All language subtitles for [English] What Pain Pills Actually Do to Your Body [DownSub.com]

We’ve all been there; you’re having a
somewhat normal day, and then you find yourself

suddenly wracked by an inexplicable and unignorable
pain.

Maybe it’s a headache that seems to have
come out of nowhere or a sensation of soreness

that just won’t leave you alone.

So, you head to the medicine cabinet or down
to your local pharmacy to grab yourself something

to reduce these uncomfortable symptoms as
quickly as you can.

Your best option?

Well, in most cases, that would be painkillers.

Over-the-counter medicines like these are
some of the most common and affordable treatments

for alleviating various forms of acute or
chronic pain.

But there’s such a variety of painkillers
out there, how are you to tell which one is

actually right for your current ailments?

Which types of painkillers are safest, and
which ones can lead to potential danger if

not taken correctly?

And most importantly of all, what do painkillers
actually do to your body in order to reduce

or treat pain?

Let’s start with arguably the most widely
used over-the-counter painkiller: paracetamol.

Also known as acetaminophen here in the United
States, it’s commonly taken to alleviate

headaches or relieve mild to moderate pain.

Paracetamol can also lower a raised temperature,
which makes it handy for tackling a fever

that might come as the result of a cold.

It achieves this by blocking the chemical
messengers that travel from the body to the

brain in order to alert the brain of the presence
of painful sensations.

When it comes to lowering temperatures, paracetamol
does much the same thing; it affects these

chemical messengers in the area of the human
brain that is responsible for regulating body

temperature.

Paracetamol is usually taken in the form of
pills or capsules.

However, it’s also the key ingredient in
many brands of over-the-counter combination

painkillers or cold and flu medicines.

It’s because of the presence of paracetamol
in other remedies that being aware of how

much you are taking is crucial, as it’s
possible to take too much and cause yourself

potential harm – or even death!

Usually, an average person can take paracetamol
without issue, however, doctors and pharmacists

say you should avoid this painkiller if you’re
pregnant, currently taking other medicine

prescribed to them by their doctor, experiencing
an issue with the way their liver is functioning,

or if you’re outright allergic to paracetamol.

For most adults, the recommended dosage is
five hundred milligrams taken every four to

six hours, but never exceeding the maximum
of four grams within a single day.

When taking paracetamol, it’s important
to leave at least four hours between each

dose and not to take more than four in the
space of twenty-four hours.

This is where taking too much paracetamol
can potentially become lethal, as too much

can cause damage to a person’s liver.

Paracetamol poisoning occurs not directly
due to the painkiller itself, but one of its

metabolites – the small molecules produced
by metabolism.

Known as N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, this
can directly damage the cells within the liver.

Side effects of a paracetamol overdose can
include tiredness, abdominal pain, and nausea,

and can set in within a day of taking the
overdose.

This is followed by an absence of any noticeable
symptoms, then by yellowish skin, blood clotting,

and confusion as a result of liver failure.

Kidney failure, pancreatitis, and low blood
sugar can also occur as a result of paracetamol

poisoning.

Without medical treatment, the toxicity caused
by a paracetamol overdose normally occurs

within four days to over two weeks later.

While it’s often fatal, if treated you will
survive, albeit in a great deal of pain, after

a couple of weeks.

In the United States alone, there are over
100,000 cases per year of paracetamol poisoning.

In the UK, it’s the medication responsible
for the highest number of overdoses, given

how readily available it is in most stores
and pharmacies.

However, the reason it’s so readily available
is that paracetamol is relatively safe for

most people to consume for pain relief without
suffering any potential side effects or risks

of danger if taken in the recommended dosages.

Often, the largest influencing factor on what
type of painkillers a person needs comes down

to the type of pain they’re experiencing.

Ibuprofen is another similarly widely available
type of painkiller, much like paracetamol.

However, unlike paracetamol, it has different
uses – specifically, it’s more appropriate

for different types of pain.

