Many people have a habit of abusing painkillers, which can lead to significant health risks.
Ms. M.T, 38 years old, visited the doctor due to abdominal and back pain for about three months. She was diagnosed with a colon polyp. Due to her frequent pain, she often self-medicated with pain relievers. On the day of her visit, her face was swollen, her eyes were puffy, her body had gained fat, but her limbs were slim, and her skin appeared dry and reddened.
She requested the doctor to administer pain relief injections. Upon checking the bag of medications she had been taking, the doctor discovered a horrifying combination: she had been taking six different painkillers/anti-inflammatory drugs simultaneously (meloxicam, piroxicam, diclofenac, mefenamic acid, methylprednisolone, ultracet) for three consecutive months, not to mention the medications from her prescription for chronic illness. The examination results indicated that she suffered from Cushing’s syndrome due to medication, kidney failure, diabetes, and an MRI of her spine showed damage to most of her lumbar vertebrae. This case serves as a typical warning about the dangers of self-medicating or abusing painkillers.
When in pain, we should seek the underlying cause to treat it rather than abuse painkillers. (Illustrative image).
Today, pain relievers are easily available on the market in various types. While they help alleviate symptoms quickly, a lack of understanding regarding their specific effects and potential side effects can lead to severe consequences that may not be treatable.
Paracetamol/Acetaminophen is a relatively safe pain reliever, but it must be taken at the correct dosage and adjusted according to liver and kidney conditions. However, in cases of prolonged pain, we often find that paracetamol becomes less effective, leading to a tolerance. Consequently, we tend to seek stronger pain relief medications. These often have anti-inflammatory effects, which at first glance can provide quick and comfortable symptom relief, leading us to mistakenly perceive them as miracle drugs.
These include the glucocorticoid class of drugs (methylprednisolone, etc.) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and meloxicam. These medications are commonly used in treating nephrotic syndrome, immunosuppression in organ transplants, or various joint diseases.
However, their primary role is to treat symptoms, not the underlying cause of diseases. They also have numerous side effects, and using these medications is not as straightforward as simply taking them and stopping. Dosage adjustments are necessary both when starting and when discontinuing the medication.
Cushing’s syndrome caused by medication occurs with prolonged use of glucocorticoids. Patients with drug-induced Cushing’s syndrome typically present with a rounded face, reddened, dry skin, a stocky body, and a protruding abdomen, while their limbs remain slender. This may be accompanied by osteoporosis and kidney failure. These drugs are used for treating autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
Medications containing glucocorticoids can cause Cushing’s syndrome when misused over an extended period, such as Medrol, Prednisone, Dexamethasone, etc. NSAIDs can cause stomach pain, nausea, bleeding, ulcers, bloating, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or constipation.
Pain is a very common symptom caused by various diseases: sore throat due to pharyngitis, ear pain, chest pain during myocardial infarction, costochondritis, abdominal pain in gastritis, appendicitis, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, joint and muscle pain in arthritis, and even cases of unexplained pain when no cause can be found…
Pain causes discomfort, insomnia, fatigue, lack of concentration, stress, and poor appetite. The use of painkillers should only be considered a temporary measure, aiding in making the patient more comfortable and cooperative with other treatment methods. If viewed as a cure, misuse can lead to severe consequences. When experiencing pain, we should seek the underlying cause because, by using medication, we may inadvertently mask symptoms that could lead to overlooked diseases. For example, in cases of appendicitis, taking pain relievers too early without knowing the condition can result in a lack of fever or pain until the appendix ruptures, leading to infection and toxicity.
