Painkillers: How to lower your dependency

March 29, 2008:  Painkillers such as aspirin are a lot more dangerous than doctors once believed - and now there’s an effective way you can reduce the dosage without suffering a return of the pain.

One simple strategy that works for anyone with an inflammatory disease such as arthritis is to start taking cod liver oil every day. Just a 10 g daily dose can help you reduce your usage of an NSAID (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug) by around 30 per cent.

In a study that involved 58 rheumatoid arthritis patients, half took the cod liver oil and the rest took a placebo. Over a nine-month period, 39 per cent of those taking cod liver oil were able to reduce their NSAID dose without feeling any pain or a deterioration of their condition.

NSAIDs such as aspirin �?once thought to be a wonder drug �?have recently been associated with heart attacks and stroke, especially among the elderly. This is in addition to the long-known risks of stomach bleeding.

(Source: Rheumatology, March 24, 2008; doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken024).
 

Provided by What Doctors Don't Tell You on 3/29/2008;   by Healthy News Service