For example, aches and pains like back pain,
toothaches, period pains, and symptoms related

to colds and flu are normally better treated
by ibuprofen than paracetamol.

It can also help to treat inflammation, sprains,
and strains, as well as pain brought on by

arthritis.

Much like the aforementioned everyday painkiller,
ibuprofen is also typically found in the form

of pills or capsules, but there are versions
that come in the form of granules that can

be dissolved in water and swallowed.

Ibuprofen-based gels and sprays that can be
absorbed through direct contact with the skin

also exist.

Also, similar to paracetamol, ibuprofen is
often found in products that combine it with

other painkillers and is another common ingredient
in cold and flu medicines.

The way ibuprofen actually works is by reducing
the hormones in the body that are responsible

for causing pain and triggering swelling.

It focuses on one of the key chemical pathways
of the body that causes pain, and reduces

the body’s ability to make what is known
as prostaglandins.

These are the specific chemicals released
by the body that trigger pain, inflammation,

and fevers.

With a reduced amount of prostaglandins in
the body, these uncomfortable symptoms are

reduced.

When taking ibuprofen orally, this can normally
take around twenty to thirty minutes to take

effect.

Using a product that requires ibuprofen to
be absorbed by the skin takes a lot longer,

usually within a couple of days.

Ibuprofen is typically used for short-lived
pain triggered by inflammation, such as period

pain, toothache, or back pain, and the maximum
dosage is around six hundred milligrams, or

two standard two hundred milligram pills taken
orally three times a day.

If someone is suffering from a more consistent,
recurring pain, then their doctor might prescribe

them slow-release ibuprofen, which is taken
fewer times throughout the day, with large

gaps of around ten to twelve hours between
each dose.

It’s recommended that ibuprofen – when
in capsule, granule, or liquid form – should

be taken alongside food or drink to reduce
the possibility of the painkillers disrupting

the stomach.

Most doctors will tell you not to take it
on an empty stomach.

There are a number of other known side effects
of ibuprofen, too, and these can affect more

than one in every one hundred people.

It can occasionally trigger temporary headaches,
and it’s advised that you shouldn’t use

other medicines to alleviate these headaches
should they occur.

Ibuprofen does not mix well with some other
medicines, especially in any of its orally

taken forms.

If ibuprofen makes a person feel dizzy, then
it's recommended that they avoid coffee, cigarettes,

and alcohol and instead lie down.

Ibuprofen can also cause nausea in some people,
in which case they need to stick to simple

meals and avoid rich or spicy foods.

Being sick, experiencing gas, or suffering
indigestion are also known to be caused by

ingesting ibuprofen.

If any of these side effects persist, a person
should contact their doctor and avoid taking

any other medicines to treat these side effects.

When applied to the skin, ibuprofen is less
likely to have an effect on any other medications

present in a person’s system, but when taken
orally, it can.

This is why it’s worth, for the sake of
safety, to mention to a doctor any other medication

you may be taking before you start taking
ibuprofen.

There’s also not a lot of evidence to suggest
that it’s safe to take any herbal remedies

or supplements alongside ibuprofen, as these
are not tested in the same way as pharmaceuticals.

However, ibuprofen can be taken safely alongside
some other painkillers, like paracetamol or

codeine.

However, it should not be taken with others
from the same group, such as aspirin.

Both ibuprofen and aspirin belong to a particular
family of painkillers known as NSAIDs.

This stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, and if taken together, too many NSAIDs

in a person's system can increase the risk
of developing side effects.

Speaking of aspirin, this is highly similar
to ibuprofen in a lot of ways.

Both are NSAIDs, and both are everyday painkillers
used to treat similar types of pain caused

by inflammation, as well as cold and flu symptoms.

And, much like its fellow NSAID, aspirin is
often found as an ingredient in cold and flu

medicine; you’ll find aspirin as an ingredient
in medicines like Anadin, Alka-Seltzer, and

Beechams Powders.

