<p>When in pain, the easiest thing for anyone to do is pop a painkiller. These tablets are available over the counter, cheap and highly effective. </p>.<p>They are like a magic potion which can relieve any kind of pain – body ache, dental ache, menstrual discomfort as well as arthritis joint sore. Unfortunately, recent observations have proved that they are not the medical boon they seem to be. </p>.<p>Doctors are increasingly cautioning that overuse, and even minimal intake, of a class of painkillers is leading to acute and irreversible kidney <br />damage.<br /><br />The city’s leading nephrologists Metrolife spoke to are in agreement that a category of painkillers are causing more harm than good. </p>.<p>Dr Alka Bhasin, Head of Nephrology, Max Healthcare says, “We are getting cases of painkiller induced kidney damage on a daily basis. Majorly, these <br />include people with no history of renal problems. A significant cause is people taking painkillers indiscriminately. Housewives with headache or fatigue, young girls with menstrual pain, injured sportspersons, people suffering from back or body ache – all are <br />going for painkillers.”<br /><br />“The problem,” she continues, “is not with all kinds of painkillers but a specific group called NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Examples include medicines like Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nefanamic acid, Nimesulide, Indomethacin etc. These are available under different names as manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies.”<br /><br />Dr Sanjeev Gulati, Additional Director, Nephrology, Fortis Institute of Renal <br />Sciences adds, “Recently I got a case where a young bureaucrat, who had just played a tough session of badminton, developed shoulder ache and took painkillers. He had no record of kidney problems, had taken just a tablet or two and had to be admitted here with acute kidney damage. <br /><br />He was a hair away from the point when one has to be put on dialysis.”<br />“Unfortunately,” he adds, “These painkillers are also the exact remedy for certain medical conditions. For example, a person suffering from say spondylitis has to take one such NSAID painkiller for relief. But spondylitis is not healed in a day’s time and one may have to take this painkiller for decades together. Ultimately, one ends up with a bad back as well as a failed kidney.”<br /><br />Both the doctors also highlight the fact that reactions to painkillers in different people are still a subject of study. It is still not clearly understood why certain people with no kidney problems react violently to a justified intake of painkillers while others develop complications over years of painkiller consumption.<br /><br />Dr Alka says, “At such a time, we can only exercise caution in using painkillers. First of all, doctors must be very careful while prescribing these medicines. In conditions where NSAID painkillers are not necessary, non-NSAID painkillers should be recommended. Patients should also make the doctor aware of any pre-existing conditions especially those related to the kidney.”<br /><br />“A significant issue of such painkillers available freely over the counter must also be addressed by the government. Otherwise, we will not be too far from a painkiller epidemic in the time to come.” <br /></p>
<p>When in pain, the easiest thing for anyone to do is pop a painkiller. These tablets are available over the counter, cheap and highly effective. </p>.<p>They are like a magic potion which can relieve any kind of pain – body ache, dental ache, menstrual discomfort as well as arthritis joint sore. Unfortunately, recent observations have proved that they are not the medical boon they seem to be. </p>.<p>Doctors are increasingly cautioning that overuse, and even minimal intake, of a class of painkillers is leading to acute and irreversible kidney <br />damage.<br /><br />The city’s leading nephrologists Metrolife spoke to are in agreement that a category of painkillers are causing more harm than good. </p>.<p>Dr Alka Bhasin, Head of Nephrology, Max Healthcare says, “We are getting cases of painkiller induced kidney damage on a daily basis. Majorly, these <br />include people with no history of renal problems. A significant cause is people taking painkillers indiscriminately. Housewives with headache or fatigue, young girls with menstrual pain, injured sportspersons, people suffering from back or body ache – all are <br />going for painkillers.”<br /><br />“The problem,” she continues, “is not with all kinds of painkillers but a specific group called NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Examples include medicines like Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nefanamic acid, Nimesulide, Indomethacin etc. These are available under different names as manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies.”<br /><br />Dr Sanjeev Gulati, Additional Director, Nephrology, Fortis Institute of Renal <br />Sciences adds, “Recently I got a case where a young bureaucrat, who had just played a tough session of badminton, developed shoulder ache and took painkillers. He had no record of kidney problems, had taken just a tablet or two and had to be admitted here with acute kidney damage. <br /><br />He was a hair away from the point when one has to be put on dialysis.”<br />“Unfortunately,” he adds, “These painkillers are also the exact remedy for certain medical conditions. For example, a person suffering from say spondylitis has to take one such NSAID painkiller for relief. But spondylitis is not healed in a day’s time and one may have to take this painkiller for decades together. Ultimately, one ends up with a bad back as well as a failed kidney.”<br /><br />Both the doctors also highlight the fact that reactions to painkillers in different people are still a subject of study. It is still not clearly understood why certain people with no kidney problems react violently to a justified intake of painkillers while others develop complications over years of painkiller consumption.<br /><br />Dr Alka says, “At such a time, we can only exercise caution in using painkillers. First of all, doctors must be very careful while prescribing these medicines. In conditions where NSAID painkillers are not necessary, non-NSAID painkillers should be recommended. Patients should also make the doctor aware of any pre-existing conditions especially those related to the kidney.”<br /><br />“A significant issue of such painkillers available freely over the counter must also be addressed by the government. Otherwise, we will not be too far from a painkiller epidemic in the time to come.” <br /></p>
