Could Your Prescription Painkillers be Doing More Harm than Good?

The effects of painkillers on the health has been widely debated over the past decade. However, a recent position paper published in the Neurology journal has highlighted the particular negative effec

Do you need them?

At one time, opioids were only prescribed to people in extreme pain. This included cancer patients and those who were recovering from a major surgery. However in the 1990’s pain advocacy groups campaigned to get more access to drugs for patients. This led to a lot of people taking opioids who didn’t actually need them. If you have low back pain, headaches or other mild pain complaints, these drugs might not be the best option.

They are mostly recommended to those suffering with painful conditions such as sickle cell disease. However, they should only be taken for short periods of time in small doses.

What damage can opioids cause?

Opioids actually cause more deaths in 35-54 year olds in the US than car accidents and firearm accidents each year. It isn’t just death that you have to worry about, dependence and addiction is also a common problem. Studies have found that out of those who were prescribed opioids, 50% of them were still taking the tablets 5 years later.

There has been very little evidence shown that taking this medication for over 90 days is effective. However there has been evidence showing potentially a lot of harm can be caused. Over time you actually start to build up a tolerance to the medication. Therefore you need to start taking more each time in order for it to be effective. That is why opioid overdoses are common.

Natural alternatives

If you are looking for a healthier way to eliminate pain, there are a few natural alternatives you can try out. A switch in diet is highly recommended. Add more Omega 3 fatty acids to your daily diet. These help in the production of PG-3 which is a prostaglandin responsible for decreasing inflammation. However, too much can cause problems. A couple of fish oil capsules will provide you with the right amount.

There are also a couple of herbal inflammatory products you can try out. Boswellia and Curcumin are both known to lower the intensity of pain. They are taken from Frankincense and Turmeric herbs and they are both effective and safe when taken daily.

If you are suffering from an opioid dependency, you will need to contact the doctor. It can be extremely difficult coming off the medication so it will need to be done gradually. The doctor will be able to provide the support you need to eliminate your addiction.

Overall prescription medications can be a useful and effective form of pain relief. However, they aren’t always the best option. It is worth taking a look into alternative pain medications as they can be just as effective and they don’t come with any side effects.