Aspirin mainly comes in pill form or as suppositories,
which are…

well, we probably can’t say on YouTube,
but those are pills that go in ‘the other

end’ from the mouth.

Aspirin gel also exists, and can be used on
mouth ulcers and cold sores.

Where this particular painkiller starts to
differ from ibuprofen is in how aspirin is

typically prescribed and to whom, as it is
not suitable for everyone, as well as how

quickly it takes effect – and spoiler alert,
it’s a lot faster than ibuprofen.

While most types of aspirin can be purchased
from pharmacies and supermarkets, aspirin

is only suitable for people over the age of
sixteen.

There is a potential link between aspirin
and Reye’s syndrome in children, a condition

that can cause severe damage to the liver
and brain.

As a result, aspirin shouldn’t be given
to a child unless prescribed by a doctor.

Those also experiencing symptoms of high blood
pressure, indigestion, liver or kidney problems,

or gout should also first consult a doctor
before taking aspirin.

Normally, aspirin is found in pills of three
hundred milligrams, and one or two should

be taken at the same rate as paracetamol – which
is to say, every four to six hours.

A person should not exceed more than twelve
doses over the course of a single day.

There also exist low-dose forms of aspirin
that can be prescribed to those who have suffered

heart attacks or strokes or to some pregnant
people.

However, this is different from taking aspirin
for pain relief and should only be done when

recommended by a medical professional.

Aspirin works by blocking a particular enzyme
in the body known as cyclooxygenase.

This enzyme is responsible for producing a
range of hormones known as prostanoids.

These are present within our blood and regulate
the activity of blood platelets, the cells

that allow blood to flow through the narrow
vessels of the lungs.

These prostanoids also affect inflamed areas
of the body, like sprains or damaged joints.

So, by reducing the amount of cyclooxygenase,
aspirin prevents these blood platelets from

sticking together, thus reducing pain and
inflammation.

However, because of the effect it has on the
blood, one of the most common side effects

of taking aspirin is the increased risk of
bleeding.

Without the platelets sticking together, patients
may occasionally experience minor or severe

bleeds, commonly within the stomach or intestines.

Severe bleeds can also occur in the brain,
which can lead to a stroke.

While a rare outcome, this is a potentially
very dangerous side effect of taking aspirin.

As a result, doctors will not prescribe it
to just anyone, especially those known to

have a sensitivity to this painkiller, for
their own safety.

In those with asthma, aspirin can also trigger
asthmatic attacks.

Generally, it is not recommended that anyone
who is otherwise healthy takes over-the-counter

aspirin unless told to by a doctor to treat
a specific pain.

Additionally, those taking other medications
should seek professional advice before taking

aspirin, as taking it alongside medicines
that are intended to prevent blood clots can

also lead to bleeding problems.

There are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs other than aspirin and ibuprofen, the

third belonging to the NSAID family being
naproxen.

This painkiller specifically targets pain
in the joints and muscles, and as such, is

used to treat rheumatoid arthritis – caused
by the swelling of the lining of the joints

– osteoarthritis – arthritis caused by
a breakdown of the lining of the joints –as

well as gout, period pains, and muscular or
bone disorders, including back pain, sprains,

and strains.

Naproxen is typically only available by obtaining
a prescription, either as pills or in a liquid

form.

Much like the other aforementioned NSAIDs,
naproxen works by blocking certain enzymes

– in this case, cyclooxygenase.

This prevents a process called prostaglandin
synthesis, those same chemicals that are reduced

by ibuprofen.

Prostaglandins elevate the body’s temperature
and make nerve endings more sensitive to pain

transmission, so naproxen seeks to reduce
pain by blocking the enzymes relating to it.

While it is considered to be effective at
alleviating short-term pain, naproxen comes

with the same risks as other NSAIDs, in that
it can have adverse effects on the stomach,

as well as potentially increasing bleeding
tendency.

