Paracetamol is the most abused analgesic

File photo/ Paracetamol tablet

A medical specialist, Dr. Nii Lante Okunka Blankson, claims that the most commonly consumed painkiller is paracetamol.

This, he says, is because paracetamol is a commonly available over-the-counter drug.

Speaking on GTV Breakfast with Kafui Dey about the long-term effects of painkillers, the medical specialist said taking too many painkillers can lead to toxicity.

“Taking too many painkillers can turn into toxicity. It means you have too much of the level of the drug you are supposed to have in you…. For example, if you take tramadol, we know that the drug depresses breathing.

“But just a little. So, everyone, you’re taking tramadol and you feel a little sleepy, you know, but you can deal with it. But if you take a heavy load, now the effect on concentration and the effect on breathing become more….. If every time you take painkillers, the receptors become dulled.

“So you need more drugs to activate the receptor to relieve the pain. And unfortunately these drugs have side effects like euphoria, that’s why people abuse them, it’s like a secondary root to get high,” he said on Monday, June 27, 2022.

Dr. Nii Lante also mentioned that the reason why some pharmacists sell drugs to patients without a prescription is because they want to make a profit. However, he thinks there are equally good pharmacists here in the country who don’t mess with the regulations on taking painkillers without a prescription.

He further explained that long-term use of painkillers can lead to ulcers. Therefore, patients should consult an appropriate doctor.

“These painkillers, brufen and others, if you take too much, you can easily develop an ulcer. An ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach. What happens is if you take them for too long, the stomach can’t protect itself, then there’s a lot of acid in the stomach, and then you develop an ulcer. It is indeed dangerous to continue taking brufen, diclofenac, naproxen… without seeing the doctor. The doctor would usually give you limits. Do not take more than this number of days to protect yourself,” Dr. Nii Lante Blankson noted.