What are the side effects of painkillers?
Each group of painkillers has its specific side effects. The side effects of the non-steroidal painkillers result from their mode of action. The cyclooxygenases mentioned above also play an important role in other processes in the body, especially the formation of protective gastric mucus.
Normally, there is a balance of protective gastric mucus on the inside of the stomach lining and stomach acid, which is necessary for digestion but harmful to the stomach lining. If non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the formation of protective gastric mucus, gastric acid gains the upper hand and can attack the stomach wall. If the overweight persists for a long time, a stomach or duodenal ulcer develops, which in extreme cases can lead to life-threatening gastric perforation.
This major side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can occur after only a few doses. For this reason, patients at risk should always additionally take a so-called stomach protector, e.g. a proton pump inhibitor. Patients taking acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®) are particularly at risk because it also changes the properties of our blood platelets so that they can no longer clump together, which in turn leads to increased bleeding after injuries.
Another side effect that should not be neglected when taken over a long period of time is the damaging effect on the heart and kidneys. Patients with problems and diseases of one of these organs should only take non-steroidal painkillers after consulting a doctor or on the doctor’s instructions. This also applies to patients with lung disease, since inhibition of cyclooxygenase also leads to the overweight of other substances that alter the pulmonary alveoli and thus make breathing more difficult and in extreme cases can trigger an asthma attack in asthmatics.
Opiates are very effective when used safely and are also easy to control. One of the most common side effects affecting many patients is nausea and dizziness. Both of these are caused by the effects in the brain.
These effects also cause headaches and in rare cases dizziness. Constipation is also a frequent occurrence. This is caused by a kind of cramp in the intestine (spasticity) and feels to missing intestinal movements.
A remedy is a laxative, a so-called laxative, which is also prescribed. If no laxative has been prescribed by prescription, it should be taken as soon as possible when constipation occurs.Many other side effects such as changes in appetite, mood, kidney function, seizures, confusion, nightmares, altered sensory perception, bladder emptying disorders are due to the multiple effects of opiates on different parts of the body. These and many other side effects are very rare and can be read in the package leaflet.
The dreaded respiratory paralysis is also very rare when opiates are used correctly, but the risk is increased by careless combinations with sleeping pills or alcohol. Painkillers can be obtained in many different forms due to their versatility. First and foremost the classic tablet form.
Opiates are often supplied in the so-called retard form. Retard form means that the tablet is coated with a protective layer against gastric acid and the active ingredient is only released very slowly in the small intestine. This ensures a long-lasting effect of the opiates in the case of permanent pain.
The normal tablet form or the drop form, on the other hand, act very quickly, but only for a very short time and are therefore often used against so-called “pain peaks” during sudden strong pain attacks. An alternative to tablets is effervescent tablets that dissolve or drop. For children, suppositories have also proved to be effective.
For severe pain, most preparations are also available as injection solutions for direct injection into the muscle or a vein. This form of administration allows larger quantities to be injected into the body and the effect is many times faster. Fentanyl patches have proven to be effective for a permanent supply of the opiate. They are stuck to the skin and then release their active ingredient for 72 hours.
