If you pay attention to the news, you’ve probably heard about the “opioid crisis.” What you might not know is the exact dangers surrounding these drugs. Unfortunately, there are many, and any workers compensation attorney will tell you that injured workers need to be extremely careful when using pain medication. Below, we explain why.
Note: Speak with your doctor before taking any medication.
Organ Damage
Over the counter (OTC) medications are usually relatively safe. Still, some of them come with risks. One of the dangers associated with Tylenol, also called acetaminophen, is liver damage. Other OTC medications have similar consequences but affect different parts of the body. An example is ibuprofen, which can take a toll on the kidneys, especially for those with high blood pressure. These non-prescription drugs are generally considered safe, but you still need to be careful with how high your doses are.
Addiction
Now, on to harder and more dangerous medications. What has happened in our country is that a large population of Americans have been prescribed painkillers and are now addicted to them. The results are various debilitating side effects, withdrawals, and frequent overdoses. Addiction is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of painkillers because getting hooked puts you at risk of every other associated issue.
Short-Term Side Effects
One thing that may happen right away when you take painkillers is having digestive problems. These issues will come in the form of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Many patients report that these issues alone cause them to go off of painkillers and manage their problems in other ways. Another short-term symptom that many suffer with is muscle spasms. Painkillers affect your nerves in unnatural ways, and the result can sometimes be muscles that twitch periodically.
Long-Term Side Effects
The long-term effects of painkiller usage include both health complications and risk of death by overdose. The former is made up of heart attack risk, decreased lung function, ulcers, digestive diseases, and an increased risk of infection. The latter comes from the fact that you could get addicted, and if you do, your tolerance will drop. This will make you turn to higher doses, and you could suffer an overdose.
Driving While Medicated
One painkiller issue that people rarely discuss is problems with driving. Just because something is a prescription medication doesn’t mean it is safe to use on the road. Painkillers often have effects similar to alcohol, and thus significantly inhibit people’s ability to drive. Additionally, combining pills and alcohol makes for an especially dangerous cocktail of substances that can cause injury to you and the people around you.
The fact that many dangers are associated with painkillers does not mean that everyone should avoid them. Instead, those that suffer from pain should understand the risks, be careful with this type of medication, and have an in-depth discussion with their medical provider about whether or not they should utilize this type of treatment.
St. Louis Workers Compensation Attorney 