HOUSTON – They help headaches, sore muscles, and those daily aches and pains, but doctors are raising concerns about overuse of over-the-counter pain medications.
Barry Davis regularly took over-the-counter pain relievers for years.
"I came from a healthy human being to someone with failing kidneys," he said. "I'm in stage IV."Â
Davis has only about 25 percent of his kidney function left. His doctors said prolonged use of over-the-counter pain medications like Advil and Aleve are to blame. Those medications belong to a class known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS.
Davis, once an avid runner, said he took up to nine pills a day for three decades.
"And I never had any prohibition. No one said, 'Don't do that,'" Davis said.
Doctors may not have warned Davis then, but the National Kidney Foundation warns that while NSAIDS are "usually safe for occasional use, they can lead to chronic kidney disease."
"These kinds of anti-inflammatories are meant to be taken in the short term to help with an acute pain or inflammation," chiropractor Dr. Charles Srour said.
Davis now sees Srour, who recommended safer alternatives for treating pain long term.Â
He recommends the herb turmeric, specifically curcumin, fish oil and complexes like infladox, which combine supplements.
"In some cases, the effect they get is even stronger than what they get with pharmaceuticals," Srour said.
Davis said he assumed buying medicine over the counter meant it was safe. He urges others to do their homework.
"I'd think twice for sure," Davis said.Â
Srour also said Aspirin is an NSAID, but there is far less documentation stating that it causes kidney failure in comparison to Ibuprofen.
BACKGROUND:
NSAIDs can be prescribed by your doctor or purchased over the counter. They are the most common medications prescribed for arthritis, but most people are familiar with the OTC NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. The drugs help relieve pain, reduce inflammation and lower fevers. They also prevent blood clots. Some NSAIDs, most commonly aspirin, could protect against heart disease, but it can also cause you to bruise more easily. Side effects include nausea, upset stomach, higher risk for developing an ulcer and interference with kidney function. You are at a higher risk from NSAIDs if you are pregnant, over the age of 65, or are taking other medications. You are also at higher risk if you have high blood pressure, asthma, a history of kidney or liver disease, or have had ulcers in the past. The side effects and risks also increase the longer you take the NSAID.
(Source: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00284)
HOW NSAIDS WORK:
NSAIDs prevent the enzyme known as cyclooxygenase, or COX, from doing its job. COX has two forms: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 guards the stomach lining from harsh acids and digestive chemicals and helps preserve kidney function, while COX-2 is produced when joints are injured or swollen. Traditional NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and nabumetone block the actions of both forms of COX. This is why upset stomachs and bleeding can occur, but also why pain and inflammation will subside. One special category of NSAIDs is COX-2 inhibitors. They block only the actions of COX-2 enzymes, which stimulate inflammation. They generally don't cause upset stomachs or bleeding because they don't block COX-1. COX-2 inhibitors include celecoxib, rofecoxib and valdecoxib.
(Source: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00284)
ALTERNATIVES TO PILLS:
The National Center for Biotechnology Information said, "Although non-steroidal medications can be effective, herbs and dietary supplements may offer a safer, and often an effective, alternative treatment for pain relief, especially for long-term use. It recommends the following list:
- Omega-3 FEAs, or fish oil
- White willow bark
- Curcumin (turmeric)
- *Green tea
- Pycnogenol, or maritime pine bark
- Boswellia serrata resin
- Resveratrol
- Uncaria tomentosa
- Capsaicin, found in chili pepper
(Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3011108/)
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