It is very hard to bear with the pain. Pain killers give instant relief from the notorious feeling of pain. They are used for different types of aches like body ache, muscle pain, headache, injury and inflammation.
What are different types of pain killers?
Pain killers are basically two types. The NSAIDs or Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. The NSAIDs are the most frequently used ones for relieving pain. This category includes most commonly used pain killers like paracetamol, diclofenac, aceclofenac, ibuprofen, aspirin. Sometimes they are very commonly abused drugs as they are very easily available as over the counter drugs. People often use them without prescription. In developing countries they are prescribed by non professionals too.
Paracetamol is the most commonly used painkiller. It has antipyretic properties too. Diclofenac is very much used in pain and inflammation mostly body aches, muscle aches, injuries. Ibuprofen is also a very potent anti 1inflammatorry agent. Naproxen is used in chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Next category is opioids. Opioids are not used as first line pain killer drugs due to their addiction nature. They are basically two types; weak and strong opioids. Codeine is having weak pain killer property but tramadol is a very potent pain killer agent.
How pain killers work?
Pain killers inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase. Cyclooxygenase is also known as endoperoxide synthase. This enzyme is responsible for synthesis of prostaglandins.
Dangerous side effects of pain killers
Gastritis- It is the most common side effect of use of pain killers. The indiscriminate use of pain killers cause gastric erosion and it may progress to peptic ulcer. It may manifest as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and head ache. Severe cases may lead to gastro-intestinal bleeding. Sometimes temporary stoppage may reverse the condition. But chronic use for longer duration is dangerous. Chronic use cause severe peptic ulcer with life threatening bleeding.
Hepatitis– Especially the NSAIDs cause drug induced hepatitis. They may cause hepatic cellular necrosis on overuse.
Kidney injury– On chronic use, they cause kidney injury which may later manifest as renal failure.
Reye syndrome- Aspirin can cause serious disorder like Reye syndrome affecting brain and liver.
