Painkillers and paracetamol can harm
Did you know that if paracetamol (a common painkiller that is also used for fever) is taken along with some types of medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure, the combination can cause damage to kidneys.
‘Doctors told me that a mixture of Telma and analgesic had resulted in my creatinine level spiking. I would have been more careful had the doctors educated me about it in 2013,’ said the lady patient, who is now taking alternative medication and follows a strict dietary regimen prescribed by a city doctor.
Iatrogenic or man-made diseases are largely consequences of taking drugs that can damage patient’s kidney and liver, said the chairman of Manipal Hospitals, Dr H Sudarshan Ballal.’ About 10% of kidney disorders are today related to iatrogenic diseases. It is ill-advised to pop painkillers and analgesics frequently,’ he said.
Other medicines sold to reduce weight can also cause kidney damage due to heavy metal content. ‘I was asked to stop taking those medicines immediately and after a course of steroids was administered, I was cured,’ she said, adding that she would never again attempt to slim down.
Overdose of paracetmol in children too can turn dangerous.
Doctors in the city are also anxious with the excessive consumption of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. ‘When taken beyond prescribed limits, most drugs have side effects. Among other problems, over dosage of antibiotics leads to drop in blood count and damages the kidney. Moreover, regular intake of antibiotics can also cause internal bleeding in the stomach,’ said DR Ramana Rao, a general physician and cardiologist.
While pointing out the perils of uncontrolled use of painkillers and analgesics, Dr Ballal said, ‘It can cause a condition in the kidneys known as analgesic nephropathy, which many patients are unaware of. Even alternative forms of treatment, such as herbal medicine administered to help lose weight can result in herbal nephropathy. Chinese herbal products including pastes, powders, churanas that are used extensively in India contain large quantities of heavy metals.’
Regular use of an apparently common drug like paracetamol can also result in drug-induced hepatitis.
Awareness among public is the key to avoiding such catastrophes. Doctors believe that a lack of awareness among the public with regard to proper use of medicine often leads to severe health issues.
Next time you gulp in any, any medicine; make sure you have checked it with your doctor.
