Not every pain requires painkillers, say pharmacists
Pharmacists in Nigeria are cautioning against the indiscriminate use of painkillers, emphasizing that not all pain requires medication and frequent use can mask serious underlying health conditions.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Amid widespread self-medication in Nigeria, pharmacists warn that relying on painkillers for every ache can lead to organ damage and delay diagnosis of severe illnesses. They advise seeking professional medical advice, especially for persistent or unexplained pain, and adhering strictly to recommended dosages.
Imagine your body is like a car, and pain is a warning light on the dashboard. Sometimes, the light comes on because you just drove over a bumpy road, and a little rest will turn it off. But if you just cover the light with tape (like taking a painkiller) without checking what's really wrong, you might miss a serious engine problem! Doctors and pharmacists say it's important to figure out *why* you hurt, because just taking pills all the time can actually hurt your body, like your liver, and hide bigger problems.
Analysis
Pharmacists in Nigeria are raising alarms over the pervasive culture of self-medication, particularly concerning the use of painkillers. The core message is that not all pain necessitates pharmaceutical intervention, and a reliance on over-the-counter analgesics can have severe, long-term health consequences. This issue is compounded by factors such as financial barriers and easy access to medicines, which drive many Nigerians to self-treat rather than consult healthcare professionals.
Chioma Omattah
Chioma Omattah, Co-founder and CEO of Welnex Pharmacy, Lagos, provides crucial insights into the varying nature of pain, distinguishing between acute and chronic forms. She explains that acute pain, often resulting from strenuous physical activity, may resolve with simple rest and non-drug measures. However, Omattah strongly advises vigilance for pain that cannot be traced to an obvious cause, particularly if it is shooting or radiating, as this could signal an underlying illness requiring immediate medical attention.
Her warning extends to the dangers of repeatedly taking painkillers without addressing the root cause. This practice, she notes, merely masks symptoms, allowing potentially serious health conditions to progress undetected. Omattah specifically highlights the risk of damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract from the irrational use of common analgesics like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac. She stresses that the widespread availability of these drugs does not equate to their suitability for indiscriminate use.
NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reinforces the pharmacists' warnings, outlining the broad spectrum of risks associated with self-medication. These risks include incorrect self-diagnosis, inappropriate treatment choices, and the use of excessive or inadequate dosages. NAFDAC also points out the danger of prolonged use and the failure to recognize contraindications, which can lead to adverse drug reactions.
Specifically, NAFDAC issues a stern caution regarding paracetamol, a commonly used painkiller. While generally safe when taken as directed, the agency warns that excessive intake above the recommended dose can lead to poisoning and severe liver damage. This underscores the critical importance of adhering to dosage instructions and seeking professional advice, especially for vulnerable populations like pregnant women, children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, stomach ulcers, kidney disease, and heart problems.
2026 systematic review
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis, which aggregated data from 91 studies involving 37,359 Nigerians, provides compelling evidence of the scale of self-medication in the country. The review found that a staggering 67.8 percent of participants engaged in self-medication, indicating a deeply entrenched practice across the population. This high prevalence highlights the urgent need for public health interventions and educational campaigns to address the issue.
The review identified antibiotics as the most commonly self-medicated medicines, followed closely by analgesics and antimalarials. Several key drivers contribute to this trend, including the perception of minor illness, previous positive treatment experiences, financial barriers to accessing professional healthcare, time constraints, and the easy availability of medicines. These factors collectively create an environment where individuals are more likely to bypass formal medical consultation, inadvertently exposing themselves to significant health risks and potentially exacerbating underlying conditions.
Key points
- Pharmacists warn against taking painkillers for every ache, as some pains resolve with rest.
- Frequent or irrational use of painkillers can lead to complications involving the liver, kidneys, and stomach.
- Unexplained or persistent pain could signal an underlying health condition requiring medical evaluation.
- Exceeding recommended doses of painkillers, like paracetamol, can cause poisoning and serious organ damage.
- A 2026 review found 67.8% of Nigerians practice self-medication, driven by perceived minor illness, financial barriers, and easy access to medicines.
If Nigerians heed these warnings, there could be a significant reduction in cases of organ damage and adverse drug reactions caused by irrational painkiller use. Increased consultation with pharmacists and doctors could lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment of underlying health conditions, improving overall public health outcomes.
Without effective public awareness campaigns and improved access to affordable healthcare, self-medication practices are likely to persist, leading to a continued rise in preventable organ damage and the masking of serious illnesses, further burdening the healthcare system.
