Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M |
| N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y |

Side effects of Painkillers

It is best to take aspirin and other NSAIDs after a meal as they can irritate the stomach and in extreme cases may cause indigestion, ulcers or bleeding.

Ringing sounds in the ears can also indicate that you have taken too much aspirin.  If you experience any difficulty breathing,  wheeziness or breathlessness, or develop a rash on any part of your body, stop taking the medication and visit your GP who will advise you about alternative pain relief medication.

Paracetomal is a relatively safe mild analgesic, with very few known side-effects.  However, if taken in very large quantities, paracetamol can have serious side-effects including liver damage or failure.

Opioid analgesics may cause constipation, nausea or vomiting and drowsiness.  Opioids are usually prescribed for use over short periods of time.  Some evidence suggests that prolonged use may increase the risk of addiction as opioid analgesics may give the user feelings of euphoria.