The dangers of self-medicating with painkillers

Dubai - Doctors said that though availability of OTC medicines was beneficial, many people were not aware of the side effects.

Residents medicate heavily on over-the-counter (OTC) common pain killers such as paracetamol to avoid the costs of visiting doctors and, hence misuse medicine in the process, according to health experts.
However, this misuse of OTC drugs is due to habit and not addiction, the experts said.
Doctors also said that such heavy reliance on popping pills for every small ailment could instead lead to an 'analgesic misuse headache.' "This means that if too many painkillers are taken, it could instead cause a persistent headache which we call 'analgesic misuse headache," said Dr Faisal Hamzamiya Dalvi, specialist internal medicine with Aster Clinic at Al Muteena, Deira.
A study done last year across the UAE showed that more than half of the young people (51 per cent of those surveyed) using over-the-counter drugs were self-medicating with painkillers and putting themselves at serious risks associated with the use of OTCs.
Titled "Popping pills? Over-the-counter medication use among adolescents: A case study from the United Arab Emirates" researchers from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology studied 6,363 people aged 13 to 20 in the UAE to determine the profile of over-the-counter medication use, with painkiller acetaminophen - also known as paracetamol - the most commonly used drug. Paracetamol is packaged in a wide range and by different brands.
Doctors said that though availability of OTC medicines was beneficial, many people were not aware of the side effects.
"Even though paracetamol is the mildest of analgesics, taking it for a long period of time could be detrimental to body organs such as kidneys and can also cause internal bleeding," said Dr Faisal.
Also, popping a mix of painkillers could mask symptoms of serious issues. "Imagine that you maybe actually masking, for example, a kidney disease by continuously taking medicines," he said.
He advised that painkillers should not be taken more than two times in a week for any ailment. "If there is still a need the third time, people should visit a doctor instead."
Dr Ali Al Sayed, director of the Pharmaceutical Services Department at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) warned the public from mixing OTC medication with prescription drugs as the substances could cause unexpected and unwanted effects when they interact with each other. "While side effects can be relatively minor, such as a headache or a dry mouth, they could also be life-threatening, such as severe bleeding or irreversible damage to the liver or kidneys. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if it safe to take the medications," he said.
"Be sure that in pursuit to kill the pain, you are not going to kill yourself," said Dr Faisal.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
Ministry refutes paracetamol rumours
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHP) on Wednesday said that products containing paracetamol are free of any manufacturing and quality defects.
Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at the ministry, said that the assurance was being given after messages on social media showed that paracetamol was not safe for use, based on fake news.
Dr Amiri urged the community not to be deceived by the emotion but instead verify with the ministry or local health authorities.
The public can communicate with the ministry through 04-2301000 or email pv@moh.gov.ae or login to Http://www.moh.gov.ae/ar/Services/Pages/TaminiService.aspx.