Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group How to reduce side effects of pain killers?

I usually take half a tablet of painkillers to sleep peacefully in the night.

I have heard there are many side effects of painkiller (damage liver, etc.)

I just want to know, is there any precaution we can take in order to minimize the side effects of painkiller.

Hi! I think it is great that you are pro-active.

I don't know of anything except staying on top of your labs. There may be something you can take to help protect your liver. I imagine our Molly will know if there is.

Blessings.
Possi

Well, thanks Joyce - I just like checking stuff out you see Naushad, not that I 'know' anything (much) <LOL>

Don't think therre is too much that you can do. There's this - FWIW (which aint much) -
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-minimize-side-effects-common-painkillers-10409851.html?cat=5

http://www.severebackpain.co.uk/treatment_options/painkillers_minimising_side_effects.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2546472/

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53670
This last is rather on the topic of addiction, but you might find somw nugget or other

All end up saying to 'discuss with your doctor'. Not a 'lot' of help, but probably the best course of action. (You might discuss with him using the Fentanyl patch? That is IF applicable of course).

Sorry can't wave a wand - pain is such a difficult area, both to address and to cope with.

Take care -

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on

I have a fatty liver from insulin resistance. Am trying vitamin E and alpha lipoic acid. If that's not good enough, i'll also add in milk thistle.

As was already stated, make sure you get regular blood work done, like liver function testing, etc.

I don't take narcotics, but rather zanaflex at bedtime takes care of my muscle spasm pain which is my worst pain when i'm trying to sleep.

I have been on a Fentanyl patch (75 mcg/h - change every 48 hours)for about 8 months now. It is by far the most effective pain medication I have had. Its not perfect ; however it helps me with taking deep breaths, sneezing and yawning. I am a diaphram breather and have brought my chest expansion back to 1 cm from having zero. It helps with most facets of my pain however its not perfect. Im at about a 8 pain lvl without the patch and a 4 with it.

As far as safety goes I cant really speak to that. Fentanyl could be deadly if abused. That said as long as you follow the Rx and avoid getting your body too hot, it can make a positive difference.

I take Fentanyl, Humira, arthrotec, and blood pressure pills.

Im on the NSD and have even starved myself for 6 week stretches and have had no results. By no results I mean Im still in pain, I have inflammation, bone marrow edema and MRI's that confirm this.

My husband took Zanaflex 3 times a day for 3 months (as prescribed) and had a huge increase in his liver enzymes. Would not have caught it but for me-a med tech-doing a chem 14 on his blood for his PSA testing (he is one year past radiation treatment for prostate cancer!). When 'troubleshooting' this liver problem, I suspected a medication reaction and he dropped all meds that weren't necessary, or that he had already been taking for a long time without issue. The liver markers went down. He added back one of the ones that he dropped and the liver markers continued on down. He is back to baseline after 3 more months and will stay away from Zanaflex now. He's on a different one now (forget which) and it seems to be working.

I say all of this to point out that many meds, not just acetaminophen, can affect the liver. Read your labels, ask your doctor. Go online and read the full prescribing information. When I went to pain management at first, I was taking hydrocodone 10/700 or 750 acetaminophen. New doc immediately switched me to one which was 10/325 because of the risk of too much acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is in so many combination cold meds, etc. Now I'm on oxycodone 10/325 4 times a day as needed and my acetaminophen level doesn't even register on the drug test and my liver function markers are very low. Even while taking MTX.

That is a question we all answer individually. Balance of life, meds and pain.

If taking meds, as others said important to have lab work monitored. CAn look at meds that have less side effects if they work... again, if taking meds, there will always be individual response on how best to balance meds and pain.

Other answer is looking at alternatives... diet, exercise, stretching... They can always be incorporated with meds so you have to take less meds.

Best to you,

Tim