Indian Medical Association (IMA) Thursday asked people to desist from using common painkillers like Aspirin and Paracetamol for pain and fever management saying they could cause more harm than good if taken without medical supervision. The IMA today issued guidelines on the safety and efficacy of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or painkillers in an attempt to clear misconceptions. It also opposed the Government's move to allow AYUSH doctors to prescribe over the counter (OTC) painkillers like aspirin and paracetamol.
NSAIDs suppress pain by inhibiting the enzyme cyclo -oxygenase and reducing synthesis of prostaglandins, which promote the inflammatory process. Since a few years, NSAIDs have been under constant scrutiny and criticism due to their alleged negative effects on the liver, kidney and heart. "The Indian Medical Association is of the view that it is not right to…
