It is difficult to meet a first aid kit without pain medications. When something hurts, it is usually resorted to analgesic drugs. But, as shown by medical laboratory studies, this group of drugs is not as harmless as it seems, and eliminating pain can lead to more serious problems.
Types of analgesics
By type of active ingredients, these drugs are divided into opioid (narcotic action) and non-opioid (non-narcotic action).
The difference between these species is that the drugs belonging to the first group have an effect on the brain and central nervous system. They are sold exclusively on prescription and are used for severe pain as a result of serious operations, injuries and certain diseases. In addition, opioid analgesics are addictive. The second group of medicines is effective against the peripheral nervous system, it is released without a prescription. This means that non-narcotic drugs suppress the pain syndrome exclusively at the place of its origin and do not cause addiction. Among non-opioid analgesics, there are several subtypes that have a spectrum of additional actions on the body, such as reducing inflammation and lowering body temperature. They are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and are widely used for various types of pain.
What is the danger of analgesics?
Despite the fact that non-steroid medications do not pose a threat to the nervous system and the brain, they have a number of toxic side effects:
- damage to the digestive system (liver, kidney, stomach);
- increased blood pressure;
- noise in the ears ;
- gastric bleeding;
- intestinal disorders;
- deposits of calcium salts in the kidneys;
- provoking migraines;
- skin rashes;
- reduction in the production of leukocytes;
- suppression of normal bone marrow activity;
- nervous disorders.
The most dangerous analgesic drugs
The first place in this list is taken by Analgin. This medicine has long been banned from use in developed countries because of its dangerous side effects. Analgin can not be used during pregnancy, as well as lactation. In addition, it causes significant harm to the child's body. This drug weakens immune defense, as it reduces the production of leukocytes.
Aspirin is also no exception:
- greatly increases the pressure;
- worsens blood coagulability;
- causes damage to the stomach and intestines.
The use of this drug in the treatment of children can lead to the development of Reye's syndrome.
Paracetamyl-containing analgesics are less dangerous for the stomach, but cause persistent diseases of the kidneys and liver. In addition, in combination with alcohol, Paracetamol leads to excessive secretion of gastric juice, which inevitably leads to the development of gastric ulcers and the appearance of erosions on the mucosa.
Ibuprofen, which is often replaced by a previous drug, is usually used to eliminate headaches. The main side effect of this drug with regular use (at least 10 days for 1 month) is its property to cause migraine attacks of high intensity.
The most toxic drugs in the non-steroidal analgesic group are Meclofenamate, Indomethacin, Ketoprofen and Tolmetin. If there is a violation of the rules for taking or exceeding the recommended doses of these medicines, edemas develop, convulsions appear, internal bleeding occurs and death is very likely.