It can interfere with other forms of medication
and may even increase the risk of a stroke

or heart attack, so should only be taken under
the advice of medical professionals.

That brings us to opioids, and don’t worry,
that’s not the sound of the police on their

way.

The word opioids, or opiates, does bear some
relation to opium, which is the plant that

certain narcotics, like heroin, are derived
from.

The difference is that, for one, an opiate
is naturally occurring while an opioid has

synthetic elements to it; for another, there
do exist weak opioids that won’t land you

in trouble with the law.

And some of these are even used as painkillersixt
A few common examples of so-called weak opioids

include codeine and dihydrocodeine.

While they might commonly be described as
being ‘weak,’ these opioids can be highly

effective when it comes to treating more severe
pain.

However, they come with their own share of
potentially adverse effects – including

the risk of dependency and addiction – and,
as a result, should be handled with care.

There also exist stronger opioids, including
morphine, however, these are rarely made available

to the public and are usually only administered
to patients in a hospital rather than being

prescribed by a doctor.

One of the aforementioned weaker opioids,
codeine, is perhaps the most well-known of

this particular painkiller family.

It’s often combined with paracetamol in
pills known as co-codamol.

Typically, codeine is used to treat ongoing
pain after other options like paracetamol,

ibuprofen, aspirin, or other NSAIDs have proven
ineffective.

In particular, codeine can be prescribed after
a patient has suffered an injury or following

a surgical procedure, as well as given to
those suffering from diarrhea.

However, rather than blocking specific enzymes
like NSAIDs do, codeine and other opioids

like it will instead affect a person’s central
nervous system and brain.

They block the pain signals sent from the
brain to the rest of the body, and this can

often have a calming effect, reducing the
natural stress that the brain goes through

in response to an injury.

Dosages of codeine are often considerably
lower than those of other painkillers like

aspirin or paracetamol, and it is usually
found in pills of only fifteen, thirty, or

sixty milligrams.

The standard dosage for adults is one or two
thirty milligram pills every four hours, with

no more than eight being consumed in one day.

Much like the others we’ve mentioned, codeine
comes with potential side effects, and the

higher the dose, the more likely someone is
to experience these.

This can include feeling constipated, sick
or nauseous, sleepy or dizzy, as well as experiencing

confusion and headaches.

However, there is also the risk of becoming
addicted to codeine, a danger it shares with

its fellow opioids.

Most doctors, when prescribing codeine, will
be able to offer advice on how to avoid this

outcome, but signs of an addiction can include
feelings of agitation if someone misses a

dose.

It’d probably be irresponsible to discuss
opioids without briefly touching on some of

the wider effects that the proliferation of
opioids has had in the United States specifically.

Improper prescription of opioids, often after
major surgical treatments, have resulted in

a national opioid crisis - Where thousands
of addicts, particularly in rural areas, have

been forced into inescapable spirals of addiction
that often lead to overdose.

Globally, over 100,000 people die of opioid
overdose every year - with an increasing number

of these being due to fentanyl, an extremely
potent synthetic opioid.

In 2019, opioid overdose has been declared
responsible for 15.8 deaths per 100,000 people

in the USA.

Experts suggest that one of the biggest drivers
- and therefore, one of the most potentially

valuable angles of attack against the opioid
crisis - is overprescription, often driven

by pharmaceutical companies.

Tighter regulations on opioid prescription
are needed in order to curb this issue, but

until such regulations are passed, there are
good reasons to feel a little skeptical if

you find your doctor is a little too eager
to prescribe the latest synthetic opioid.

These are some of the most commonly available
painkillers, and exactly what they do to our

bodies to help us out.

As we mentioned, if you find yourself experiencing
any pain beyond that which an ordinary paracetamol

can help with, then it’s always worth consulting
your doctor.

They’ll be able to advise you best on what
painkillers are right for what ails you!