We all suffer from headaches from time to time. When I was a child I suffered from headaches and migraines frequently, so I am no stranger to Anadin and co.
There are many triggers; tension, stress, poor diet, dehydration, bright lights, strong odours etc.
This post is a look at how we can improperly use painkillers to treat pain without knowing it...or...are perhaps too stubborn to acknowledge the fact and do something about it.
So recent studies show that the analgesic properties acetaminophen or paracetamol is facilitated by caffeine and this applies to the likes of aspirin or their mixtures. Some companies even touch upon this on certain commercials.
The study is quoted below
'"On a double-blind basis, a single oral dose of ibuprofen (50, 100, or 200 mg), a combination of ibuprofen, 100 mg, with caffeine, 100 mg, a combination of ibuprofen, 200 mg, with caffeine, 100 mg, or placebo was randomly assigned to 298 outpatients with postoperative pain after the surgical removal of impacted third molars. With a self-rating record, subjects rated their pain and its relief hourly for 8 hours. All active treatments were significantly superior to placebo, and the caffeine effect was significant for every measure of analgesia. Relative potency estimates indicated that the combination was 2.4 to 2.8 times as potent as ibuprofen alone. The combination also had a more rapid onset and longer duration of analgesic action. The analgesic adjuvancy of caffeine clearly extends to combinations with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs other than acetaminophen or aspirin."'
Effect of caffeine on ibuprofen analgesia in postoperative oral surgery pain.
Ergo... over the counter painkillers contain caffeine to make the pills work faster. Without caffeine painkillers would be slow and less effective. As one might imagine, slow working meds offer up the opportunity for "accidental" abuse by those who just want to get rid of their toothache for example.
Barbie's cocktail doesn't sit well in her tum.
So it's not a bad idea to boost the pills power. If you're a heavy caffeine drinker and you suddenly take it out of your diet, you might experience caffeine withdrawal which normally involves - yes you've guessed it - ANOTHER HEADACHE!
Also, let us not forget the Rebound Headache which you get from having too much caffeine with caffeine-laden pills. If you're already taking a painkiller with caffeine as an ingredient, there is certainly no need to drink extra coffee or energy drinks containing caffeine right? Well some of us do.
Mixing caffeine with painkillers is common practice amongst people forced to work long shifts or those dealing with various medical complaints that they desire relief from. The symptoms are not unlike that of cocaine but much more mild of course.
Furthermore the effects of painkillers are greatly enhanced by Energy drinks containing Taurine ( you'll find that in drinks like Redbull ). All that caffeine, glucose and sugar plus Taurine is just a recipe for Adrenal fatigue ( but that's another blog ).
So now we essentially have a rather dangerous cocktail of painkillers and energy drinks. What do you get for your dollar?
You get the buzz without the light-headed feeling you would get if you drank too much caffeine. You can expect this buzz for a few hours depending on weight, height, age etc. Oh and don't forget the refreshing fizz! It actually puts a lot of strain on your vital organs and tends to leave you with withdrawal, headache, generally feeling dependent, drained and/or ill ... ... and the cycle repeats.
So the advice here isn't to stop taking painkillers or even to stop drinking energy drinks...it's to stop taking them together. If you're addicted to caffeine like most of the western world you're doing your one and only body a disservice by mixing up this addictive cocktail. My suggestion is to pick a side and consider what the long term affects might be.
Natural Healing | Massage Therapy | Yoga Massage by Joey George Brighton/London
www.theoilstudio.co.uk
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