Over-the-counter NSAIDs and
especially ibuprofen are typically the first-line
treatment for
pain in joint issues
yet there are side effects of ibuprofen that you should
be aware of. Ibuprofen liver damage is one side effect, which
can range in severity from small changes in liver test
values to severe and acute hepatitis. Ibuprofen can also
cause kidney damage. The greatest risk to the liver from
using aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs comes from
overuse, prolonged and/or from taking them with alcohol.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
requires that over-the-counter pain relievers must carry
a warning label for people who consume three or more
alcoholic drinks daily. The FDA requires the specific
warnings concerning ibuprofen liver damage and stomach
bleeding, stating that consumers with a history of
chronic alcohol use need to know the potential risk that
use of
anti inflammatory over the counter analgesic drugs may pose.
But even those who do not consume
alcohol are at risk for liver damage. Aspirin has been
shown to cause liver abnormalities at low-doses (250
mg/day).
People with hepatitis C are especially
prone to liver damage caused by taking common pain
relievers. According to a study by Dr. Thomas Riley III,
head of the liver transplant program at the Milton S.
Hershey Medical Center of Penn State Geisinger Health
Center, even low-dose ibuprofen can cause liver damage
in patients with hepatitis C. (American Journal of
Gastroenterology, Sept. 98 and Journal of the American
Medical Association Oct. 98)
According to this study, patients with
chronic hepatitis C experience a 10-fold rise in their
enzymes after taking ibuprofen, suggesting significant
liver injury and Hepatitis C patients risks speeding up
the process of going from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis
of the liver.
The liver is an organ located on the
right side of the body underneath the lower rib cage.
Among other valuable services to the body and to health,
the liver plays a large role in protecting the body from
harmful substances. The liver filters blood of bacteria
and poisons and breaks down alcohol and drugs. Drugs are
defined as legal and illegal, prescription and
over-the-counter.
The liver generally does a good job of
filtering these toxins out of the body but can become
scarred and diseased if overloaded for an extended
amount of time. One or two glasses of wine mixed with
four ibuprofen tablets is all it takes to develop liver
damage.
The liver, when taxed beyond its
ability to filter toxins, can develop fibrous tissue,
which can develop then into scar tissue. A person may
unknowingly have liver damage for years before there is
a danger of liver failure or liver cancer developing.
Like the liver, the kidneys act as
filters to clean the blood. The kidneys rid the body of
waste and excess fluid. And like the liver, the kidneys
can also become irreversibly damaged by the use of
NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
“Analgesic nephropathy” is a chronic
kidney disease caused by prolonged use of analgesics
like aspirin and ibuprofen. This kidney disease
gradually leads to end-stage renal disease and the
permanent need for dialysis or a kidney transplant to
restore renal function.
Painkillers that combine two or more
analgesics with caffeine or codeine are most likely to
cause damage to the kidneys. Read your labels carefully.
Though not widely publicized, the pain relievers Anacin
and Excedrin contain up to 120 milligrams of caffeine. A
regular cup of coffee contains about 85 milligrams of
caffeine.
People with chronic kidney conditions,
advanced age, systemic lupus and those who binge drink
may be more susceptible to kidney failure from the use
of painkillers.
People who take painkillers on a
regular basis should check with their doctors to make
sure they are not hurting their kidneys or their liver.
When considering whether to take these
common OTC pain relievers, as with most chemicals, the
safest route is to avoid these drugs. If taken,
over-the-counter pain relievers should never be combined
with alcohol and they should be taken at or below the
dose recommended on the label.
You might also consider
home remedy arthritis solutions or
anti inflammatory herbs to help relieve pain.
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