By Agbai Sharonjoyce
Many people rely on painkiller drugs to manage long-lasting pain. These medications are commonly prescribed for chronic lower-back pain, nerve disorders and severe migraines.
Over the years, doctors have increasingly turned to stronger painkillers, especially opioids and certain antidepressants, to help patients cope with chronic pain.
While these drugs provide quick relief from intense pain, they come with serious hidden risks that are often overlooked.
Opioids are among the strongest prescription pain relievers. They trigger both pain relief and a sense of euphoria by attaching to specific receptors in the brain that block pain signals.
But these same effects make opioids highly addictive. Dependence—both physical and psychological—can develop in just a few weeks. This means that people often feel compelled to keep taking the medication just to feel “normal” or to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
A major research study of over 4.3 million long-term opioid users found that one in three people taking these medications showed signs of dependency. Furthermore, at least one in ten people became fully dependent on the medication.
Health implications
A study by experts at Newcastle University, published in the journal PLOS ONE, identified severe health problems associated with long-term use of opioids and gabapentinoids. The study revealed health risks like increased obesity, larger waist circumference and high blood pressure.
Additional risks include sleep disorders, excessive drowsiness and untreated sleep apnea (a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep).
Misusing pain medication—such as taking it without a prescription or taking an overdose—can quickly lead to dependency.
Opioid overdoses are especially dangerous because they slow the central nervous system, reducing breathing to life-threatening levels.
In 2019, around 600,000 deaths globally were linked to drug use—and 80% of those involved opioids.
The risk of overdose increases after a period of not using the drug or when combined with depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines.
Common painkillers that are sold over the counter can also be harmful when misused. Excessive use of paracetamol can cause severe liver damage. Similarly, frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen or aspirin can lead to ulcers and internal bleeding.
Recommendations
To reduce the dangers associated with painkiller use, health experts recommend:
- Limiting prescriptions for chronic pain medications to shorter periods.
- Providing immediate treatment for dependent individuals, like the Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) with methadone or buprenorphine.
- Making naloxone—an overdose-reversing antidote—widely available to people who may witness or experience overdoses.
The bottom line
Painkillers provide essential relief, but their misuse can lead to severe and lasting harm. Protecting people requires greater awareness of the long-term effects of pain medication on the body and stronger policies that ensure access to safe treatment, early intervention and support for those at risk.
Summary not available at this time.
