Hi paranoids,
Taking any painkiller regularly over an extended period of time can cause one to become "tolerant" of the drug ( a word physicians and the medical community use instead of "immune").Which basically means that higher and higher dosages of the drug may be needed to achieve pain relief.
Even with simple over the counter meds like Panadol. Also there's a danger of liver toxicity with Panadol taken often for an extended period of time.
As for barbiturates, opiates and narcotics, well, you know the rest. They can be extremely addicting and again the body can become VERY tolerant of these very quickly.
Are you in the UK, NZ or AUS? I'm guessing because you used the word Panadol. Here in the USA Panadol is called Tylenol. Essentially they are the same drug i.e. Paracetamol in the UK=acetaminophen here.
Personal story: I used to have mild frontal headaches. I would take over-the-counter EXCEDRIN which is a combo of Panadol+aspirin=+caffeine.
I was going through a lot of tension and anxiety at the time and the headaches became more frequent. So I began "popping" this stuff like it was candy. And then I found myself so worried that I would be felled by a headache at work, that I began to take the tablets prophylactically when I had no pain. Took'em "just in case". Then, whenever I DID get a headache, it was more severe and the "normal" dose didn't work at all. And I began doubling the dose not realizing that what was developing were what docs call "rebound" headaches. What happens with rebound headaches is that the body "adapts" to the meds and then if you stop taking them suddenly, even for a day, the headache returns and often much worse than before. I had to wean myself off the stuff and suffer some pretty horrendous headaches doing so during "withdrawal".
So bottom line is yes, one can become tolerant of pain meds. Used properly, in the correct dosage, no problem. But if you find yourself taking Panadol more than just occasionally, it's best to find out why!
zuzu xxx
