Caution Required with Long-Term Use of Painkillers

止痛药长期服用需小心

In daily life, many people immediately turn to painkillers from the pharmacy whenever they experience body or joint pain. While the medication may relieve their pain, some become dependent and develop a habit of long-term use, as symptoms return once they stop taking the drugs.

1. Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Long-term use of painkillers can cause gastrointestinal irritation, ulcers, or even bleeding. The digestive system relies on peristalsis—coordinated muscle contractions that move food from the mouth to the stomach, then through the intestines for nutrient absorption, with waste eventually excreted as feces. Prolonged painkiller use disrupts this process, leading to mild symptoms like loss of appetite or severe issues such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and difficulty passing stools.

For example, some children given painkillers for 2–3 months after a fracture may recover from the injury but develop persistent poor appetite, nausea, and constipation. Since the issue involves impaired gastrointestinal function rather than any evident structural changes, routine examinations show no abnormalities, leaving no basis for diagnosis or treatment 

2. Liver and Kidney Risks
Even small doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can trigger abnormal liver function in sensitive individuals. Patients taking these medications should undergo regular liver function tests, typically every 2 weeks or monthly, as advised by their doctor.

NSAIDs may also reduce kidney blood flow or damage renal tubulointerstitium, impairing kidney function and causing transient spikes in serum creatinine. This risk is higher in elderly patients or those with chronic kidney disease. Thus, long-term users should also monitor kidney function through periodic checkups.

日常生活中，不少人身上某处或关节一疼，就到药店买止痛药吃。有些人吃上药就不疼了，但一停药就不行，于是养成长期吃止痛药的习惯。

1.长期用此类药时，常见的副作用有引起胃肠道刺激，甚至引起消化道溃疡、出血。胃肠道的基本功能是从上至下的蠕动功能，从食物入口吞咽入胃，通过胃肠蠕动，从胃到小肠，大肠，营养吸收，残渣最后成粪便排出，如果长期服用止痛药，影响胃肠道这个功能，轻的表现为食欲差，重的为恶心呕吐，便秘。有的孩子，偶遇骨折，疼痛难忍，只要孩子一说痛，父母就孩子吃止痛药，一吃就是2-3月，结果骨折好了，孩子总是感觉恶心，吃不下饭，便秘。因为是胃肠功能受损而不是组织结构上的明显改变，常规检查都没有问题，也就没有办法诊断和治疗。成年人也会有同样的问题。

2.有些敏感的患者即使服用很少剂量的非甾体类抗炎药，也会出现肝功能异常。因此，服用这类药时要定期随访，化验检查肝功能，一般酌情每2周或1个月检查一次。

由于非甾体类抗炎药可减少肾脏的血流，或者影响肾脏的肾小管间质，进而影响肾功能，导致血清肌酐一过性升高，这种情况尤其在慢性肾病患者或老年人群中容易出现，因此长期服药的患者也需要定期随访。