Signs and symptoms of liver damage can include abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and nausea or vomiting. Unfortunately, unintentional overdose occurs frequently because patients are unaware of combining medications with each other that both contain acetaminophen. Irreversible hepatotoxicity is the biggest risk of chronically using large doses or overdose (intentional or unintentional) of acetaminophen. It is also often combined with other medications in prescription form including opioids like oxycodone or hydrocodone. It is frequently used as an analgesic and antipyretic, and it is considered the first-line pain medication for many conditions, especially in people for whom NSAIDs are contraindicated. However, even this subset of NSAIDs has been implicated in increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack in high-risk patient populations with chronic use.Īcetaminophen is one of the most popular OTC pain medications that are commonly prescribed for mild to moderate pain. A special class of NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors was developed with the intention of avoiding many of these adverse side effects. It is then necessary to gradually decrease the dose over time in order to completely stop the medication. Usually NSAIDS can be abruptly discontinued without complications but in some cases chronic users may report a “rebound headache” when they suddenly stop. Some people have reported tinnitus (ringing in the ears) with long-term and excessive aspirin use. Chronic use may also increase the likelihood of developing peripheral edema, likely due to sodium retention and/or renal effects. Possible NSAID-related adverse effects from chronic use include stomach upset, exacerbation of gastric ulcers, renal function impairment, and increased risk of bleeding. Most types of chronic pain are thought to have some degree of an inflammatory component. One of the key benefits of NSAIDs is that they are used to reduce both pain and inflammation. Some examples of commonly used NSAIDS are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. While some strengths are available by prescription, they are often easily obtained without a prescription. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are probably the most popular OTC pain medications. This article reviews several classes of common pain medications and highlights some situations where long-term use may confound potential benefits. For this reason, the risks of the decision to continue a certain medical therapy should always be weighed against its benefits, sometimes resulting in possible dose adjustments to minimize adverse effects, or in other cases discontinuation of the medicine altogether. In some cases, especially with long-term use, a pain medication may cause more harm than good. As with most other medical treatments, they may also often have significant adverse effects. Pain medications provide an important component of most treatment plans intended to relieve suffering and enhance the quality of lives for many patients. Depending on the specific medication, they can be obtained by prescription or are available over-the-counter (OTC). There are many different types of pain medications available to help healthcare providers treat patients with chronic pain.
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