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Articles on Painkillers

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A man injects himself with heroin using a needle obtained from the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance, the nation’s largest needle-exchange program, in Seattle, Washington. David Ryder/Reuters

From the clinic to the street: How the explosion in prescription painkillers has created more heroin users

Why have the demographics of heroin use changed so much? For that, we can look to dramatic increase in prescriptions for opioid painkillers, such as Oxycontin or Vicodin.
NRL players Aaron Gray and Dylan Walker suffered a life-threatening reaction to a combination of controlled drugs. AAP/David Moir

Prescription drugs in sport: kill the pain, not the player

The use of prescription-only painkillers by athletes is hardly new, but debate about their (ab)use in Australia has recently been brought into focus by the emergency hospitalisation of South Sydney NRL…
Codeine-containing painkillers may soon no longer be available over the counter in Australian pharmacies. Philippa Willitts/Flickr

Why making codeine products prescription-only is a good idea

Australia’s drug regulator is looking into reclassifying codeine-based drugs as prescription-only. This is a good idea because the easy availability of these pinkillers is causing substantial harm.
Recent research suggests that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help prevent certain skin cancers. Nicolas Lannuzel/Flickr

Common painkillers could decrease skin cancer risk

Common over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can decrease risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, according to a study published today in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology…
Only around 10% of the codeine dose will give you analgesia, but 100% of it will give you side effects. Andrzej Wilusz

Health Check: how do you choose strong painkillers?

Commonly used over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen will usually be strong enough to alleviate common aches and pains. But if you’re suffering from acute pain from dental…
Choose your over-the-counter painkiller based on the side effects you want to avoid. Image from shutterstock.com

Health Check: how do you choose over-the-counter painkillers?

If you’re anything like me, your medicine cupboard is chockers with various non-prescription pain remedies: liquids, pills, capsules, children’s painkillers, formulations that are “gentle on the stomach…
There are some effective ways to balance the harms of opioids with its benefits. strollerdos/Flickr

Some ways to balance the benefits and harms of opioids

The use of opioid medication in Australia has grown considerably in the past 20 years, and so have related harms. This increase in use is primarily for chronic pain conditions, now the most common reason…
Prescriptions for pain relief are easy to get in the UK but not if you live in certain countries. PA/Julien Behal

Pain-relief access crisis leaves millions suffering around globe

Ten percent of the world consumes 90% of the morphine. At first glance that’s just another statistic about haves and have nots. But it’s more stark than that - particularly if you have cancer in a country…
Voltaren remains a popular painkiller in Australia, despite known health risks. Alison Young

Researchers call for Voltaren, other diclofenac drugs to be pulled from world markets

The painkiller diclofenac, sold as Voltaren, should be pulled from the market, argue researchers from the UK and Canada, after finding it remains popular despite known cardiovascular risks. Scientists…
Any restriction on buying painkillers needs to be consistent with national privacy protection. Nils Geylen

For your own good? Privacy law and enthusiastic pharmacists

Earlier this week the ABC reported that a handful of pharmacists in Tasmania had engaged in community policing. They’re tracking the purchase of codeine-based painkillers, sharing information with their…
The side effects of morphine could eventually be eliminated. Flickr/Andres Rueda

Less morphine could offer more relief, minus side effects

Australian and American scientists have found a way to halt a reaction in the brain that causes the side effects of morphine, potentially laying the groundwork for more effective therapeutic drugs. The…
Voltaren is commonly used by arthritis sufferers for pain relief but it’s been found to harm heart health. e b e cd z/Flickr

Over-the-counter painkiller may increase risk of heart attacks

Causing constant pain from inflammation of the joints, arthritis is common and debilitating, especially in older people. Adding to the woes of arthritis sufferers, a recent study has highlighted that commonly…
Life-threatening liver damage can occur without the intention of self harm in desperate patients trying to get some relief for pain. Melissa Baldwin

No cure for pain: study links excess paracetamol use to fatal liver damage

Medicines need not only to be effective but also safe. Now a Scottish study has shown that paracetamol, perhaps the most commonly consumed painkiller in the country, could lead to death if taken in large…

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