analgesic effect after crossing the maximum dose taken at one time or throughout the day. As a result, we believe that there is no stronger analgesic effect and increase the risk of side effects.. Especially dangerous is a single dose of too large a dose of paracetamol. Symptoms of an overdose do not appear immediately, but only after a period of 24 to 72 hours. Meanwhile, from the first hours after taking too large a dose of the drug, excess paracetamol begins to damage the liver, and this can even lead to death.

An overdose of ibuprofen is associated with a lower risk of liver damage (than with paracetamol), but bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract is more likely. In extreme cases, it can also lead to impaired functioning of the heart muscle (for example, bradycardia, tachycardia), renal failure, or even cardiac arrest.

Regular pain medication abuse.

It often happens that you are confident in the safety of the pain medication, take them at every opportunity, not following the recommendations contained in the document. Meanwhile, excessive use of analgesics can lead to a number of side effects (nausea, gastric ulcer, skin changes). But that is not all..

Paradoxically, the use of analgesics several times a week can cause headaches. How to recognize her? First of all, pain occurs more often than 15 days a month if the patient regularly uses painkillers from 3 months. Headache increases after taking the drug, and about 2 months after stopping the use of drugs, the pain decreases or returns to its previous intensity.

Combining two drugs.

Usually, so-called non-narcotic (opioid) pain medications are used to treat pain.. These include metal derivatives, such as paracetamol, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen or ketoprofen.

Although the simultaneous use of certain painkillers is possible, and sometimes even increases the effectiveness of the fight against pain, you should not do this yourself.

Not all medicines can be safely combined.. First of all, you need to remember not to take two drugs belonging to the same group at the same time (for example, ibuprofen and acetylsalicylic acid), because this can increase the negative effect of these substances on the gastrointestinal tract, for example, causing bleeding. Caution should be exercised when using painkillers along with cold medicines.. Often they contain the same substances and can lead to a dangerous overdose..

Paracetamol "

Both paracetamol and alcohol are processed in the liver by the same enzymes.. If we use the drug with paracetamol when there is still a high concentration of alcohol in our body, thereby further burdening the liver, we can lead to its damage through toxic metabolites of the drug. True, the most dangerous situation is when these substances are taken at the same time (for example, washing down the powder from headache with vodka).

Although researchers report that extreme consequences do not always occur, it’s not worth the risk.. When it already happens to go too far with drinks, it is better to use natural methods of dealing with a hangover or special drugs, which in this case seem safer than painkillers.

Children take medications for adults. More than half of the mothers surveyed say, for example, that they can freely give their children painkillers intended for the elderly, such as acetylsalicylic acid (for example, aspirin). Meanwhile, these substances should not be given to young children, as well as young people in the treatment of influenza or the common cold, as it can cause Reye’s syndrome.. This is a very dangerous disease (estimated mortality is approximately 50%), which can lead to damage to the brain and liver..

Before giving your child any pain medication, consult a specialist. It will help you choose a drug that is adapted to the age of the child, as well as its possible diseases, for example, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, you should make sure that the child is not allergic to this substance, because any drug, even antipyretic and analgesic drugs, can cause an allergic condition. In the case of paracetamol and ibuprofen, the most noticeable symptom of an allergy is a rash, itching, and skin sensitivity to light.. Life-threatening allergic reactions, such as toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome), are very rare..

The drug instead of a visit to the doctor.

Body pain is a kind of " Her task is to warn us when our tissues are threatened (or have already taken place) any damage. Therefore, it is worth remembering that an over-the-counter pain medication is only an emergency treatment..

If the painful symptoms persist for more than 3 days, you need a visit to the doctor, and “masking” the problem with analgesics can only expose you to serious health consequences..

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По материалам: pannochka.net