According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, an internal medicine physician at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka (India), there are several main types of pain relievers including paracetamol-based drugs and NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac, sodium, ibuprofen, profen, aceclofenac, and several others.
These pain relievers are easily available at pharmacies but it is important to use them with caution.
Consuming more than 1 gram of paracetamol per day for three to four months can cause acute liver and kidney damage, says Dr Gupta.
“Although 1 gram of paracetamol is not as harmful as an NSAID, you still shouldn't use it for a long time,” notes Gupta.
As for NSAIDs, Gupta explains, they can cause a variety of problems, including liver damage, acute gastritis, stomach ulcers, and permanent kidney damage. They can also rupture the lower part of your esophagus. In particular, using NSAIDs for more than two weeks in a row can lead to permanent kidney damage.
Liver toxicity
The liver is responsible for metabolizing and removing all foreign substances from the blood through the intestines, says Dr. Gupta.
Among these, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, phytonutrients and dietary wastes are among the various compounds processed and consumed by the liver on a daily basis.
However, some of the medications we take are particularly challenging for the liver to digest because they are derived from synthetic molecules that are less commonly found in normal foods.
“Painkillers are one of the most widely used medications and many of them can cause liver damage, leading to elevated liver enzymes if used for a long time. Patients will feel severe pain and tenderness in the lower right side of the chest where the liver is,” Dr. Gupta explained.
Blood thinning due to impaired liver function
Due to impaired liver function due to frequent use of painkillers, the blood clotting process will be affected. Because the liver will release clotting factors, but because of the lack of these factors, it can cause spontaneous bleeding.
Dr. Gupta added that, in addition to affecting liver health, overuse of painkillers can also lead to a variety of other conditions such as damaged kidney function or acute gastritis.
