Note when using pain relievers in the elderly

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1. The elderly and how to assess pain in this group

An aging population is a concern of many countries around the world and the number of elderly people is increasing. The issue of health care for the elderly is also increasingly focused in the health system.
The elderly group often has certain health problems, especially the pain caused by diseases accounts for a large number of people, causing a lot of discomfort in their own daily lives as well as certain effects on people. surrounding body.
Pain is divided into two groups: acute pain and chronic pain. For acute pain, usually occurs when the patient undergoes surgery, trauma, pain due to burn accident... Chronic pain is a condition of persistent and recurrent pain, chronic pain in humans. The elderly tend to increase, accounting for 13-53% of which moderate to severe pain accounts for 2⁄3 of the total.
Chronic pain in the elderly makes life activities increasingly impaired, making the elderly often stressed, anxious, depressed ... The cause of chronic pain in the elderly is often due to the functions of the elderly. Bone deterioration leads to osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, pain due to various diseases, cancer... Chronic pain in the elderly mainly comes from the problem of not being fully and definitively treated by the disease. There are many different reasons such as patients hiding their pain until they can't stand it until they can't stand it, pain perception in the elderly is slower than in young people, economic capacity does not allow for definitive treatment or Many people think that pain in the elderly is a normal problem, or it is not dangerous.
The pain in the elderly is a matter of concern for family members and society. Detecting pain early to use appropriate pain relievers will partly help patients have a more comfortable life and limit the burden from economic problems for their families.

2. Pain relievers for the elderly

The following are the most commonly used pain relievers in the elderly:
Acetaminophen : This is the first priority drug for chronic pain, especially muscle and bone pain, joint. The drug is highly appreciated for its effectiveness and safety when it can be used for both pregnant and lactating women, people with cardiovascular disease without causing side effects such as drowsiness or stomach damage.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): This group of drugs is widely used and is more effective at controlling chronic pain than Acetaminophen. However, they have some side effects such as causing stomach bleeding in the elderly, especially people over 70 years old. In addition, this group of drugs also has a few side effects such as edema, causing severe hypertension. , harmful to the kidneys... However, not all elderly people will experience these side effects. But in terms of safety, patients should use the drug under the direction and guidance of the doctor, limiting the self-medication of the drug.
Group of narcotic pain relievers (Opioid group): This is a group of drugs with strong and fast pain relief. However, this drug is not widely sold in the market and is only used only when prescribed by a doctor. Patients using this group of drugs should consider that if not necessary, they should not be used because they have the potential to cause addiction to the patient.

3. Do not abuse pain relievers for the elderly

Although pain relievers work quickly to help elderly people reduce pain, the use of pain relievers should be according to the prescription and guidance of the doctor. Patients themselves as well as family members should not abuse pain relievers because of the following reasons:
May be addictive: Regular use of pain relievers can make the patient dependent on the drug, the dose will must increase to meet the body's needs. However, because pain relievers have many side effects, especially elderly people with weak health, addiction to pain relievers can lead to many bad problems.
Pain relievers often cause cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack or stroke while the elderly are a high-risk group for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, overuse of pain relievers for the elderly will cause many other cardiovascular risks.
Kidney damage caused by frequent use of painkillers, the kidneys have to work harder to filter the drugs out of the body.
Painkillers, if used correctly, will be very beneficial for pain, especially for elderly people who often have aches and pains. However, this is also a double-edged sword that causes many effects on the health of the patient if the drug is widely used not as prescribed by the doctor.

4. Notes when using pain relievers in the elderly

To be able to use pain relievers most effectively, drug users and family members should note the following issues:
When the pain has just started and the condition is still mild, only paracetamol should be used. According to the dosage instructions and should not be used for a long time For pain relievers Acetaminophen is not used for patients with liver failure or impaired liver function.

Pain relievers only work to treat complications, in order to completely solve the pain for the patient, the family member needs to take the patient to be examined at a hospital or a reputable medical facility. The patient should list all the medical history and drugs being used so that the doctor can prescribe the most suitable pain reliever, avoiding drug interactions. Pain relievers for the elderly must be used from a low dose and then gradually increased. During the treatment with analgesics, it is necessary to assess the pain status regularly to use the appropriate and lowest drug dosage. Taking medicines of the elderly Limit as much as possible the patient or family members buying pain relievers to take, to avoid possible bad conditions Monitor the effectiveness and side effects of the drug after use, if any Any abnormalities require immediate medical attention. Do not arbitrarily use corticosteroids because they can cause many dangerous complications, especially for the elderly such as osteoporosis, hypertension, thrombosis, stomach ulcers, decreased resistance... Although corticosteroids have strong pain-relieving abilities, they can only be used when prescribed by a doctor. Do not take paracetamol for pain relief for more than 10 days, unless directed by your doctor. If the elderly drink a lot of alcohol, they should be careful when using paracetamol to treat pain. Because alcohol and drugs both have a negative effect on the liver, when combined, the effect will increase many times. If you have a need for consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals under the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.

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