If you end up with a work-related injury, a doctor might prescribe you some painkillers to help your recovery. However, how do these pills actually work? Many people actually don’t know just what this medicine does. Being better informed can help you stay safe while taking a prescription…
Painkillers: How They Work
Reliever versus killer
What sets apart a painkiller from a pain reliever? While the former tends to require a prescription, the later can be purchased from nearly anywhere. In fact, there’s over 30 billion doses of things like aspirin and ibuprofen sold each year. The main difference comes down to how each pill works in the brain.
Painkillers tend to be very strong, and many today are what would be considered opioids. These pills target special opioid receptors in the brain, which when stimulated, reduce experienced pain. Relievers, on the other hand, interfere with the pain signals your nerves send to the brain, to lessen felt pain.
Risky business
The issue with painkillers, especially those based on opioids, is their addictive properties. These pills can be highly addictive, hence the opioid crisis which is currently going on. Many times, addictions begin after someone gets a doctor’s prescription to help with injury-related pain.
Plus, these pills also can lose effectiveness. The more a person takes them, the more likely their body is to build a tolerance. In these cases, the pills might not create the same relief as they used to. This can cause them to take more pills, and in turn, get themselves addicted.
Keeping safe
If a doctor prescribes you some powerful painkillers, there’s a few things you can do to help keep yourself safe. For starters, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any concerns you have. They can help you find answers to things such as ingredients, side-effects, and tips for safe usage.
You can also look at other ways to manage your pain. Sometimes, you might just need a much-safer over-the-counter option for the pain you feel. You can also look into more homeopathic means of pain relief, which might be just as helpful for your needs.