Overuse Of Painkillers
What are the harms of overuse of painkillers?
Drugs used for the prevention of various diseases, diagnosis, treatment or to differentiate a certain functioning in the body are called chemical, biological and herbal products that should be used for their intended purpose. Even if it is for the appropriate purpose, using more than the required rate reduces the healing effect of the drug and causes some damage to the body. According to researches, it has been observed that the intensive use of excessive painkillers disrupts the kidney structure and causes kidney failure. If a person uses one kilogram of painkillers during his/her lifetime, his/her kidneys will definitely deteriorate to a certain level, and if a person uses 2-3 kilograms of painkillers, it is possible to see kidney disease in these people. They may need to be treated for transplantation or dialysis to survive.
Taking painkillers at the suggestion of others without consulting a doctor is one of the most important factors that cause kidney disease. For example, a person has pain starting from the nape of the neck and progressing towards the shoulders due to high blood pressure, and if this condition is not treated and the person takes painkillers on their own, their kidneys can be damaged. If an individual with joint pain uses painkillers instead of treating this discomfort, he/she will add a new discomfort on top of the existing disease.
What are the Side Effects of Overuse of Painkillers?
Using painkillers more than the required amount suppresses the immune system. In addition, other organs and systems are negatively affected by this situation.
Excessive use of painkillers can also damage the digestive system and other organs, including the stomach. The gastric mucosa, which protects the stomach against various kinds of damage, virus-like diseases and tissue damage, is damaged by excessive consumption of painkillers, leading to bleeding, ulcers and severe pain in the stomach.
Overuse of painkillers also has a negative effect on the liver. This health problem, which starts with liver function tests not working properly, leads to the development of many problems such as liver failure.
The other organ that is significantly affected by unconscious drug use is the intestines. Consuming more than the required amount of medication negatively affects the function of the intestinal system and causes long-lasting chronic diarrhea. High doses of medicines, which are usually developed with chemical ingredients, make it difficult to eliminate them from the body and have adverse effects on kidney metabolism. Painkillers should only be used under expert supervision and when necessary.
Rational Drug Use
Choosing the appropriate drug for a particular treatment is one of the first steps of rational drug use. The next step is to use the medicine in the right proportion, at the right time and with the right method.
No matter how effective a medication is for a specific condition, if it is not used in accordance with the principles of rational drug use, it does not provide a curative effect, on the contrary, it causes damage to the immune system and many tissues and organs. When the immune system is suppressed by drugs such as painkillers and antibiotics, the body’s defenses decrease and the person becomes vulnerable to diseases. Therefore, the medicines to be taken should first of all be recommended by a specialist, and then they should be used for as long as the specialist determines, taking into account the amount of use and the method of application.