Pharmacists Caution Nigerians: Not All Aches Need Painkillers

Nigerian pharmacists are urging citizens to reconsider their reliance on painkillers for every discomfort, emphasizing that some forms of pain can naturally subside with rest and other non-pharmaceutical approaches. They highlighted the diverse nature of pain, which varies significantly in intensity, location, duration, and underlying cause. Experts stressed that sudden, unexplained, or persistent pain should always be seen as a potential indicator of a more serious health issue requiring professional medical assessment.

The pharmacists also issued a strong warning against the frequent or unwarranted use of analgesic medications, noting that such practices can lead to preventable complications affecting vital organs like the liver, kidneys, and stomach. Furthermore, they cautioned that exceeding the recommended dosage of these drugs significantly escalates the risk of toxicity. This advisory comes amidst widespread evidence of self-medication practices across Nigeria, with painkillers being among the most commonly used drugs without proper medical guidance.

In an exclusive conversation with PUNCH Healthwise, Chioma Omattah, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Welnex Pharmacy in Lagos, elaborated on the distinction between acute and chronic pain, asserting that not every type necessitates pharmaceutical intervention. "Not every pain requires painkillers. There are different types of pain. You could have acute pains; you could have chronic pains," Omattah explained.

She clarified that acute pain, which is typically short-lived, might arise after intense or unaccustomed physical exertion and could often improve with simple rest. As an example, she cited individuals experiencing discomfort after lifting heavy items or climbing multiple flights of stairs when not accustomed to such activities, suggesting that initial management could involve rest and other suitable measures.

However, Omattah advised particular attention to pain that cannot be attributed to an obvious activity or injury, especially if it presents as shooting or radiating sensations. "When the pain is something that you can’t trace how it started, those ones are the ones you might begin to be concerned about, and maybe the sign of an underlying illness," she stated.

Omattah further cautioned that consistently taking painkillers without identifying the root cause of the pain could merely mask symptoms, allowing a more serious underlying condition to progress unchecked. "Frequent use can actually be very risky and inimical to the individual using it. When you don’t relieve the cause of the pain and the next thing is to pop a painkiller, you may be masking the symptom of a very serious underlying health condition," she reiterated.

She pointed out that the misuse of analgesics could also have detrimental effects on crucial organs, specifically the kidneys, liver, and the gastrointestinal system.

Common painkillers like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac were identified by Omattah, who emphasized that their ready availability does not justify their indiscriminate use. She specifically warned against increasing the number of tablets consumed simply because the prescribed dose failed to alleviate the pain.

The pharmacist explained that a painkiller's failure to provide relief could indicate that the medication is unsuitable for the specific condition, or that an uninvestigated underlying cause is at play. "If I take two pills of paracetamol, it doesn’t work for me; my body, I have to take three, I have to take four. They are gradually damaging their liver," she stated.

She strongly advised Nigerians to adhere strictly to the recommended dosage of any painkiller, highlighting that exceeding it significantly raises the risk of adverse effects and potential organ damage. Omattah also urged specific groups, including pregnant women, children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, stomach ulcers, kidney disease, and heart problems, to seek professional medical advice before using painkillers.

"Before taking a painkiller, they must seek advice; they must consult with their pharmacist to know if that painkiller is safe for them to use, given their present medical condition," she advised. She concluded by recommending that individuals whose pain persists despite treatment should consult a physician for further evaluation instead of continuously increasing their medication dosage. "When you’re taking some painkillers, and you’re not getting better, it’s best to see a physician for further evaluation," Omattah stated.

A systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in 2026, encompassing 91 studies and 37,359 Nigerians, revealed that 67.8 percent of participants engaged in self-medication. The review found that antibiotics were the most frequently self-medicated drugs, followed by analgesics and antimalarials. Key factors driving this trend included the perception of minor illness, previous successful treatment experiences, financial constraints, time limitations, and easy access to medicines.

Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has consistently warned that self-medication can lead to inaccurate self-diagnosis, incorrect treatment choices, either excessive or insufficient dosages, prolonged use, and a failure to recognize contraindications. NAFDAC has also cautioned that while paracetamol is generally safe when used as directed, its excessive consumption can lead to serious health issues.