Adverse effects and toxicity of analgesics

Abstract

Even though among the most widely used analgoantipiretics with confirmed pharmacological effects, acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and ibuprofen may be the cause of poisonings and even death. Acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol are most commonly used drugs that are dispensed without a prescription. However, poison control centers are warning of the risk associated with the use of these COX inhibitors. It is well known that acetylsalicylic acid causes prolonged inhibition of blood coagulation, metabolic acidosis and other toxic effects while the toxic effects of paracetamol are mainly manifested on liver. Ibuprofen poisoning is much rarer, especially those leading to death. Ibuprofen overdose can cause mainly gastrointestinal disturbances, and can also lead to renal damage.

U ovom radu obrađeni su acetilsalicilna kiselina, paracetamol i ibuprofen, s obzirom da su među najšire korišćenim analgoantipireticima koji i pored neosporno potvrđenog farmakološkog dejstva mogu biti uzročnici trovanja, pa i smrti. Acetilsalicilna kiselina i paracetamol su najčešće korišćeni lekovi koji se izdaju bez recepta, a izveštaji centara za kontrolu trovanja opominju na rizik koji nose ovi COX inhibitori. Poznato je da acetilsalicilna kiselina dovodi do produžene inhibicije koagulacije krvi, metaboličke acidoze i drugih toksičnih efekata, a da se toksičnost paracetamola prvenstveno ispoljava na jetri. Trovanja ibuprofenom su znatno ređa, posebno sa smrtnim ishodom. Pri predoziranju ibuprofenom dominiraju gastrointestinalne smetnje, a može doći i do renalnog oštećenja.