You Trust Painkillers Too Much — Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

It Started With a Headache

Amaka was a 29-year-old marketing executive with a fast-paced job and little time to rest. One morning, she woke up with a pounding headache. She reached for her usual fix — two tablets of paracetamol — and headed to work. By noon, the headache persisted, so she took another dose. That evening, when it worsened again, she added a cold-relief tablet she had picked up from the pharmacy.

For the next few days, this became her routine — popping painkillers just to stay functional.

But by the end of the week, Amaka landed in the emergency room with nausea, yellowing eyes, and severe abdominal pain. The diagnosis? Acute liver damage caused by an unintentional overdose of paracetamol.

Sadly, Amaka’s story isn’t rare. Many of us trust painkillers so much that we forget they are still drugs — with risks that deserve our attention.

Painkillers are everywhere — in our purses, drawers, office desks, and bathroom cabinets. From mild headaches to serious backaches, most people reach for them without a second thought. After all, if they weren’t safe, they wouldn’t be so easy to buy, right?

Wrong.

While painkillers do help manage discomfort, they are not as harmless as many believe. When misused or overused, they can cause serious harm — sometimes in ways that go unnoticed until it’s too late.

1. Not Every Painkiller Is as Safe as It Seems

Many painkillers — like paracetamol (Panadol), ibuprofen, and diclofenac — are available over the counter. Because they are sold without prescriptions, people assume they are completely safe. But these drugs are powerful, and overusing or misusing them can cause serious damage to vital organs like your liver, kidneys, and stomach.

Even paracetamol, often seen as gentle, can cause liver failure if taken in high doses or combined with other medications that contain the same ingredient as seen in Amaka’s case.

A young lady in pains with a spread of different pain medications on the table.

2. You Could Be Taking Too Much Without Realizing It

Let’s say you take a tablet of paracetamol for a headache and later drink a cold remedy that also contains paracetamol — you may unknowingly go over the recommended daily dose.

Taking more than 4 grams of paracetamol in 24 hours (about 8 standard tablets) can cause irreversible liver damage, especially when done repeatedly.

The scary part? Symptoms of liver damage don’t always show up immediately.

3. Some Painkillers Target Pain — and Hurt Organs

Drugs like ibuprofen and diclofenac belong to a group called NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). While they work well for pain, inflammation, and fever, they come with risks — especially when used long-term.

Common side effects of NSAIDs include:

·       Stomach ulcers

·       Internal bleeding

·       Kidney damage

·       Increased blood pressure

·       Asthma aggravation

Taking them on an empty stomach or mixing different NSAIDs increases these risks.

 

4. Pain Is a Signal — Don’t Just Mask It

Painkillers may relieve discomfort, but they most times don’t fix the problem causing it. Constantly taking medication to “shut pain up” can delay proper diagnosis and treatment.

Examples:

·       Persistent back pain could be due to kidney problems

·       Regular headaches might signal high blood pressure or eye issues

·       Severe menstrual pain may be linked to endometriosis or fibroids

Using painkillers without medical advice can cause you to overlook what your body is really trying to tell you.

A show of different medications

5. Some Painkillers Can Be Addictive

Drugs like codeine and tramadol are stronger painkillers that should only be used for specific conditions and under medical supervision. Unfortunately, some people begin using them casually and end up dependent on them.

Over time, your body may build a tolerance, leading you to increase the dose. This can spiral into addiction, affecting both your physical and mental health. Many people who are addicted started with one “innocent” tablet.

6. Mixing Painkillers Can Be Dangerous

Taking more than one painkiller at a time — for example, combining ibuprofen and diclofenac — doesn’t always mean faster relief. It can mean higher toxicity and greater risk of side effects.

Also, many cold, flu, and fever medications already contain paracetamol or NSAIDs. Without reading the labels, you might be overdosing unintentionally.

7. Painkillers Aren’t for Everyone

Some people should avoid certain painkillers altogether. This includes:

·       Those with ulcers or acid reflux

·       People with kidney or liver disease

·       Individuals with heart problems

·       People with asthma

·       Pregnant women (some painkillers can harm the baby)

Even “mild” drugs like ibuprofen or paracetamol should be taken with caution in these groups.

 Patient consults with a pharmacist to ensure safe and effective pain management

How to Use Painkillers Safely

Painkillers aren’t the enemy — misuse is. Here are smart ways to stay safe:

·       Stick to the recommended dose and duration

·       Don’t take painkillers with alcohol

·       Always read labels to avoid double dosing

·       Take NSAIDs with food

·       Don’t use painkillers as your only solution for recurring pain — get a diagnosis

·       Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before mixing medications

Final Thoughts

Painkillers should relieve pain, not create new problems. But when we trust them too much, take them too often, or ignore their warnings, we put our health at risk.

Let this post be your reminder: you are in charge of your body, not the pills in your drawer. Ask questions. Read labels. Don’t treat pain casually — treat it wisely.

Your health is worth more than a quick fix.