When it feels like someone is taking a hammer to your skull and pounding away, the pain can make it difficult to concentrate, completely disrupting your productivity. So, you take a couple Advil and before you know it, the pain is gone!
That’s the beauty of painkillers. They stop the pain, so you can continue on with your day.
Unfortunately, painkillers aren’t without their fair share of risks. And when speaking specifically about powerful opioids like OxyContin or Percocet, can have very negative painkiller side effects on your body. In this article, we’ll review how pain pills work and discuss the Long-Term Painkiller Side Effects on the body.
How do Painkillers do?
Let’s go back to the headache example. After twisting off the cap to the Advil bottle, you pour a couple pills into your hand and grab a glass of water. You then toss the pills to the back of your mouth, take a sip of water and swallow.
You know Advil always does the trick when you have a headache, but do you know what it’s actually doing to make your headache go away?
The whole reason we feel pain is because of the way our bodies communicate with our brains. When we’re in pain, the central nervous system transmits signals to opiate receptors in the brain. These signals help us perceive the discomfort we’re feeling.
But when we take a painkiller, the drug does two things: First, it depresses the central nervous system, making it more difficult for pain signals to reach the brain. Second, it attaches to opiate receptors to block pain signals coming from the body. Painkillers also cause feelings of relaxation and euphoria, preventing you from feeling any of the pain you were feeling before.
Stronger painkillers like OxyContin – as well as illegal opioids like heroin – do the exact same thing, but in a much more powerful way that can quickly lead to abuse and addiction.
Long-Term Painkiller Side Effects
When you take a painkiller like OxyContin longer or more often than you should, you’re preventing your body from relieving pain naturally. These drugs trick your brain into thinking it needs the painkiller in order to feel good, which decreases your body’s ability to produce “feel good” chemicals and endorphins on its own.
This constant use of painkillers also takes a heavy toll on the central nervous system. We’ve already said opioid painkillers depress the central nervous system to help block pain, but too much of it can lead to significantly slower breathing, slowed bodily reactions and slurred speech.
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Painkiller medicine side effects aren’t limited to the central nervous system or the body’s natural pain relief processes. Dependence and addiction to these medications can impact the entire body, causing widespread and significant effects.
- Your Liver: Your liver is what breaks down and processes the drugs you take. When you abuse pain pills, your liver stores the toxins from these drugs, leading to dangerous and life-threatening liver damage.
- Your Heart: Some people crush or inject directly into their bodies in order to feel immediate side effects of painkillers. But doing this causes the drug to enter directly into the bloodstream, which affects the heart. Long-term painkiller abuse can lead to serious cardiovascular issues, heart attacks and heart disease.
- Your Stomach: Stomach and intestinal issues can arise even after a day or two of taking painkillers. Painkiller abuse can lead to constipation, bloating, abdominal distention, bowel obstructions and hemorrhoids.
- Your Veins: Injecting painkillers always comes with high risk, especially if the needles have been shared or aren’t sterilized. Injecting drugs like opioid painkillers can lead to collapsed veins and blood-borne infections and diseases.
Once addicted to painkillers, there’s no escaping it without going through withdrawal. While withdrawal doesn’t last forever, these symptoms include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, muscle aches and pains, agitation and anxiety. It’s common to experience a painkiller overdose when trying to relieve withdrawal symptoms, which is why it’s important to seek treatment immediately if you or someone you love is struggling with painkiller addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you take too many painkillers over time?
Painkillers can cause your body to become dependent and need higher doses over time. They can also harm your liver, especially with too much acetaminophen, and cause stomach problems like ulcers and bleeding with NSAIDs. Painkillers might numb pain, but they can also inhibit your body’s natural functions and suppress important signals.
What are the mental symptoms of taking too many painkillers?
Painkillers, especially opioids, can affect your mood, causing swings between feeling very happy, anxious, or depressed. Using them for a long time can also hurt your memory and ability to concentrate.
What are the social implications of painkiller addiction?
Addiction can make people seek out drugs even when they aren’t in pain. Withdrawal symptoms can be tough, making it hard to stop using them. This is why managing medication responsibly is so important.
How do opioids trigger addiction?
Opioids make your brain release endorphins, which feel good. Over time, you need more to get the same feeling, leading to cravings and withdrawal if you don’t take more. This can quickly lead to addiction.
What are the risk factors for opioid use disorder?
Risk factors include misusing prescribed opioids, having a history of substance abuse, stress, mental health issues, a history of trauma, and engaging in risky behavior.
What are the causes and risks of painkiller addiction?
Genetics can make someone more likely to get addicted, along with factors like easy access to painkillers and high-stress environments. Chronic pain and injuries also increase the risk.
What are the signs and symptoms of painkiller addiction?
Signs include needing more of the medication, lying about use, poor work performance, and isolation from others. Physical signs can be drowsiness, lack of appetite, and withdrawal symptoms. There may also be mood changes like euphoria or confusion.
How can painkiller addiction be managed?
Managing addiction involves getting help from healthcare professionals, gradually reducing medication, and finding other ways to manage pain. It’s important not to stop opioids suddenly, as this can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, so medical supervision is needed. Understanding the effects of painkillers and seeking the right help can alleviate suffering and reduce the risks associated with addiction.
Reclaim Your Life from Painkiller Addiction at Fountain Hills Recovery
Does all this mean you should never take a painkiller when you have a headache or are injured? Of course not. But what it does mean is that painkillers are serious drugs that can have negative effects on your body if abused.
At Fountain Hills Recovery, we know the opioid epidemic has touched everyone’s life in one way or another – whether it’s been your own struggle with painkiller abuse or an addiction of someone you know. We understand what you’re going through because it has touched our lives, too.
That’s why it’s our mission to provide personalized, effective and caring painkiller addiction treatment in Arizona at our luxury facility. When you’re here, you will be able to disconnect from the outside world and focus on recovering from your addiction with our experienced and renowned staff.
If you’re ready to regain the hope, integrity, and life you had before painkiller addiction, give our admissions staff a call at 888.549.4037 or contact us today to learn more about our programs and treatment approach.
